Scroll down to see a photo of a Jack Russell Terrier puppy standing well over a pad:
Below is a photo of an Alaskan Malamute, also standing well over pads:
Photo of “Doc Holliday,”by Bailee Rodgers
One more: A Malamute named “Khaleesi” standing well over pads, as well:
Photo by Bailee Rodgers
The sharp-eyed among you have spotted the difference beyond the fact that two of the photos are of different breeds. In the first photo, we showed a dog standing well over a pad, while the last two images are of dogs standing well over pads. As in their foot pads.
Bailee Rodgers’ lovely Malamutes are helping us make two points (and one of the points is something we realized only as we were trying to choose which photo to use. In the end, we’re using both because each has something to illustrate).
The Alaskan Malamute’s AKC breed standard reads, “The Malamute stands well over the pads.” The next sentence adds that this stance gives the appearance of “much activity and a proud carriage.”
We happen to think there’s more going on with standing “well over the pads” than the appearance of “much activity and a proud carriage, and it has to do with the breed’s function as a draft dog. Bred to haul heavy loads over long distances in the Arctic, a Malamute standing “well over the pads” means the dog is biomechanically equipped to maximize its strength and endurance so critical to pulling sleds efficiently over rough terrain. As we see it, the appearance of “much activity” is simply shorthand suggesting that the dog exudes power because the dog is powerful, a dog built to be ready for work. Dogs that stand correctly over their pads are less prone to foot injuries, arthritis, and joint fatigue, bear their weight squarely and strongly on their paws, and all of it helps support endurance and stamina.
At this point, we pivot to our second point in a post that was only intended to have one, but as we looked at Bailee’s two photos, we were torn. The photo we initially felt best exhibited “standing well over pads” was also the photo in which grass hid the dog’s paws. Our second choice was second only because at first blush, the dog seemed to be posting, but the more we looked at it, the more we realized that he is not. His beautiful coat comes with an optical illusion that gives an impression of the dog leaning back, but when you envision an imaginary line from the dog’s withers to his pads, he is clearly not posting. A decent judge will quickly ascertain this, but we mention it to underscore the importance of hands-on examinations, and the reminder to look beyond coat
Having a “proud carriage” is just the beginning…..and our heartfelt gratitude to Bailee for sharing two terrific photos of her lovely dogs.
Top photo by Till Daling/Unsplash