Said to be a little "Hocky"

[Lindsey Rose]

You must excuse me I am not a Boxer owner but find this websight to be very informative. I do hope you can still help me with my question.

My German Shorthaired Pointer is a lovely dog and promises of a big future are not out of the question but he has been commented on once as being a bit 'hocky' by a woman at his first puppy match.
My breeder says at his age (14 weeks) this is nothing to worry about and his legs need to strengthen up back there. I take him for hikes and bounds in the field as well as walks, don't worry I don't over do it. But, I was wondering what exactly does hocky mean my breeder said she noticed no such thing in him.
So I was wondering if someone was being cynical or perhaps they didn't know what they were talking about, but if they are being sincere what can I do to make sure this juvinile 'hockiness' doesn't develop into a major problem.
When he is stacked I see nothing wrong and when he is gaiting or even walking but when he is standing in the livingroom sometimes his legs are under him a bit more than I like and he can also stand slightly cowhocked but then when he walks or gets firm footing it is gone (we have hard wood floors). Could the floors also be a problem? If he is a bit hocky I understand no dog is without his faults but if you could help me to understand this term better it would help a lot.
The following link is his rear at 8 weeks when he was still with the breeder.

http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k1...d/IMG_1552.jpg

Again please excuse me and if anyone could help me out. I thank you all for your time and consideration.

[gmacleod]

You don't need a boxer to be welcome here (though it helps if you like them LOL).

I think the term refers to the same thing as "cow hocked". That describes the toes turning slightly outward and the hocks inward (like a cow). There's no sign of that in your picture, but the pup is stacked rather than seen moving or standing naturally. IF that's what it's about, there's not much you can do -but it's also something many pups grow out of as their musculature develops (which is something only age can produce).

[Lindsey Rose]

Thank you very much for your reply. I understand a little more about this now. I guess we shall just wait and see. Is it possible to tell from a current "relaxed" picture if the hockiness will go away with growth or is that impossible to tell?

By the way I love Boxers my husbands family has quite a few in many of thier households. I would have one myself but we were looking for a hunting companion as well as a show dog. There is always the future though!

[gmacleod]

A more relaxed stance would very likely tell the story, indeed. And if it's mild (if it even exists) then likely it would disappear with muscular development. If you were to do an internet search with that term also, you'll probably come across plenty of pictures and diagrams on various sites that would give you a good idea of what you're looking for.

[Lindsey Rose]

I have been looking the subject up online as suggested and have found a few different things about it. I really don't think he is at the severity of which I am seeing but I am unsure if that is just because people are posting the worst pictures they could find or if that is really what the fault calls for. Well here is a relaxed picture well as relaxed as he gets especially when mom is behind him lol i put a hand on his one leg to hold him still but I didn't move the leg at all. Let me know if this pictures is sufficient enough.

http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k1.../London002.jpg

I did find one thing interesting they said on one of the sights I found. They said a cowhocked dog can't single track and he does that just fine so perhaps he is just a little lazy with his legs yet. Thanks for all your help. I really enjoy the sight and all the info.

[gmacleod]

OK Well, in that photo he does have very slightly turned out toes and inward hocks. But it's very slight! Not enough, I would have thought, to impact his gait at all, and therefore really not worth mentioning. Especially on a young pup like that, whose musculature really hasn't developed much at all yet. Personally, I'd have high hopes and a fair amount of expectation that things would correct substantially as he gets old enough to develop the leg muscles needed to keep things straight.

As for faults - I don't know much about GSPs, but I see the breed standard puts quite a lot of stress on this point (so I guess it's especially important in this breed - which in turn probably is the reason that even such a slight degree is remarked). The perfect dog is yet to be born though in any breed. So I wouldn't worry too much about this in an otherwise good puppy. Just see how he develops and take it from there

[Jpep]

Originally Posted by gmacleod

The perfect dog is yet to be born though in any breed. So I wouldn't worry too much about this in an otherwise good puppy. Just see how he develops and take it from there

wow thats harsh all this time I thought I had the perfect dog...LOL

The hockiness stated does look very slight to me, could get better, could possibly get worse, time will tell, I wouldn't worry on that, and at that age for someone to even bring it up seems petty, then again I'm not a judge, if I was my dog would win every show. HAHA, very cute pics though even if it is just of his butt.

[Lindsey Rose]

Thanks a lot you guys have been really helpful. I will just manage to hope, pray and not look for the next few months.
Here are some non butt pictures!

http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k1.../London011.jpg

http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k1...ondon010-1.jpg

http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k1...ondon010-2.jpg

[paysmom]

No comment on the "hockiness", but you have a beautiful boy there!!!