I'm not entirely sure when this trend started but I've been noticing in quite a few canine drawings lately that many have started to add a random 4th joint; like an ankle-wrist joint to the hind legs.

Now, as I said in the actual image -- some people may do this for style sake but there are tutorials toting this as 'proper anatomy' which works for horses and maybe monsters/fantasy beasts, but for realistic canines it doesn't.

While the toes bend there isn't another joint there above them -- that's the joint between the metatarsals and the phalanges bones; in essence is similar to a 'wrist' joint but it isn't, if that makes sense?

EDIT: I will quick mention that you do see a lot of this 'mistake' in canine game renders: such as Dogmeat from FO4 -- www.technobuffalo.com/wp-conte… and 'Riley?' from COD:G i.ytimg.com/vi/w4r9uA3YPSQ/hqd…)
Rigging a four legged animal can be hard for most because the anatomy is hard work work with. In reality where the toes would bend, they create a 4th joint because in motion you may not notice it.
However, standing still you can see their anatomy just doesn't look right in those hind legs. Sometimes games use an actual made rig for canines but sometimes, from the looks of it, they use a modified horse rig skeleton because the joints are lined up similar to a horse rather than a dog.
While in motion the error may not be noticeable, but stationary you can see it. It's not a 'huge' issue, but it's certainly not how actual dog legs work. Rigging is difficult business though so most of time it's forgivable lol




Here I have just doodled out a somewhat accurate example next to an example I reference off of images I'd seen from here. I won't name names or show images because I don't want to seem like I'm singling anyone out lol That's not my intention.
My intention is to try and help others understand the anatomy of the canine hind limb. There's only 4 examples here but they are the main ones. Sorry if they aren't entirely clear or precise; it's late and I woke up too early.

Regardless, I hope it helps?

Please, be kind in your replies/comments and realize my intention is not to single anyone out who does this small anatomical error; you're welcome to keep doing it if you wish. However, be aware that it's not proper anatomy




Thank you for your time!
PS: PLEASE EXCUSE TYPOS -- PHOTOSHOP TENDS TO LAG WITH PUTTING DOWN TEXT SO SOMETIMES I MISS THEM.



Here is another amazing tutorial done by the talented Anti-Dark-Heart which covers the same basic subject and probably 10x better than I did lol --


{Paint Tool SAI}
+_enjoy_+

http://ninjakato.deviantart.com/art/Canine-hind-leg-tidbits-572915260