Breed Standard Changes in UK (GSD and non-GSD) - Page 6

Yes I am Missbeeb.  All I can ask then is that you do the ruler test on a photo, as above.  This will show if there is any curvature of the back between withers and croup. 

I know a lot of the dogs that look to be roached in the stack possibly aren't so roached in movement, particularly when free moving, but nevertheless, I'd say a large proportion of modern day German line dogs are roached, most of them only slightly admittedly.

Oh no, not at all!  I hate the weak sloppy backs, probably more than I hate roach. I have owned and bred German line dogs.  I did my judge's training with The League many years ago and have judged the breed (I award CCs in another breed) and always prefer to see a slight roach rather than a slighly dippy topline.  I do however deplore the usual GSD policy of denying that a roach is present when it clearly is.

 "pod
can you tell me when i mentioned topline i only spoke about the back  and will say again a roach back is when the back is higher than the wither it fails me what part of this you do not understand the back between withers and croup.
jim h"

Ok the teacher in me can't resist giving it a try.

Take a dog that is a roach back by jim h's definition, where the back IS higher than the wither.  Ok, everyone with me so far?  Now take that dog on a hike in the mountains.  On your way up the mountain, stand him still as he is pointing with his head uphill on a steep slope.  Still with me?  His front paws are on the ground, and his back paws are on the ground lower than the front paws, on a very steep slope.  His head is uphill, his shoulders are on higher ground than his hips, his wither is higher than the "highest" point of the back.

Or better yet, stand that dog on some stairs pointing up the stairs.  Again, his wither is higher than the rest of his back.

Highest means farthest from the center of the Earth, the highest point of elevation.  The "highest" point of an object is dependent on the lay of the land that the object is on.

That is why, without specifying "highest point ON LEVEL GROUND" defining the highest point of a moveable object is meaningless.

That is why, if I understand correctly, the roach back is defined according to shape (straight vs. curved), not elevation.

I'm just a noob but I think I understand what pod is saying.

Thanks Missbeeb, glad I did something ok for you :)


Jayne... oh so glad to hear from someone who is with me on this, and so well explained.  Thank you!

what on earth has the slope of a hill or stairs got to do with a roached back nothing nothing nothing for goodness sake a roach back is when the dog is standing foursquare and the back is higher than the withers fact  a whippet or greyhound for example have roach backs    not rocket science
jim h

 "what on earth has the slope of a hill or stairs got to do with a roached back nothing nothing nothing for goodness sake"

MY POINT EXACTLY!!!

So then you agree that the definition of roach back has to do with the SHAPE, not with which part of the back is at a highest elevation?

By the way I AM a rocket scientist.  ROFLMAO