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Understanding Angulation and Structure for the Performance Dog

WHAT’SYOUR ANGLE?

by Helen Grinnell King

WHAT’S YOUR ANGLE | 2

Copyright © 2012 Helen Grinnell King

Cover and interior illustrations by Robert M. Henry unless otherwise noted under credits.

All rights reserved. No part of this book shall be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise) without written permission from the publisher, except for the inclusion of brief quotations in a review.

Every effort has been made to make this book as complete and as accurate as possible, but no warranty of fitness is implied. The information is provided on an as-is basis. The author, illustrator and the publisher shall have neither liability nor responsibility to any person or entity with respect to any loss or damages arising from the information contained in this book.


ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

There are so many people who contributed to this book. To name them all would be impossible so here are just a few I would like to thank, and I hope I haven’t forgotten anyone.When Daisy Peel asked me if I would be interested in teaching a structure course for her online classroom, I wasn’t sure how I would proceed. I had taught many seminars and private lessons, but never an online course. It was that course that was the inspiration for this book. Without encouragement from people like Daisy Peel and Stacy Winkler, this book might not have happened, and I will be forever grateful to Daisy and Stacy for pushing me beyond my comfort zone.I would like to thank my illustrator Robert M. Henry. He was very patient with me and my attempts to control his every brush stroke. In the end, I learned to trust him and let him do his thing. I love his illustrations!In the continuing support, encouragement and editing/proofreading category, I have to thank Carol Dees, Bob Foley, Claudia Hegdahl, Laura Bernier and, of course, my husband Mel King. They read and reread my rough drafts too many times to count.Many of the photos in this book were made possible through the generosity of some very wonderful people. There is a complete list of photo credits in the back of the book, but I would like to give special thanks to Ken Kennedy, Nina Sage, Dr. Shelley Salwei, Stacy Winkler, Janice DeMello, Gail Smith, Cathi Winkles,

o many times

, y o, s,


Topsfield Basset Hounds, Monty Sloan, Jef Blake, Suzanne Wesley, Dorothea Penizek, Lisa Pomerance, Jessica Hecock, Ranja Eklund, Deena Talbot, Sir Terence Clark, Melissa Blazak, Nicole Kelly, Alex Robinson, Carol Wolfram, Susan Garrett & the family of the late great Rachel Page Elliott.And finally, thank you to Sarah Novak for her incredible design. She makes everything look extra special, and she does it all with a smile.


This book is dedicated to my

amazing husband, Mel.

For nearly 40 years,

he has supported every

idea (crazy or otherwise)

I have had. Without his

strength, wisdom and

belief in me, my life would

be dull at best.

I am truly blessed to have

not only Mel in my life,

but so many of the greatest

friends the Universe has to

offer. They know who they

are. Thank you!


TABLE OF CONTENTSIntroduction ...................................... 7

Reference Drawings .......................... 8

PART I Learning the Angles ......... 11Step 1 Picture This .......................... 12

Step 2 Seeing Spots ........................ 26

Step 3 Connect the Dots ................. 40

Step 4 Line Up ................................ 46

Step 5 Underline It .......................... 50

Step 6 Balancing Act ....................... 56

Part II Why Angles ....................... 62Know Your Sport ............................ 63

Rear Wheel Drive ............................ 68

Up Front ......................................... 85

Beyond the Angles .......................... 98

Putting It All Together ................... 115

Test Your Skills .............................. 123

Final Thoughts .............................. 127

Contact Information ..................... 132

Skills Test Answers ........................ 133

Credits ......................................... 136


INTRODUCTION

We live in an electronic age now, and many things are done over the internet. Puppies are picked through emailed photos and websites. Stud dogs are chosen through photographs and videos, and many bitches are bred long distance with chilled or frozen semen.

People need a way to know what they are getting when they use photos or videos to choose. It is difficult to know exactly what is going on with a dog or puppy without putting your hands on it, but with practice, people can be taught to know what to look for in photos or online.

This book was written to help you see angles in person, on paper or on your computer screen. The more practicing you do, the better you will become at seeing angles and understanding why dogs perform the way they do.

Together, we will take a step-by-step journey through the method I developed for learning to see angles. With my easy to follow six-step process, seeing angles in dogs will become second nature.

Helen Grinnell King

www.recipetowin.com

Practice makes perfect,

or at least a well

informed decision!


REFERENCE DRAWINGS

If we are lucky, we will find a mentor who takes the time to teach us and show us the way in our chosen field.

My passion is structure and how it relates to function. Very early in my life, I had the incredibly good fortune to meet the late GREAT Rachel Page Elliott. She became a friend and mentor, and my respect for her is beyond words. I miss our many discussions on structure but took away so much from them. Pagey and her books and videos were an inspiration to me and the foundation for my endeavor to learn more about structure and how it relates to performance in dogs and horses.

On the following pages, you will find three reference drawings. These are reprinted from Dog Steps, with permission from the author, Rachel Page Elliott. I am forever grateful to Pagey for her knowledge and encouragement.

You can find books and videos by Rachel Page Elliot online at www.dogwise.com. Everything she wrote or recorded is worth reading or watching. She had an incredible eye and a brilliant mind!


PART 1

Learning the Angles

6 Steps to 20/20 Angle Vision

Step 1 Picture This .......................... 12

Step 2 Seeing Spots ........................ 26

Step 3 Connect the Dots ................. 40

Step 4 Line Up ................................ 46

Step 5 Underline It .......................... 50

Step 6 Balancing Act ....................... 56


Picture This

STEP 1


Cover Illustration: Sarah Novak & Robert M. HenryCover photos at bottom:Left to right: Jef Blake, Nina Sage, Melissa Blazak, Suzzane Kelleher-DuckettPage 2: Ken KennedyPage 3: Ken KennedyPage 4: Top photo iStock, bottom photo Jef BlakePage 5: Author’s collectionPage 7: Nina SagePage 8: Ken KennedyPage 9 & 10: Reference drawings reprinted “Dog Steps” with permission from Rachel Page Elliott Page 11: Robert M. HenryPage 12: Robert M. HenryPage 14: Robert M. HenryPage 15: Mel KingPage 16: Robert M. HenryPage 17: Mel KingPage 18: Mel KingPage 19: Courtesy of Susan GarrettPage 21: Robert M. HenryPage 24: Gail SmithPage 25: Robert M. HenryPage 26: Robert M. HenryPage 27: Mel KingPage 28: Robert M. HenryPage 29: Robert M. HenryPage 30: Mel KingPage 31: Top illustration Robert M. Henry, bottom photo Nina SagePage 32: Mel KingPage 33: Top, x-ray courtesy of Shelly Salwei, bottom photo Mel King,Page 34: Mel KingPage 35: Robert M. HenryPage 36: Robert M. HenryPage 37: Ken KennedyPage 38: Mel KingPage 39: Robert M. HenryPage 40: Robert M. HenryPage 41: Robert M. HenryPage 42: Robert M. Henry

Page 43: Mel KingPage 44: Ken KennedyPage 45: Mel KingPage 46: Robert M. HenryPage 47: Robert M. HenryPage 48: Mel KingPage 49: Robert M. HenryPage 50: Robert M. HenryPage 51: Robert M. HenryPage 52: Top photo Mel King, lower illustration Robert M. HenryPage 53: Author’s collectionPage 54: Cathi WinklesPage 55: Mel KingPage 56: Robert M. HenryPage 57: Robert M. HenryPage 58: Mel KingPage 59: Robert M. HenryPage 60: iStock PhotoPage 61: Robert M. HenryPage 62: Robert M. HenryPage 63: Author’s collection (bottom photo Nina Sage)Page 64: iStock photoPage 65: iStock photoPage 66: Top photo iStock, lower photo by Deena Talbot,Page 67: iStock photoPage 67: Top illustration Robert M. Henry, bottom photo ShutterstockPage 68: top Robert M Henry; bottom Shutterstock photo Page 69: Top illustration by Robert M. Henry, lower photo by Stacy WinklerPage 70: Top illustration by Robert M. Henry, lower left by Jacqueline Harbour, lower right photo by Mel KingPage 71: Mel KingPage 72 Ken KennedyPage 73: Clockwise from the top left, Deena Talbot, Ranja Eklund, Sir Terrence Clark, Sir Terrence Clark, Ranja Eklund, Sir Terrence Clark, Sir Terrence ClarkPage 74: Lisa Pomerance Page 75: Ken Kennedy

Credits


Page 76: Ken KennedyPage 77: Left photo Jacqueline Harbour, right photo Alice GiddyPage 78: Mel KingPage 79: Topsfield Basset HoundsPage 80: Top left Bob Foley, top right Jef Blake, bottom illustration Robert M. HenryPage 81: Mel KingPage 82: Ken KennedyPage 83: Nina SagePage 84: Fotosearch Page 85: Robert M. HenryPage 86: Ken KennedyPage 87: Top photo Charlotte Andersson, bottom photo Jef BlakePage 88: Mel KingPage 89: Ken KennedyPage 90: Top photo iStock, lower photo Mel KingPage 92: Mel KingPage 93: Mel KingPage 94: Ken KennedyPage 95: Top photo Nina Sage, lower photo Mel KingPage 96: Top photo Author’s collection, lower photo Jessica HecockPage 97: Top photo Ken Kennedy, bottom photo Nina SagePage 98: Robert M. HenryPage 99: iStock photoPage 100: Mel KingPage 101: iStock photoPage 102: iStock photoPage 103: Shutterstock photoPage 104: Monty Sloan photoPage 105: Top photo Monty Sloan, lower photo Mel KingPage 106: Top photo Monty Sloan, lower photo Jef BlakePage 107: Top photo Monty Sloan. Lower photo Dorothea PenizekPage 108: Top photo Sir Terrence Clark, lower photo Mel KingPage 109: Suzanne WesleyPage 110: Mel KingPage 111: Mel KingPage 113: Mel King

Page 114: From left to right starting at the top:Top row: Ken Kennedy, Shutterstock, Cathi WinklesSecond row: iStock photo, Cathi Winkles, iStock photoThird row: Stacy Winkler. iStock, Nicole KellyFourth row: Ranja Eklund, Charlotte Andersson, Ken KennedyFifth row: Jef Blake, Melissa Blazak, Kay ReamensnyderBottom row: Nina Sage, iStock photoPage 115: Robert M. HenryPage 117: Nicole KellyPage 118: Alex RobinsonPage 119: Mel KingPage 120: Top and middle photos Mel King, bottom right photo ShutterstockPage 121: Mel KingPage 122: Robert M. HenryPage 123: Robert M. HenryPage 124: iStock photoPage 125: Bob Foley/Carol DeesPage 126: Top photo Cathi Winkles, bottom photo Ken KennedyPage 127: Robert M. HenryPage 128: Suzzane Kelleher-DuckettPage 129: Stephanie Minnella, Todd V. MinellaPage 131: Carol WolframPage 132: Illustration Robert M. HenryPage 133: iStock photoPage 134: Bob Foley/Carol DeesPage 135: Bob Foley/Carol DeesPage 137: Nancy KemnaBack cover large photo: Ken KennedyBack cover photos at bottom:Left to right: iStock photo, Charlotte Andersson, iStock photo

GLE || 3137


Helen King has written yet another informative and useful book on canine structure and angulation. This book builds on her previous book, Picking Your Performance Puppy, and will take you a step further, guiding you through the process of evaluating your own dog’s structure and angulation. Helen uses a clear and concise method, complete with pictures and pitfalls to watch for, as well as examples to test your skills on in the back of the book.

As our interest in dog sports grows, we owe it to our canine partners and to ourselves to make sure that our dogs are suited for the sports we intend to participate in with them - this book is a great instructional manual and a must-read for anybody interested in dog agility, rally obedience, flyball, dock diving, obedience, schutzhund, herding, carting, lure coursing, or any other canine performance sport. Helen’s humorous and down-to-earth approach, coupled with the great information that she has to offer, will help even the most inexperienced dog owners learn to become experts in the area of canine structure and angulation assessment!

Daisy Peel5-time national champion (AKC and USDAA), 20+ time national finalist, 9-time USA Team Member, 4-time Americas and Caribbean International Gold Medalist and a World Agility Open Gold Medalist

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