Actually it is a ligamentation problem and does seem to occur with greater frequency in straight stifled breeds. Look at many of the Chow Chows in the AB magazines and you'll see LOTS of examples. The dog appears not to have a hock as the ligaments allow the hock to hyperextend forward. I've seen it in Aussies too. I'm not sure that it is genetic as much as a structural problem with lack of length of bone in the upper thigh. Remember that in the brachycephalic breeds the sinus cavity doesn't go away - it gets squashed up into that smushed in muzzle causing breething problems. Shorten the upper thigh and the ligament is too long to maintain the proper strength in the hock joint...... JMO If its in a breed that is not known for being straight in the stifles, and the puppies are not, I'd be tempted to tape them for a couple of weeks and see if the ligament shortens. -- Suzanne www.tsalishepherds.com Home of Ch Firedog, Ch Cookie, Ch Flair, BIS/BISS Ch Yancy, Ch Flash, and Lil' Miss Dancer!! Website updated 11/04 > sorry, hit the send button too soon. slipping hocks are what some > people call double jointed hocks...the hocks can flex more than usual > (not in a good way). If you push on them they cave in, and the dog can > stand (move?) in such a way that the joint more or less disappears on > the follow thru............. it's usually accompanied by straight > stifles, too...but not always. > Peggy > Sally Hayden wrote: > > > I have no idea what they are- some one tells us what a slipping hock , > > popped hock is > ============================================================================ POST is Copyrighted 2005. 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://www.showgsd.org ============================================================================