| Knowing your canine is important for protection dog | | | | A dog's hind legs are considerably different than its |
| or guard dog owner. However, being able to | | | | forelegs. Again starting from the paws, the hind |
| recognize and label canine anatomy is especially | | | | paws are connected to the rear pastern. The rear |
| important for both German Shepherd breeders as | | | | pastern is connected to the secondary thigh, also |
| well as those wishing the purchase canine protection. | | | | known as the gaskin, by a pronounced joint known |
| Much of a German Shepherd's bloodline and history | | | | as the hock. The secondary thigh is connected to the |
| can be discovered simply by looking at the build and | | | | upper thigh by the stifle, sometimes referred to as |
| physical structure of the dog. Knowing the details of | | | | the knee joint. The upper thigh forms the |
| canine anatomy is key in being able to distinguish the | | | | hind-quarters and is connected to the body by the |
| physical differences between an import German | | | | hip. |
| Working Line dog versus an American Show Line. | | | | Along the back of the dog, there is the croup, loin, |
| Just as all humans have joints and physical features | | | | back, withers and crest. The croup is the rear-most |
| labeled as elbow, wrist, knuckles etc., there are | | | | portion of the dog's back, where the tail is |
| common labels given to the various joints and | | | | connected. The crest lies along the neck-line of the |
| features of canine anatomy. While some of these | | | | dog. The loin, back and withers fall in between the |
| labels, such as thigh or knee, are the same as that of | | | | two, in the order described. Along the underside, |
| humans, it is important to remember that the thighs | | | | there is abdomen, brisket and forechest. The |
| and knees of a canine are very much different from | | | | abdomen is rear-most portion of the dog's underside, |
| our own. | | | | starting where the rib-cage stops. The brisket forms |
| The withers is arguably one of the most important | | | | the underside of the dog's chest, where the rib-cage |
| parts of canine anatomy, as it is used to measure | | | | is, and the forechest is the protrusion of chest past |
| the height of a dog. The withers is a ridge on the | | | | that forelegs. |
| dog's back between its shoulder blades. The height | | | | The head of the dog includes characters common |
| of a dog is measured from the bottom of the paw | | | | among most mammals such as eyes, nose, ears and |
| up to the withers, and never includes the neck, head | | | | tongue. The elongated portion of the dog's mouth |
| or ears of a dog in the measurement. Starting from | | | | and nose area is known as the muzzle. The point |
| the paws on a dog's forelegs, the paw is connected | | | | where the muzzle meets the remainder of the head |
| to the pastern by the wrist joint. There is no human | | | | is known as the stop, and is usually where the eyes |
| equivalent to the pastern, but it is the shortest and | | | | are located. |
| lowest bone on a dog's forelegs excluding the paws | | | | While the various terms may seem initially daunting, |
| and toes. The pastern is connected to the forearm | | | | they are not difficult to learn. Knowing the key parts |
| by the pastern joint, and the forearm is connected | | | | of the German Shepherd anatomy will help ensure |
| to the upper arm by the elbow. These are only | | | | that you have the tools you need to make an |
| vaguely similar to forearms, elbows and upper arms | | | | intelligent, informed decision when purchasing a |
| found in humans. The upper arm is connected to the | | | | person protection dog, guard dog or security dog. |
| body by the shoulder. | | | | |