Bowleggedness isn’t just for Saturday cinema cowboys. Bowed forelegs that are curved or are bent outward like a bow are part of the breed description for at least a couple of breeds, including the Glen of Imaal Terrier (“Forelegs – Short, bowed and well boned”) and the Tibetan Spaniel (“When viewed from the front, the bones of the forearms are slightly bowed to allow the front feet to fall beneath the shoulders”). Shoulders well laid lead to slightly bowed, but firm front legs.

Interestingly, each breed has as part of its history, the task of running in a wheel. The Glen of Imaal Terrier is the believed descendant of turnspit dogs, turnspits being a large wheel which, when paddled by the dog, would turn a spit over the hearth — a canine propelled rotisserie. The Tibetan Spaniel, meanwhile,  is said to have been used by Lamaists to turn their prayer wheels by walking on little treadmills. The prayer wheel, called a Mani Wheel by the monks, was a hand-held or large cylinder device on a spindle with rolls of thin paper inside printed with a specific mantra. A mantra is a sequence of words or syllables that are chanted, usually repetitively, to improve listening skills and develop more sensitivity toward others. The Mani Wheel was spun because Buddhists believe that spinning it has the same effect as verbally reciting the mantra.

Tibbies have wonderful qualities that you can read up on here.

Image of Tibetan Spaniel from the AKC’s website with permission