You can always tell a craftsman who is proficient at what they do by watching them inspect the work of others: They look for the mistakes. Woodworkers look for gaps in joinery; Potters will spot “shivering,” a glaze defect, cross-stitchers and embroiderers examine the back of a canvas, and knitters, (who provide the jumping off point for our topic), look for dropped, erratic, and/or loose stitches. It is from them that we borrow the descriptive term, “well knit” to describe a dog that is constructed in a way that “flows.” No one aspect of the dog stands out, but rather, the dog’s front and aft and his assorted appendages blend in a way that is pleasing to the eye. The dog is “well knit.”

Most reference material will explain that well developed musculature is the reason for a well knit dog. They include Frank Jackson’s Dictionary of Canine Terms, Harold Spira’s Canine Terminology, the AKC’s New Complete Dog Book, and De Prisco and Johnson’s Canine Lexicon. We suppose it’s a matter of semantics if “well knit” means the same thing as “tightly knit,” but certainly both terms find their way into several breed standards:

The Puli has a “tightly knit body,” (we think the sole purpose of this is to enable this “rubber-band-gumby-dog” to coil its energy into a tightly compressed ball of of hair only to be released into the cosmos at the exact moment their owner has both arms full of something: 1) Flammable; 2) Breakable; 3) Edible, and/or 4) Delicate. Just saying.

The Boston Terrier has a “well knit” body, as does the Portuguese Water Dog,  the English Cocker Spaniel (who is “compact and well-knit”), and the English Springer Spaniel who, when in possession of “correct substance,” appears well-knit.  Add the Kerry Blue Terrier,  the Pug which has “well knit proportions,” and the Brittany which is “closely knit.”

Several standards call for “well-knit” or “tightly knit” shoulder blades” including the Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier, but also the Mudi,  the Bergamasco and the Pumi, the last three being herding breeds. The Scottish Terrier is “moderately well knit at the withers,” a West Highland White Terrier is “well knit at the backbone,” and the Maltese has elbows that are well knit.

We save for another post what “well knit toes” mean, but many standards call for them.

Image of a black Puli by Jennifer Ford is available for purchase in various sizes here.