Forequarters

DPCA Judge's Education Page

ILLUSTRATED STANDARD

AKC Standard

FOREQUARTERS

Shoulder Blade sloping forward and downward at a 45 degree angle to the ground meets the upper arm at an angle of 90 degrees. Length of shoulder blade and upper arm are equal. Height from elbow to withers approximately equals height from ground to elbow. Legs seen from front and side, perfectly straight and parallel to each other from elbow to pastern: muscled and sinewy, with heavy bone. In normal pose and when gaiting, the elbows lie close to the brisket. Pasterns firm and almost perpendicular to the ground. Dewclaws may be removed. Feet well arched, compact, and catlike, turning neither in nor out.

Commentary

The shoulder blades of the Doberman are well laid back. The standard calls for a 45-degree layback of the shoulder and a 90-degree angle where the shoulder meets the upper arm. While this can be difficult to achieve, it is the ideal to strive for in a Doberman breeding program because it provides for maximum reach in the front assembly when the dog is gaiting.

The length of the shoulder blade should equal that of the upper arm. Deviations from the standard include upper arms that are too long, too short and/or too straight, as well as a front assembly that is set too far forward on the body. These deviations diminish the dog’s ability to efficiently perform the work for which he was bred.

The dog should be equal in measurement from the withers to the elbow and from the elbow to the ground.

The brisket is the deepest part of the body. It meets the elbow and appears slightly rounded between the elbows when viewed from the front.

The leg bones are heavy. Muscles are well developed but sinewy and smooth. The shoulder blades should fit smoothly along the ribcage.

The pasterns should be short and firm. Note that the standard calls for the pastern to be "almost" perpendicular to the ground. A pastern that appears upright but has a very slight angle absorbs the impact of each foot fall when the dog is in motion. A pastern that is too upright is unable to flex and cannot absorb the shock of the dog's weight landing on the front.

The feet are well arched, compact and catlike, and the toes are short, well arched and tight. A Doberman should not turn his feet in or out when standing or moving.

Typical Front Deviations