Hi Evan, The rudder is the turning mechanism on a ship, boat as well as an airplane but the dog turns with the fore-assembly. That is why the dip is present between the thoracic and lumbar vertebra as this is the pivot point--I know you know this and know your tongue in cheek response means you are in good form!!!!? Morton -----Original Message----- From: ELG440@xxxxxxx To: showgsd-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Sent: Fri, Jul 3, 2009 8:55 pm Subject: [ SHOWGSD-L ] GAITING In a message dated 7/3/2009 1:52:07 P.M. Pacific Daylight Time, janandmort@xxxxxxx writes: To repeat myself and draw an analogy from the auto-- the rear is the engine, the back the transmission and front is the steering mechanism. I like that. But wasn't the tail supposed to act as the rudder? That is a steering mechanism as I recall from my years in the navy. I was never in the navy, if anyone cares. Evan L. Ginsburg Asgard German Shepherds http://www.asgardgsd.com/ Where Type Movement and Temperament come together **************It's raining cats and dogs -- Come to PawNation, a place where pets rule! (http://www.pawnation.com/?ncid=emlcntnew00000008) ============================================================================ POST is Copyrighted 2008. All material remains the property of the original author and of GSD Communication, Inc. NO REPRODUCTIONS or FORWARDS of any kind are permitted without prior permission of the original author AND of the Showgsd-l Management. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. ALL PERSONS ARE ON NOTICE THAT THE FORWARDING, REPRODUCTION OR USE IN ANY MANNER OF ANY MATERIAL WHICH APPEARS ON SHOWGSD-L WITHOUT THE EXPRESS PERMISSION OF ALL PARTIES TO THE POST AND THE LIST MANAGEMENT IS EXPRESSLY FORBIDDEN, AND IS A VIOLATION OF LAW. VIOLATORS OF THIS PROHIBITION WILL BE PROSECUTED. For assistance, please contact the List Management at admin@xxxxxxxxxxxx VISIT OUR WEBSITE - http://showgsd.org NATIONAL BLOG - http://gsdnational.blogspot.com/ ============================================================================ ============================================================================ POST is Copyrighted 2008. All material remains the property of the original author and of GSD Communication, Inc. NO REPRODUCTIONS or FORWARDS of any kind are permitted without prior permission of the original author AND of the Showgsd-l Management. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. ALL PERSONS ARE ON NOTICE THAT THE FORWARDING, REPRODUCTION OR USE IN ANY MANNER OF ANY MATERIAL WHICH APPEARS ON SHOWGSD-L WITHOUT THE EXPRESS PERMISSION OF ALL PARTIES TO THE POST AND THE LIST MANAGEMENT IS EXPRESSLY FORBIDDEN, AND IS A VIOLATION OF LAW. VIOLATORS OF THIS PROHIBITION WILL BE PROSECUTED. For assistance, please contact the List Management at admin@xxxxxxxxxxxx VISIT OUR WEBSITE - http://showgsd.org NATIONAL BLOG - http://gsdnational.blogspot.com/ ============================================================================