We talked about “roach” toplines a few days ago. Can you describe the kind of sloping topline that would be regarded as a fault?
Imagine a table with legs that are all the same length. Now imagine sawing in half the legs at one end of the table. That’s the kind of sloping top line we’re talking about. Always – always – always check the breed standard to see what’s correct for your breed, but if it calls for a level top line and your dog resembles that table, you’ll want to consider the activities you do with your dog.
An extreme slope in a breed where it’s incorrect can lead to back or spine injuries, cause the front shoulders to break down (or the rear, depending upon which end of the dog is creating the slope), and make the dog more prone to arthritis or hip osteoarthritis. Dogs with low croups also have limited extension in their hock joints, so jumping can become problematic.
What about German Shepherd Dogs? Their AKC breed standard reads, “Topline: The withers are higher than and sloping into the level back.” We defer to GSD owners and breeders to expand upon this because they are the breed experts.
And finally, we were reminded last week of the importance of consulting a veterinarian which are wise words indeed. In the meantime, breed standards are not just for show dogs, they are blueprints that spell out what is correct for your dog whether she’s a couch potato or an agility whiz dog. If you have trouble finding your dog’s breed standard, holler, we’ll get it for you.
“Where Eagles Dare” by Judith Bates
www.judebatesart.com