Let’s practice judging

I believe the hardest thing to understand is BALANCE.  What does balance mean? In the dictionary, blance means ‘an equality between the sums of two sides ; to equal in proportion.’ There are several ways of understanding and learning balance.  Let’s try some.

1.  draw a straight line from the prosternum (the protruding part of the forechest) to the rear projection point below the butt.  Next, take that measurement and place the first measurement level with the front foot on the ground and measure to the top of the withers.  Do you get the same measurement ?  If you don’t, which measurement is longer – is the dog longer than tall, or taller than long ?  Now, to define and break this down even further,  take a ruler and paper. Measure the dog from the top of the withers to the prosternum (projection point of forechest).  Now using that same line,  measure from the prosternum to the elbow.  Do you get the same measurement ?  If not, which measurement is longer ?  These two should be the same measurement. Now go to the rear assembly of the dog.  Draw a line from the top of the pelvis to the rear projection point just below the butt.  Next, take that measurement and measure from the rear projection below the butt to the knee. Compare measurements.  Are they the same ?  If not, which one is longer ? Now,  measure from the ground to the elbow.  Then measure from the elbow to the top of the withers.  Are these measurements the same ?  If not,  which measurement is longer ?  Now go to the rear of the dog.  Measure from the top of the pelvis to the knee. Then measure from the knee to the ground below the rear foot.  Compare these two measurements.  Are they the same ?  If not,  which is longer ? 

Are you getting the idea yet ? 

2.  Let’s try another way of measuring and understanding balance. Get another piece of paper and your ruler.  Print off several pictures of Dobes and let’s practice learning and understanding. On the paper picture,  draw a straight line from the prosternum (the projection point on the forechest) right through the top of the withers and carry the line above the topline of the dog.  Now, go back and draw a line from the prosternum to the elbow, carrying the line below the underline of the dog. Next, draw a line from the top of the pelvis or hips through to the projection point below the butt on the rear and carry that line past the outline of the dog. Then, draw a line from the rear projection below the butt to the front of the knee and carry that line beyond the underside of the dog.  Now, bring the straight line from the underside of the elbow down to the ground and then bring the straight line from the underside of the knee to the ground.  Go to the top of the dog and carry the straight line extending from the top of the withers and extend it upwards at the same angle and then bring the straight line coming from the top of the pelvis extending it upwards also until both lines from both ends of the dog meets. The lines extending over the top of the dog should meet in the middle of the dog over the topline mid-center.  The lines extending below the dog from the elbow to the knee should meet mid-center of the dog at the ground level. You have created a diamond. Have a good look at it.  Do the points of the diamond meet in the center above and below the dog,  or is it off centered one way or the other ?  If it is off centered, which way is it off centered – to the front or the rear ? 

Go back to your measurements in the first exercise and compare measurements and you will be able to see why the diamond is off centered and what is causing it to be off centered and why the dog is not balanced and where the dog is not balanced.  By doing both of these exercises,  you will or should be able to get a better idea and understanding of what correct balance is.

So now to fully understand balance,  by now you should have a pretty good idea of what to look for.  Each part or measurement should equal the opposing part or measurement in order to be ‘balanced.’  The opposing part is front to rear, top to bottom, each part.  In other words,  it doesn’t much matter whether the dog is straight in stifle and straight in front. If all parts are equal, then the dog is ‘balanced’ front to rear.  If the rear angles are greater than the front angles, then the dog is NOT BALANCED front to rear.  If the dog is taller than it is long,  then the dog is not balanced. If the dog is longer than it is tall, then the dog is not balanced. On a balanced dog,  nothing,  I repeat NOTHING, should stand out. Your eye should not be drawn to one particular part of the dog.  Everything should flow together,  everything should be appealing to the eye.  The next part will be to watch the dog moving.  If  the dog is ‘balanced’ the dog should ‘flow’ on the go around with great reach and drive while keeping the topline level.  It should not cross over it’s feet at center below the body on the go around, nor should the feet be short of meeting below themselves at center.  If they do, the dog is not ‘balanced’.