Problem rigging a quadruped in Maya

[videl]

Hi

I am rigging/animating a roe deer at the moment. Everything works great, except the back legs.

I just did a normal IK setup with RP Solver and pole vector constraint to control its orientation. As the back legs are built up with 4 joints (and not 3 as in a normal human leg), I got two joints where it has to bend. But as I move the foot up, a part of the leg stays rigid. It stretches when I move the IK handle further away, but I need bending as I move the handle up.

here a video showing my problem:
YouTube - Ik problem

I hope you see what I mean.

[Piflik]

I'd create an IK to the ankle and control the foot with either a second IK or a FK...or the other way around...create one IK from the knee to the foot and control the thigh with a separate IK or FK...but I think I'd use the first...

[videl]

Thanks for your reply!