We all love dogs in all shapes and sizes, or at least most of you! Some of us have predilections for specific types of dogs. Once you have had many of the long-backed dogs, you may become addicted! As one of my Daschund clients describes – ‘they are like potato chips – you cannot just have one!’ Some of the breeds are specifically bred to have long backs for a purpose. Other breeds are bred with long backs for a purely aesthetic reason.
So, what are some common long backed dogs?
- Cardigan Welsh Corgi
- Pembroke Welsh Corgi
- Dachshund – all varieties
- Basset Hound
- Westphalian Dachsbrake
- Lancashire Heeler
- Drever
- Sussex Spaniel
- Clumber Spaniel
- Beagle
- Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen
- Greyhound
- Shih Tzus
- Cavalier King Charles Spaniels
- Llaso Apsos
- Bulldogs
- French Bulldogs
- Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retrievers.
If your dog is not on the list, it does NOT mean they do not have a long back. Many breeds not in the common long backed dog list have long backs. German Shepherds have been bred for longer backs and probably fall into the ‘aesthetic’ reason column. The dogs listed are known for their long backs. There are many other dogs that have long backs, and as we continue to learn more, I will update the list! Of course, these are pure breds, and not taking into account the many wonderful mixed breeds with long backs.
A dog’s length of back is breed specific, and should always lead back to the original purpose of the dog. Dogs that were bred to be long and low, such as a Daschund, were bred to move at slower speeds. A dog that is slightly longer than tall will increase the dogs’ speed. Many sighthounds are longer than tall, as are sled dogs and some Border Collies. Ideally, these dogs will have more speed and be able to cover more ground. The problem arises when the rest of the dog is not balanced. Without going into too much conformation, and I highly recommend Sue Alisby’s conformation classes, we need to have a solid forelimb and hindlimb assembly. We will discuss topline later on in the class, but a bad topline is usually do to something else going on in the dog. It may be due to poor conformation in the forelimb, hindlimbs, pain, an injury, or more.
In week one we will talk about:
- How can you tell if your dog has a long back?
- What are injuries that long backed dogs are predisposed to?
- Beginning Exercises
Instructor: Debbie (Gross) Torraca
