Standing or sitting a bit splayed apart?

[BG1]

Sometimes I notice Bonnie sitts or stands a bit splayed apart on her front legs.


When she was 8 months or so I thought she might have pulled a muscle as she jumped off a 5' high cliff at the beach to a face plant, and ovcasionally for a few weeks after she'd skid out on a tight turn, bounce off a shoulder.

Does this seem like something worth a vet visit/xray? She doesnt limp, favor a leg, or appear to be in pain.



Its just the legs akimbo I wonder about...

 

[Ravenbird]

If she splays out as pictured from the front-view photo on a regular basis, I'd say it's just her conformation. "Toes out" they call it, relatively harmless in a companion dog doing normal things, perhaps a little harder on joints on an extreme athlete. From the DPCA Standard:

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.

 

[MichiH]

Sometimes I notice Bonnie sitts or stands a bit splayed apart on her front legs.
View attachment 160513

When she was 8 months or so I thought she might have pulled a muscle as she jumped off a 5' high cliff at the beach to a face plant, and ovcasionally for a few weeks after she'd skid out on a tight turn, bounce off a shoulder.

Does this seem like something worth a vet visit/xray? She doesnt limp, favor a leg, or appear to be in pain.

View attachment 160514

Its just the legs akimbo I wonder about...

This photo oh my goodness! She’s a doll! Sorry not related to what you’re looking for just had to say how darn adorable she is!

 

[Gelcoater]

I’ve noticed Millie splays a little when in a casual mode.
That shoe may have been in her way on that one.
But straight is she is on alert.




Alert

 

[BG1]

If she splays out as pictured from the front-view photo on a regular basis, I'd say it's just her conformation. "Toes out" they call it, relatively harmless in a companion dog doing normal things, perhaps a little harder on joints on an extreme athlete. From the DPCA Standard:

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.

Thanks @Ravenbird
Sometimes when she is onto something in hunt mode she looks "stacked", (tho I've never tried to, as showdog owners practice...

And as a fun thing about dobes its like "what from the past breed origin mix is showing up now?" For example-
other times she goes rock still and drops her head and gives a dog approaching in a stalk "the eye" like a border collie- usually on meeting another dog with that playful energy..."who is blinking first" until they go..."uh-oh..." maybe this dog is not playing...then the puppy bow!

And thanks @Gelcoater ...appreciate that reassurance too.

Other times she'll go stock still and lift a paw...scenting or hearing something...and I'm thinking...."Wut?...hmm, a pointer in the woodpile somewhere?"

Lol.
Anyone who knows these dogs can orobably pick a dozen flaws as she's a byb...and dont care. I tell people who ask "she is a mutant weinerdog, too long legs"...half nod sagely...

Thanks @MichiH she is a sweetie pie- reminding me "all work and no play makes Bonnie a dull girl"...
Such a rascal!

 

[Ravenbird]

We can nit-pick conformation all day long, but I learned a lesson way back in my endurance riding days to quit nit-picking horses conformation. If it doesn't absolutely cause physical injury, it's probably not going to be a bother. I was at an endurance ride where they had a 25, 50 and 100 mile ride competition. 25's done in 6 hours or less, 50's in 12 hours and 100's in 24 hours. The first place horse in the hundred miler was a small mare about 14.3 hands, almost pony-size, with cow hocks in the back and front feet turned out, a rather plain head and long ears that set out sideways. I can't recall the horses name or their time, but it was well under the time limit and hours in front of the 2nd place horse. The next morning at awards and trot out for best condition she looked as if she'd just come in fresh from the pasture and got best condition award as well. This was way back in the '80's and I said to myself, "don't ever judge a book OR a horse by the cover". I like good conformation and I like a pretty dog or horse as much as anyone, but it came up over and over in my 25 years with horses that even with athletic extremes some of the deal-breaker flaws didn't cause problems at all.

 

[remy]

It could be what’s referred to as “easty westy”. This article explains the difference types and causes. I’m not an expert, but I’d assume Bonnie has the “type 2” in the article.

 

[BG1]

Thanks @remy thats immensely useful info and gives me something to work with if some rehab exercise is helpful or care needs to be taken to avoid over-use, and something to show to the vet if it continues. These dogs are so stoic its a challenge to read pain signals, even while massaging legs and joints feeling for tightness or a sore tendon/ligament.

Here is a better picture after a good nights sleep:

 

[Ravenbird]

a better picture after a good nights sleep

If she's like this most of the time, she doesn't have any major problems with joints turning out/Easty-Westy. They are all going to have a weird stance every so often...

 

[BG1]

Thanks @Ravenbird