why the fluffed up back?
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| I've never shown before but my understanding is....
The breed standard is for an OES's hips to be higher than their shoulders. So their back slopes slighly upwards from shoulder to rump. By poofing up the fur on the rear, this exaggerates that slope and also makes the dog appear more square/like a box (since they are supposed to be as tall as they are long). Maybe Maxxm can pipe in with a more official response... |
| Here's the applicable part of the breed standard I mentioned:
Topline-- Stands lower at the withers than at the loin with no indication of softness or weakness. Attention is particularly called to this topline as it is a distinguishing characteristic of the breed. Proportion-- Length (measured from point of shoulder to point of ischium (tuberosity) practically the same as the height. Absolutely free from legginess or weaselness. |
| Good Question and Answer! |
ravenmoonart wrote: This is just an odd question that has puzzled me for awhile now...why do sheepdogs groomed for the show ring often have the fur on their back brushed up to look like a camel's hump?
The "fantail" is brushed up and forward primarily to accentuate the "squareness" of the dog, although it shouldn't really look like a camel's hump. There is further trimming to shape it and it is this extra trimming which helps to show the relative heights of the hips to the withers. As Sheepie Heaven pointed out the standard calls for the dog to be essentially equal in body length and height at the withers. This aspect of show presentation is extremely old, unlike some of the other aspects of today's show presentation. This is well illustrated on our website with Virgil Tiberius' first group second show photograph. Just click on the www button at the bottom of this post and select the link to "Virgil's Show Success" in yellow towards the lower left of the main page. It also helps to accentuate the rolling movement of the hips when they move as this is also a distinguishing characteristic of the breed. Thanks and Cheers Carl |
| And there you go!
See SheepieHeaven, have faith in yourself, you were right! |
Great questions, I always wondered that too, I thought it was a bit like the beehive hairdo of the 60's........just "stylish"  |
Haha. Was the beehive ever stylish?!?!? 
Thanks Maxmm!  Can't wait to see you on the Westminster webcast. Wish I could be there! |
| One of my Old English Sheepdog books has a detailed description of the breed standard that really helped my understanding of it.
It translates the breed standard into layman's english and explains it in more detail. The book is: Old English Sheepdog (Kennel Club Dog Breed Series) by Ann Arch Ron - maybe you can cross your arms and wiggle your nose and make an Amazon link. |
Just had to say, I am SO happy to see show topics come up!   |
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