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The Anatolian topline is probably one of the most misunderstood parts of the Anatolian Shepherd Dog is the Topline. When I am at a Dog Show ringside one of the most commented topics I hear about is what is the correct topline for the Anatolian? As in other breeds, the topline is an imperative part of our Anatolian. The topline is a great clue to the aspects of function of the ASD.
The correct topline like the topline featured in the above picture taken out of the Judges Guide and quoting from the Breed Standard: Topline will appear level when gaiting. Back will be powerful, muscular, and level, with a drop behind withers and gradual arch over the loin, sloping slightly downward at the croup.?
In the above photograph the first line indicates the dip behind the withers, in between the second and the third line is the level back portion showing the gradual arch over the loin. The arrow is pointing to the arch over the loin. The third line indicates the sloping downward at the croup. I think the biggest area in confusion for the fancy, is most people in the fancy itself, are not aware of the actual portions of the structure that makeup topline. Most of the people who are not aware of the actual parts of the Dog anatomy will just refer to the entire topline as the back. Back is being used to denote the entire topline rather than the small portion of the topline that is the back itself.
Therefore when people sit down to read the standard and how it is written; they do not know how to correctly apply the standard to their own ASD using the proper terminology. This is further complicated and confusing to apply the portion of the standard relating to topline: ?Topline will appear level when gaiting.? Most folks forget to include the ?when gaiting? portion.
So when you hear the famous topline discussion ringside again you will be able to ?set the record straight? so to speak. Back and topline are not the same thing. The back is but parts of an Anatolians correct topline.
To quote Mr. Richard Beauchamp on the correct silhouette ?the correct silhouette both standing and in motion. Slightly longer than tall, with what I call the ?lazy-s? topline (a very gentle curve downward behind the withers than arching slightly up over the loin area).
* Excerpted from an article in The Anatolian Times issue 2005 #1.
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