How
important is the outline of a Frenchie?
Well,
I thought it might be interesting to illustrate several examples for you
and you can make up your own mind. I have not invented them, they can all
be seen from ringside at any show where Frenchies are being judged, except
maybe the perfect example, there aren´t too many of those!
Fig.
1 
Is an approximation
of my idea of a perfect outline as taken from the breed standard: A sturdy,
compact, solid, small dog with good bone; short, cobby, muscular and well
rounded with deep, wide brisket, "roach back"; strong; wide at shoulders
and narrowing at loins; good "cut up", ribs well sprung. No point exaggerated,
balance essencial.
Fig.
2 
Is very common and
seems to be on the increase. Surprisingly, it often wins well. One only
has to glance through pictures of the past champions to see that several
of them looked like this. Straight in topline and undercarriage, frequently
narrow chested and flat ribbed giving that slabside appearance. Straight
toplines also predispose to a higher set of tail. Viewed from above, these
dogs are not the ideal pear shape, but run parallel from front to back
with no waist.
Fig.
3 
Shows an incorrect
set on of head, usually stemming from bad shoulder placement; and a topline
which slopes away.
Fig.
4 
Is not infrequently
described as a good "roach back"...it is NOT. The curve of back is not
over the loins as it should be but starts at the shoulder sloping away
quickly at the loin giving a hump or "camel" back. This often goes hand
in hand with the poor shoulder placement and set on of head.
Fig.
5
Shows a Frenchy of rangey
build, usually finer in bone, too long in neck, back and legs. This one
also dips a little too much behind the shoulder, giving a rather exaggerated
roach effect.
Fig.
6
Is obvious. He is too short
on the leg ruining the essential balance that the breed standard demands.
Fig.
7
Is very short in the neck,
giving the appearance that the head springs directly from the shoulders.
He is rather straight in the topline too giving a high set tail.
Fig.
8
Again lacks balance being
too high on the leg.
These
are just a few of the obvious outlines we see, but if we consider other
factors which may also play a part ( straight stifles, poor fronts....)
the permutations are endless. So, your dog may have a beautiful head or
be a super mover, but does he have a good outline? If he does then he will
probably have that special look of quality and class that most dogs that
do.
By:
Pat Wilson
English
Frenchy breeder of many years standing with well defined line under the
Wilcott affix, and specialist breed judge.The French Bulldog. August,1989
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