Fronts and Feet

Bowed Front
When viewed from the front, a bowed front is one in which the forelegs curve out from the elbows, and then in toward the wrist. Although faulty in most breeds this characteristic is required in the Tibetan Spaniel and the Pekingese.

Crooked Front
A crooked front is an essential construction of the forequarters of breeds such as the Dachshund and Bassett in order to accommodate the forward portion of the chest in these very short-legged breeds. When viewed from the front, the forelegs incline inwards and are sometimes slightly curved.

Gun-Barrel Front
A gun-barrel front is one which is straight when viewed from the front. Both forelegs and pasterns are straight, positioned vertically to the ground and also parallel.

Horseshoe Front
This is a specific description of the front of a Bedlington Terrier, in which the forelegs are straight but should be wider apart at the chest than at the feet.

Straight Front
The descriptions straight front and gun-barrel front are sometimes interchanged as in both descriptions the forelegs are perpendicular to the ground and parallel. In both, this straightness continues through wrists and pasterns, down to the feet.

Wide Front
Some breeds, notably the Bulldog, should have a wide front assembly, while in most breeds 'wide front' indicates that it is wider than is normally accepted in the breed.

Cat Feet
Cat feet is the term most usually used for feet which are round and compact, which well-arched toes and toes tightly bunched together, the two center ones being only very slightly longer than the others. The pads on such feet are deeply cushioned and covered with thick skin. A few breeds specify circular, close-cupped or compact feet which are basically the same, all leaving a round impression rather than an oval one.

Hare Feet
In hare feet the center toes are longer than the outer and inner ones and toe arching is less marked giving a longer overall appearance, as in the Tibetan Spaniel and the hind fee of the Borzoi.

Oval Feet
Sometimes called spoon-shaped feet, oval feet are much like cat feet in some aspects, but in other respects the center toes are just slightly longer. This is the accepted shape of the normal canine foot and can be found in the Pointer breeds.

Webbed Feet
Breeds which retreive from water often have webbed feet. This mean they have strong webbing between their toes, which helps them to swim. These types of feet are also found in breeds found in the artic, which have historically and traditionally had to work in the snow.