Hindquarters

Correct Hindquarters

HINDQUARTERS
THE ANGULATION OF THE HINDQUARTERS IS SIMILAR IN DEGREE TO THAT OF THE FOREQUARTERS.

THIGHS: STRONGLY MUSCULAR UPPER THIGHS EXTEND FROM THE PELVIS AT RIGHT ANGLES. THE UPPER THIGH IS THE SAME LENGTH AS THE LOWER THIGH, CREATING MODERATE STIFLE JOINT ANGULATION WHEN VIEWED IN PROFILE. THE REAR PASTERN (METATARSUS) IS OF MEDIUM LENGTH AND PERPENDICULAR TO THE GROUND AS THE DOG STANDS NATURALLY. THIS PRODUCES A MODERATE DEGREE OF ANGULATION IN THE HOCK JOINT, WHEN VIEWED FROM THE SIDE. THE HINDQUARTERS FROM THE HIP TO THE REAR PASTERN ARE STRAIGHT AND PARALLEL, AS VIEWED FROM THE REAR. THE REAR LEGS ARE OF SUFFICIENT BONE AND MUSCLE TO PROVIDE A BALANCE WITH THE FRAME. DOUBLE DEWCLAWS ARE LOCATED ON EACH REAR LEG.

REAR FEET: THE REAR FEET HAVE A STRUCTURAL TENDENCY TO TOE OUT SLIGHTLY. THIS BREED CHARACTERISTIC IS NOT TO BE CONFUSED WITH COWHOCKS. THE REAR FEET, LIKE THE FOREFEET, ARE ROUNDED, CLOSE-CUPPED, WELL PADDED WITH TOES WELL ARCHED.

FAULT:

ABSENCE OF DOUBLE DEWCLAWS ON EACH REAR LEG.

The key consideration is that the angulation of the hindquarters must be in balance with that of the fore-quarters. This means that the angles of the joints in the forequarters and the hindquarters should be nearly equal -- the point of the shoulder angle should be similar to the angle at the stifle and the angle at the elbow should be equal to the hock joint angle.
Overangulation in the rear wastes energy and efficiency of movement as the dog must either crab, pace, or create unnecessary extra rear or front (hackney) movement to keep from overrunning his front feet. Too little angulation in the rear limits propulsion required for efficient movement, climbing ability and fighting power.

Top: Correct Rear Angulation

Bottom Left: Incorrect Rear Angulation -
Too straight. Stifle lacks required moderate angulation. Not enough fall off in the pelvis.

Bottom Right: Incorrect Rear Angulation -Overangulated rear. Excess angulation at the meeting of the upper and lower thighs (stifle). Croup slopes too much due to excessive tilt of pelvis.

Thighs - The croup (formed by the pelvic bones assembly) of the Great Pyrenees slopes gently down from the level backline. The slope of the croup is less than that of the pelvis.
The length of the upper and lower thighs should be equal.

This rear assembly carries the lower thigh back to the hock joint where it meets the medium length rear pastern (metatarsus) at a moderate angle. When the Great Pyrenees stands naturally, its rear pastern should be perpendicular to the ground. As viewed from the side, the vertical rear pastern should be to the rear of the body (the front of the rear pastern should be under the rearmost projection of the upper thigh or buttocks) so that the tail hangs straight down between the hock joints while still maintaining a level backline.

Viewed from the rear, the legs drop in a straight line from hip to rear pastern. It is neither unusual nor incorrect to find a Great Pyrenees whose rear feet toe out. This is a function of the way in which the foot is attached to the leg and is different from the faulty "cowhock" rear where the hock joints twist together breaking the straight flow of bone assembly.

Correct Rear Feet - Double dewclaw on the inside of the rear pastern.

Inside each rear leg are located double dewclaws. While these dewclaws do not serve a recognized function today, they are a traditional breed characteristic.
When viewing movement going away, it is important to distinguish between (1) the breed's tendency to toe out as opposed to being cowhocked, and (2) moving close versus an illusion caused by the presence of the rear dewclaws.