When shoulder-blade and shoulder are
connected properly, the angle, which shoulder-blade makes with
humerus must be 90 °. Shoulders must be reclined. When Rottweiler
moves forward at a slack, the angle between its forearm and the
ground level is to be 45°.
When the shoulders are set upright and the angle of conjunction
between humerus and shoulder-blade is on the increase, step width
of Rottweiler goes down. The lower edge of shoulder-blade has
prominent parts that join with corresponding to them deepenings in
humerus.
This junction is named point of shoulder. In front, each of the
bones has little bulge protecting the joint from excessive slide
forward during movement of Rottweiler. The quantity of the line
drawn from the bulge on the humerus to the bulge on the
shoulder-blade determines Rottweiler’s step length. If the angle
between these two bulges will be less than 90 °, then it will
cause step shortening.
Correct upright set of forelimbs
Inside-out elbows, splayfoot
Dome-shaped set of forelimbs
Too closely-disposed forelimbs
Elbow joints of Rottweiler perform a function of fixative, i.e.
prevent forelimbs from moving forward and sideways. Deformities of
forelimbs (splayfoot, elbows turned in or out) complicate their
normal movability and consequently that is reflected on
Rottweiler’s working abilities. Very long wrist-high spoke and
elbow bones are disposed under elbow joint. The wrist is the joint
of 7 bones.
Too closely spaced metacarpuses, elbows turned in
Set of Rottweiler’s metacarpus: а – correct; б – abrupt; в –
inclined; г – curved forward
If during examination of Rottweiler its forelimbs look upright and
too widely spaced, then this witnesses that these body parts are
compliant with the breed standard. Experts may find out the
abnormalities such as too closely spaced forelimbs, toes-out,
talipes, dome-shaped forelimbs and closely spaced metacarpuses.
Among the deformities identified during execution of an
examination, you may also find flatness (rectification) of
humeroscapular joint, acute-angled conjunction of humerus with
shoulder-blade.
When Rottweiler’s shoulder is too short, elbow
part abuts against chest even if shoulder-blade is properly set.
At that protrusion of the chest does not strike the eye.
Metacarpuses soften blows of Rottweiler’s paws when the dog moves.
When Rottweiler’s metacarpuses are evaluated against conformance
to standard, special attention is usually paid to regularity of
their arrangement. Slightly inclined set of metacarpuses is a
plus, because if metacarpus is set vertically, the jerks arising
during movement of the dog will affect the bone axis without
amortizing and that in turn will inflict serious harm on ligaments
and tendons, increase the load upon them and even may lead to
emergence of pain and limp.
Properly developed paw: а – frontal view; б – side-view; в –
internal view
Incorrect shape of Rottweiler’s paw with widely spaced dactyls: а
– frontal view; б – side-view; в – interior view
When Rottweiler’s metacarpuses are too inclined, the muscles of
the forelimbs become soft and wasted that reduces working capacity
of the dog considerably. In the performance of the examination,
attention is paid to such deformities as slant metacarpus, abrupt
metacarpus, bulging of metacarpus and wrist.
As for Rottweiler’s paws, then they must be round-shaped first of
all, arched, with dactyls well-pressed to each other. Dactyl-pads
must be compact and springy; but the claws-hard and short, of
black color. If Rottweiler’s dactyls are too widely-spaced, then
this has adversive effect on the ability of the paws to spring
during touchdown.