talk to me of toplines

Can folks describe the "perfect" corgi topline? maybe post some pictures of good examples. I'm under the impression that a depression at the top of the shoulders is acceptable. is that true? Does a less than perfect topline have any implications for back health? Can it be influenced by exercise? I can see that weight might make a difference, too.

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Permalink Reply by John Wolff on August 23, 2011 at 2:32am

5 y.o. Al is straight. 8.5 y.o. Gwynnie is quite concave. The jury is out.

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Permalink Reply by Rachael & Waffle on August 23, 2011 at 7:58am

The perfect topline is absolutely level. The "dip" behind the shoulders is not actually a dip in the spine, but the illusion of a dip created by the fur there. A less than perfect topline may have implications for back health. From what I understand, a sagging topline indicates little support for the back at that area. I posted a discussion about my dog's topline here because I was concerned where his back had a hump towards his hips that that was an indication of something being wrong. Sam said the hump and back pain was not a coincidence. I have not been able to investigate the issue further, but it makes sense.

I HAVE noticed that his topline improved greatly after becoming his ideal weight of about 33-34 pounds--he was 3 or 4 pounds underweight in that photo. Not a perfect topline, but much better than in that picture. Muscle over the spine can change the appearance of the topline also. In a perfect topline, the spine/muscle/fat come together to create a level appearance.

I can imagine that [light to moderate] exercise would be beneficial in a number of ways; chief among them, building muscle and strengthening/tightening the joints, which would serve to improve the overall musculoskeletal health of your dog but would also have some effects on spine health. High impact exercise would probably have more of a deleterious effect than a beneficial one.

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Permalink Reply by Jane on August 23, 2011 at 8:53am

Yes it should appear straight to the eye. Technically speaking it should not dip (swayback) or look humped. My cardi Luke has a pretty straight topline, but I did notice when he hurt his back leg that he looked very "roached", or was humping up his back because his leg hurt. So it can be an indicator of pain if the dog is carrying himself differently than normal, but not all wonky toplines are going to cause health problems. The topline can also change as the dog ages, dogs often go through the "puppy uglies" and get high in the rear for a while, and then level off again as they get older and the other bones catch up in growth.

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Permalink Reply by Vee Luther on August 23, 2011 at 10:06am

What beautiful dogs! I see the topline and as i look at my guys, they seem to be quite level across the top. Just another reason to work at that weight issue, isn't it?

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Permalink Reply by Beth on August 23, 2011 at 10:22am

My retired show dog has a topline that you could set a glass of water on; she finished in 8 shows so I take it she's pretty typey. I dunno, really.

My pet-quality dog has a slight roach near his hindquarters. He's not lame. In his case, I can't tell if it's structural or muscular. He DOES love to do the Corgi sliding stop on the tile when he plays, and he tucks in his backside whenever he does it, so it occurs to me it might be 10% structural and 90% muscular, if you know what I mean.

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Permalink Reply by Elizabeth, Hermione and Luna on August 23, 2011 at 8:13pm

I've been worrying about this too. Hermione is straight as a board. Luna is swaybacked right behind her shoulders. I worry. They are only 1 and no problems right now.