By and large, the dog you have at your side is either built like a square (as in the Boxer), built like a rectangle (think Pyrenean Shepherd),  or built slightly longer than tall (like the German Shepherd), something fanciers sometimes refer to as “off square.” Many breed standards will describe the desired proportions of a breed, and it’s usually in terms of length versus height, though that said, a dog’s front and rear angulation is also dependent upon its body proportions. Some standards are pretty specific about height, and most measure height from the withers to the ground, but don’t make the mistake of reading a standard that writes, “length equals height” and thinking it always means a square dog – it doesn’t. The standard for the Sealyham terrier, for instance, writes, “Length from withers to set-on of tail should approximate height at withers.” From this we infer a square outline, but even a novice can tell that the outline of this breed is rectangular.

Then, too, are the features that can impact our perception of a dog’s outline: Leg length, coupling, angulation, length of rib cage, and the space between a dog’s hip bones and the last rib.  A dog’s “station,” or the space between the ground and a dog’s chest (or brisket), also impact our perception of their outline.

In a few posts from now, we’ll discuss what’s to be made of a dog that’s square, rectangular, or “off square.” For now, we encourage you to look – really look – at your dog’s outline. You might be surprised by what it means.

Image of a Pyrenean Shepherd