Topline Problem!

[YorkieRose]

Yes, I see your point. Your bitch did not have the best top line at the time of sale and have been told it can take 18 months...it really is not fair. At 6 months you could begin showing her and now must wait it out to see if the breeder is correct. Would she take her back for partial payment for an older one?
Do you have any club members/show breeders who would back you and talk with the breeder? Might be tough since she is a judge...they will not want to ruffle her feathers..

[Cupy]

The breeder don`t answers to my mails!

I had a chance to sell her for the same price I bought her, but I think I can`t do that I love her and I really hope this topline will change a little bit more.
Here are two new pictures. They are not very good, but at least you can see topline.

[Cupy]

New pictures

[yorkiekist]

In the first picture, she is stacked great!!!! She looks really good. Its hard for me to see the low tail set. In the second picture, I think she is not stacked as well as her front legs are a little to out in front of the dog. I didnt get to see the videos as I was unable to pull them up on the computer. It kept saying video not there.??? She looks to have great color and seems very cobby and square. But its hard to tell just from pictures. I would have another breeder or judge look at her also. Lynn

[yorkiekist]

After looking at the pictures again, I can see a little hump in her back in the first picture. Does she walk with this slight hump also? I definately would get a few expert opinions on her. If you do keep her, I would breed her to the stud with the best top-line you can get. I would look and see what he has produced in the past as well. Good luck!!! I know how discouraging this can be. Lynn

[YorkieRose]

My question is this... If, when she is free standing or walking, does her top line look like the first photo...that is a photo of a good top line, but does she lose it when she is not stacked or leash pulling front end up...if she looks like the second, then of course you do not want to show her...

[Cupy]

YorkieRose the answer to your question is that somethimes when she is standing by herself her topline looks great and another time don`t. It all depends how she stands. When she is walking her back looks a little bit higher. Only when she saw something and she start barking her tail is much up and her head is high than her topline is good also.

It this good at least for breeding or should I sell her???

[YorkieRose]

This is how I see the problem...you have waited a long time to find out this Yorkie has a top line you can not use for the ring. The breeder told you it would correct, only to find out, it did not correct. So, when you breed her you will have to watch her pups to see how they turn out..you will never be able to keep anything with peace of mind, knowing that pup could take after the dam.
If you have a person who wants to give her a good home and you trust them to do so, then I would think along those lines...but it is your decision as the time you have to invest in watching puppies grow up..best wishes..

[dyanna neal]

after showing for over 30 years. i would say the top line you have now , is what you will always have. not good. i am so sorry. dyanna

[Paz]

I have a little girl, and i would like to ask, is her topline good or bad? and could it change? I think my girl stopped growing, but i dont know she is my first dog...

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[Yorkiemom1]

What a sweet baby girl!! I do not show Yorkies, but have owned retired Ch. and Gr.Ch. bitches for breeding stock and my cornerstone stud, Boss, was an International Ch/Gr.Ch. I have been around many level top lines! That being said, in my NON PROFESSIONAL eye/opinion, which may or may not be accurate, I see an unlevel topline. Show people have many, many ways of stacking a dog so that top line may level out some and appear more level, but I can see a slope at the front shoulder (?) and a slight rise mid back....I am anxious for one of our show people to come and give their opinion.....I love to learn about these things!!! It can be very hard to critique your own baby, to see tiny little things these sharp eyed, experienced show people/judges/handlers can spot quickly. I am wondering about the angle of her neck to body also....
Is the tip of her left ear not trimmed to a point?....it looks like her ear tip is missing in two of the pics that I can see.....

You have a beautiful baby girl.....thank you for putting her out there for us to look at and essentially critique! Please do not go solely by what I am finding and pointing out....I am not a show person and I am just looking at her as if she was one of mine I was thinking about putting in the ring!

[Mike1975]

Originally Posted by Paz

I have a little girl, and i would like to ask, is her topline good or bad? and could it change? I think my girl stopped growing, but i dont know she is my first dog...

How old is she and how does she look when she is in an alert position?

[Mike1975]

Head and neck control the muscles involved in order to bring the dog in a natural show pose. In an alert pose.
In order for this system to work naturally, the dog needs a stimulus. Something that will power the heart and soul for the body to show its full potential.
So, In order to evaluate a level topline , the dog has to bring its head high proudly in an alert position.
This move tightens the muscles of the back STRAIGHTENING THE TOPLINE (withers - back - croup) and also raises the tail - as these muscles are parts of the same set.

This move also pulls the dog forward. Eventually this will bring the forelegs and hocks vertical to the ground, So, the whole outline of the dog feels and looks absolutely amazing, as long as the dog really has it, showing its full potential.

Unfortunately when the heart does not follow, the dog can't show its full body potential, so the topline may seem week.


This is a drawing, showing how with a given stimulus (mental or physical) the head is lifted, making the dog stand over its ground. In this alert position the dog is leaning forward, tightens the muscles of the back and raises the tail, thus straightening the topline.

[gemy]

Welcome to Yorkie Talk Paz


It is good to know how old your female is. First I think I will say to do is either find a reputable and very experience breeder near to you or take your gal to AKC shows when you see that Yorkies are showing and ask for an informed opinion of your gals qualities. Expect them to palpate your gal all over - watch her move - and preferable a free trot ie not on lead and see a free stack of your gal.


You asked about her topline - and I would say just judging by those three pics - yes you do have a topline problem - at least in those pics I saw of her. She looks to be about 8-9mths old is that about right? She has both a dip and a roach to her back.


Also her outline in these pictures is too long - she is more rectangular than squarish and looks like her croup is long - opposite of compact.


You asked about exercises and yes there are many you can do. You can start off if you don't already give her at least one hour of exercise mainly walking but walking with purpose on different surfaces she is not getting enough general exercise.


To specifically strengthen her back muscles here you go:


a) Sit to beg - beg position is when they lift their front paws off the ground and kept them lifted - work up to her keeping this position for 1 minute.


b) Once above is solid - work her from the beg position right up to standing on her hind legs. Then back down to beg then to sit


c) Stand her on an exercise ball in a stack position - and gently push her hindquarters from side to side.


d) work a good stack feet on blocks for at least a three minute hold.


e) Work the Calvetti in walk and trot - a series of small bars set first as wide apart as she is tall.


f) Crawling forward and back along the floor.


g) Have her stand her two front paws on a low stool and hold this position.


h) Teeter totter work - find a playground and train her to walk up one side of the teeter then she pauses at the top and you slowly lower other side so that she can walk down it.


I) Underwater treadmill trotting will strengthen everything over all


j) swimming is a great overall exercise.

[gemy]

I just want to add something Paz - in investing in a good quality show prospect - it is ideal to get weekly pics and by four weeks old some videos of the pups. It is best of course if you can visit in person but eight weeks old is the key evaluation time for a pups structure. Here your pup will most closely resemble what structure - baring accident or injury when they are grown.


Eight weeks you might not get coat information but temperament is usually clear as well as structure.


If you have vids n pics of your gal at eight weeks old really examine now.


The other thing I promise you is that if you do these exercises at least 3x weekly along with those daily walks she will strengthen up her muscles everywhere. But if this is her underlying structure she will likely throw puppies with this inbuilt structure and if not in her first litter - maybe her third - and all puppies will carry this recessive gene.


Puppies can and often do grow up un-evenly looking at times like a horror show of faults - but with the right food nutrition exercise and care they sort themselves out.


I hope that everything works out well for you and your gal.