Louis Donald’s FCI Lecture: From GSDs to Dachshunds
In June 2026, I had the pleasure of attending Louis Donald’s workshop at the FCI Judges Congress in Bologna, Italy. His presentation on the critical relationship between structure and motion was fascinating, drawing on his decades of work as a specialist in German Shepherd Dogs (GSDs) and his extensive research into 51 herding and droving breeds. It was a refreshing reminder that soundness, not fleeting trends, is the bedrock of what we do as judges and breeders. The lecture is available on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1PdQD4kfcU8
In this article, I want to reflect on his presentation and transfer the learning to my breed, Dachshunds.
Why structure matters: takeaways on locomotion
The presentation was based on an understanding of biomechanics. He used an animated video to illustrate the basics of quadruped movement. This helped to understand how legs function as pendulum, wheel, spring, and lever systems. Watching the breakdown of footfall rhythms, from the walk to the trot and gallop, made the complexity of force transmission more obvious. As a caveat, although these mechanics are universal, they must always be interpreted through the lens of a breed’s specific purpose. The focus must be on sustainability and efficiency, not theatrical animation.
Judging movement: focusing on the whole dog
Louis warned against judges and breeders looking for superficial ‘flashy’ movement; he emphasised the importance of long-term endurance. Whether he was discussing how hindquarters provide powerful, controlled drive or the importance of a stable, level back, his focus was always on harmony. Interestingly, his definition of beauty was “a dog that efficiently performs its historical role is the most beautiful dog of all”.
The dangers of exaggeration
A significant part of his talk addressed the ‘curse’ of structural exaggeration, such as the over-angulated hindquarters we see too often today in so many breeds. He discussed how prioritising a ‘look’ creates cascade effects that compromise stability and energy efficiency. It shows how easily breeders and judges can lose sight of the breed standard in favour of what’s currently trendy in the ring.
The relevance to my breed
While Donald’s expertise is rooted in German Shepherd Dogs and herding breeds, his biomechanical framework is just as relevant to the Dachshund (and other breeds). The unique chondrodystrophic physiology of our breed presents specific structural challenges that require an understanding of functional health to prevent the “cascade effects” of compromise that he described.
He emphasises that movement is not about “flashy” or theatrical animation, but about efficient force transmission. For a Dachshund, which is predisposed to spinal issues, this biomechanical chain is critical; if the front assembly is incorrect or the rear is unbalanced, the dog cannot distribute weight effectively. In the show-ring, it is easy to reward a flashy trot, but true efficiency means movement that allows the dog to perform its historical role without placing undue stress on its joints or back. If movement looks “theatrical,” it often indicates compensation for structural deficiencies rather than healthy, athletic function.
Source: Horswell 1958 – The Pet Dachshund
Frustratingly, breeders and judges often agree with these principles in theory but can fail to recognise exaggeration when it is staring them in the face. This is a challenge to the Dachshund community, and indeed to enthusiasts of all breeds, to move away from valuing flashy movement that masks weakness and to analyse critically whether current and emerging show-ring trends align with what our breed standards intended. The most beautiful dog is always the one that is structurally balanced, efficient, and capable of performing its historical role without compromising its health.
The dangers of conformational exaggeration
A significant threat to our breed is over-angulation in the hindquarters, which may create a dramatic silhouette at the expense of structural compromise. We see far too many dogs that are too long in the lower thigh and, increasingly, dogs that can’t stand with the hock joint to the foot perpendicular to the ground. Quite why judges can’t see this is beyond me. The handlers are constantly fiddling with the hind legs when the dogs are stacked because they are conformationally incapable of standing four-square, naturally, on their own. They are sickle-hocked (“tummy-tapping”) when they move.
In Dachshunds, exaggerating the length of the back, or failing to maintain the stable, level back Donald calls for, is a further route to health problems.
The emergence of a ski-slope topline when the breed is stacked flies in the face of the UK standard which calls for back reasonably level, blending harmoniously between withers and slightly arched loin. Withers and quarters of approximately the same height. Loin short and strong. When structural balance is lost for the sake of an outline that exceeds what is functional, it compromises stability. Excessive rear angulation can alter weight distribution along the entire spine, especially when in combination with a long loin, increasing strain in a breed where spinal health must remain a priority.
Breed Standards as functional descriptions
Ultimately, breed standards must be treated as functional descriptions rather than flexible suggestions for judges to bend to their preference. Donald warns against “fault judging” in isolation; for Dachshunds, this means looking past individual quirks to judge the whole dog. We must ask: does the dog have the structural integrity to perform its original function and to endure a long, healthy life? By prioritising soundness over show-ring trends, judges can reward dogs based on whether their structure promotes and preserves the essential “fit-for-purpose” nature of the breed.
