Post by saddlebred16 on Sept 10, 2008 20:03:13 GMT -5
The subject of toplines often comes up in conversation and is just as often, a topic of great debate. The reason being is that you can find as many differant 'looks' in GSDs out there as you can find shoe styles in a Payless. Here is what the offical breed standard states:
The top line extends from the point where the neck meets the skull past the well developed withers and the gently downward sloping back to the [glow=red,2,300]slightly sloping croup without a visible break[/glow]. The back is firm, strong, and well muscled. The loin is broad, well developed, and strongly muscled. The croup should be long and have a slight downward slope (approximately 23 degrees from horizontal) and should merge smoothly into the tail set.
Now, in laymans terms, this means several things.
#1 The back of a GSD shouldnt plummet sharply away from the neck, down toward the tail Millenium Force style (Cedar Point referance. lol).
#2 A flat back that extends from shoulder area straight back to the base of the tail is also faulty. So the popular 'flat backed' fans are also not following the breed standard.
#3 A correctly built GSD will have a pleasing topline where there is a gentle curve from the withers to the croup (above the hind legs) where another slope will be met.
Now, as we all know, to each their own. As dogs are used for differant purposes and to perform differant functions, they will adapt and be adapted as necesary, hence the 'types' that we see. The beauty of this is that there is an 'ideal' shepherd out there for everyone, whichever 'type' you may choose. However, I thought it was important for the breed standard to be addressed as that is how critiques are to be given. This is a topic that comes up at almost every show, class, trial, etc. that I have attended. As I am able I will procure photos of GSDs with several differant toplines and add them to this post for illustrative purposes.
The top line extends from the point where the neck meets the skull past the well developed withers and the gently downward sloping back to the [glow=red,2,300]slightly sloping croup without a visible break[/glow]. The back is firm, strong, and well muscled. The loin is broad, well developed, and strongly muscled. The croup should be long and have a slight downward slope (approximately 23 degrees from horizontal) and should merge smoothly into the tail set.
Now, in laymans terms, this means several things.
#1 The back of a GSD shouldnt plummet sharply away from the neck, down toward the tail Millenium Force style (Cedar Point referance. lol).
#2 A flat back that extends from shoulder area straight back to the base of the tail is also faulty. So the popular 'flat backed' fans are also not following the breed standard.
#3 A correctly built GSD will have a pleasing topline where there is a gentle curve from the withers to the croup (above the hind legs) where another slope will be met.
Now, as we all know, to each their own. As dogs are used for differant purposes and to perform differant functions, they will adapt and be adapted as necesary, hence the 'types' that we see. The beauty of this is that there is an 'ideal' shepherd out there for everyone, whichever 'type' you may choose. However, I thought it was important for the breed standard to be addressed as that is how critiques are to be given. This is a topic that comes up at almost every show, class, trial, etc. that I have attended. As I am able I will procure photos of GSDs with several differant toplines and add them to this post for illustrative purposes.