By and large, a roll that shows up while a dog is gaiting in a show ring is regarded as incorrect, if not a fault in most breeds. The exceptions of which most dog people are aware is the Bulldog: “Gait: The style and carriage are peculiar, his gait being a loose-jointed, shuffling, sidewise motion, giving the characteristic “roll.”
But there are other breeds in which a roll is not only present during the dog’s gait, but correct per their respective AKC breed standards – and the roll occurs for the same reason: A wide front, rib cage, or body:
“Gait: The round, deep and wide chest of the Sussex Spaniel coupled with its short legs and long body produce a rolling gait;”
“Because of his wide body and short legs he tends to roll slightly” Clumber Spaniel;
“The broad chest, wide set forelegs and the closer rear legs all contribute to the correct rolling gait [in the Pekingese];”
“Irish Water Spaniel: Gait: Moves freely and soundly with balanced reach and drive. Should be true, precise and not slurring; may have a characteristic rolling motion accentuated by the barrel-shaped rib cage;”
“The Neapolitan Mastiff’s movement is not flashy, but rather slow and lumbering. … Rolling motion and swaying of the body at all gaits is characteristic;”
We use the Clumber Spaniel as an example for further discussion.
A correct Clumber Spaniel should have a well laid back shoulder, a straight, firm back, and a deep brisket with well sprung ribs. His chest is deep and wide, and because of this wide body and short legs, a Clumber tends to roll slightly when he reaches forward with his rear leg toward the center line of travel, while rotating his hip downward as his back stays level and straight. A properly proportioned Clumber can maintain this steady trot for a day of work in the field without tiring because it is a comfortable gait for the dog.
It behooves AKC Hunt Test judges (and owners, for that matter) to know the hunting characteristics of the breeds they are judging, and as says as much on page 23, paragraph 5 of the AKC Hunt Test regulations. It mentions that various Spaniels perform differently, and that some breeds may not cover as much ground as rapidly as others, but that they still must find, flush and retrieve birds in a pleasing and efficient manner. The original vegetation in which the breed was expected to hunt was tough. So tough that it could be impervious to the efforts of dogs with a narrow, refined build. Tremendous drive and determination to fight through thickets to get at a bird wasn’t enough if a dog lacked the build of a sturdy Tonka Truck. Happily, preservation Clumber breeders know how well the long, low, wide and sturdy build of the Clumber pushes through the thickest underbrush or thicket like a BrushCat Rotary Mower “bush-hogging” in open fields or in woodlots.
Image: A Clumber Spaniel at Work by Jan Irving is available for purchase as fine art or a greeting card here.