I'm showing an almost adult dog who has been doing very nicely but a recent critique mentioned he 'loses his topline a little on the move.'  He is in good hard condition (my opinion) and is well-muscled.

What specific exercise would/ could you use to strengthen a (level) topline?

We already do a mix of road & field walking and recall is good so he gets plenty of free running too.  Am I missing something?

Thanks :-)

Is it a conformation/structural problem that is causing the loss of the top line.

In my breed the topline should be level but if the back legs are too long/short then this is lost, no amount of exercise is going to alter the length of the legs, there is also roach back where the back arches to some degree again due to poor structure. The top line can also be lost if the movement is jerky and not smooth.

It is hard without seeing the dog to visualize the problem and need to know that breed to know what is normal, do you have a mentor in the breed who can look at you dog on the move and comment on whether it is correctable.

I hope you get some advice soon

Thanks Rhona.
Don't think its down to poor conformation though as he has a number of RCCs and some fantastic critiques.
I wondered if swimming would help.....or hill walking.

If it's just one judge I wouldn't worry overmuch - it might have been something on the day (either the dog or the ground conditions perhaps) but equally it might just be that the judge preferred another dog and simply chose this way to articulate why!

Is it a judge you know and greatly admire?  There are some judges who are very good on movement whose opinion I'd rate very highly but not everyone is very good at spotting it, and some judges just have difficulty writing about it.  It's always worth reading their recent crits alongside those of your entry on the day.  Some judges have a 'thing' they mention in almost every write up and it's well worth learning their writing and judging style when assessing and interpreting their critiques :)

I'm not suggesting the judge is wrong, or right, but you do need to look at the overall 'picture' of your dog as described by a variety of different judges.

> Don't think its down to poor conformation though as he has a number of RCCs and some fantastic critiques.

I don't show dogs but have shown many other animals - Surely RCC says your dog is worthy of the award just in better company, and not having any serious fault. You may just be unlucky to meet the competition you have met, but it sounds to me like he is a nice example of his breed, and in the scheme of things is a lot better than many others he's been up against, CCs or not.

Someone I handle a dog for runs a professional hydrotherapy center and I have heard from her as well as several other people that swimming can strengthen a topline. Because the swimming motion is different from the motion of normal movement, you're strengthening muscles in the back that would not otherwise be used.

You've also got to think some judges don't like to put faults down on critiques while others will fault find for them.
Also I've seen many a CC winner without the best topline get the honours, because discounting all else the judge thought it best or reserve on the day... Not saying that this is the case at all, but so you aren't going into this blind I'd ask someone who judges the breed who is going to be honest of their opinion.

Swimming is good if your dog is going to use all their legs... It maybe that your dog is slightly strong front or back and just needs to firm up over all, swimming and water treadmill will do this if not a constructional issue..

Good luck, the above re the water activities are what I would do after speaking to a top judge in the breed you trust!!

Fleabag, is this the first time this 'losing topline' problem has been raised?

If so..ignore it. I find that many judges have stock phrases they use to explain why they put one dog over another. Often they cant remember the dog, its movement or much about them by the time theyve chosen and write up at the table.

In a recent write up by a ...very disinterested, offhand, frankly bored judge..who hardly looked at the dogs moving at all ...wrote in her critique of my bitch.. " moves close behind".  You can find many other things  to say about this particular bitch ...but not that.

The rest of her critique of the entry was mainly, nice this, nice that....

Thank you everyone for your replies. :-)

This is the first time I've read a critique that mentioned losing his topline.....most have complimented his topline, overall balance and positive movement.  Maybe it was something on the day.....grass, bright sunlight, shadows, marquee etc.

Might look into swimming as an additional exercise.....particularly if these 'summer' nights keep drawing in as fast as they have been and our long country walks suffer!

Also you say he is an almost adult dog, so I would not expect him to be fully finished, with several areas still growing to throw things off balance temporarily.

Whilst not disagreeing with anything already written :-) take him out and video him yourself, try slightly different speeds and also slightly different lead/head positions.  The go with the one you feel gives the best look

> Maybe it was something on the day.....grass, bright sunlight, shadows, marquee etc

Or for something to say!

If your dog has done well up til now and youve never heard his topline is soft... then, by all means get someone to move him for you and gauge for yourself.

I know my bitch doesnt move close because I watch her outside all the time.