If you think you have an understanding of the modeling world, you might be surprised to learn at how specialized it is. There is a call for “mature” models, “fitness” models, and models who are pregnant, tattooed, plus-sized, or pint-sized children. “Editorial models” are the people you see in fashion magazines and high-concept shoots, while “catalog models” appear in mail-order or online catalogs. We can’t forget “body-part” modeling. These are the people whose faces you don’t see, but whose hands, feet, legs, hair, eyes, or lips, are what you do see.
Each modeling specialty has its own requirements which, at the risk of stating the obvious, calls for people whose particular part is exceptionally well-groomed, photogenic, and suited to the specific needs of the client or campaign. Hand models need long, slender fingers with perfect skin and neat nails, while hair models have healthy, shiny, luxurious hair. Foot models need slender, symmetrical feet with high arches, long and thin toes, and even, symmetrical toe alignment.
In the human world, body-part models can get away with having one exceptional attribute, but in the conformation dog world, “parts judging” is frowned upon because dogs are meant to be evaluated as a whole. A pretty head is admired in a “head breed,” but working dogs don’t run on their heads. Type is important, but judges should also consider a dog’s overall balance, structure, and how all those parts work together to facilitate the breed’s intended function.
That said, at least one national breed club offers a special attraction at its national specialties, an acceptable “parts-judging” class, and that is the Lundehund Club of America. The non-standard class is called “Best Feet,” which reflects the importance of the Lundehund’s distinctive anatomical trait: Each Lundehund has at least six toes per foot, a characteristic critical to the breed’s historical function as a puffin hunter.
To our knowledge, there is no official set of rules for the “Best Feet” class, but one presumes that criteria are based on the breed standard and the unique functional anatomy of the Lundehund’s feet: Slightly outward-turned feet that are oval with at least six fully developed toes, five of which should reach the ground. Eight pads on each foot. The additional toes consist of one three jointed toe, like a thumb, and one two-jointed toe along with corresponding tendons and muscles that give the foot a strong appearance.
Judges may either inspect each foot during an individual exam, or the handler picks their dog up for the judge to go over his or her feet, but either way, they are looking for an elongated central pad that acts as a brake when the dog descends down cliffs. They are also looking for the fifth digit on each front foot that acts like an opposable thumb. Of course the judge is looking at the arrangement of pads, as well as counting them (eight on each front foot, seven on each rear foot).
To our knowledge, the “Best Feet” class dates back at least several years and it is consistently highlighted as a feature at a specialty. Again, the class isn’t a formal conformation class, but it is held in high regard – and it sounds like a lot of fun. Kudos to the Lundehund community for acknowledging this important aspect of their breed and incorporating it into their specialties.
Image by Jessica de Jong of mom & daughter shared with us back in 2018