Dip in withers

sagelfn · 04-14-2011, 02:26 PM

If you're not sure what I'm talking about here's a picture..

Is this common in dogs only with flat withers?

Are there any increased risks in back problems?

Is it only common in certain lines?

Is this something relatively new in the breed?

Looking to learn as much as possible

unloader · 04-14-2011, 02:51 PM

Subscribed.

I read somewhere that it can be 'corrected with proper muscling', but I have no idea if that is true.

**lhczth** · 04-14-2011, 03:18 PM

Can be found in dogs with both correct withers (not seen all that often anymore) and flat withers.

Not that I know of.

No, found in all lines.

No.

I have also seen it improved with exercise especially biking which is also good for improvement of the withers.

sagelfn · 04-14-2011, 05:22 PM

Thanks Lisa!

onyx'girl · 04-14-2011, 05:26 PM

I wonder if walking the dog and letting the dog pull you(wearing a harness) will help strengthen the area? Not that we encourage pulling, but when I walk Karlo on the trails I let him pull to tone his muscles.

Liesje · 04-14-2011, 05:35 PM

I think it is somewhat common in all lines. Someone who is very well known and active in the show world told me that most dogs have it to some degree and it usually means nothing other than the aesthetics of the topline, and most show people groom it so that it isn't noticeable. Not sure if it truly happens to that extent but my show line dog had it and I never really bothered with it. He told me if I brushed my dog a certain way on a regular basis, the cow lick would go away. Same with the common cow licks where the dog's tail attaches.

BlackthornGSD · 04-15-2011, 12:34 AM

The "dip" is often particularly pronounced with dogs who play a lot of ball as their primary source of exercise. If you look at this drawing of the musculature of a GSD, you can sort of see that the place where there is a dip is where a bunch of muscles meet.

Emoore · 04-15-2011, 01:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lhczth

I have also seen it improved with exercise especially biking which is also good for improvement of the withers.

But it can be kind of hard to get them to stay on the bike.

sagelfn · 04-15-2011, 01:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BlackthornGSD

The "dip" is often particularly pronounced with dogs who play a lot of ball as their primary source of exercise. If you look at this drawing of the musculature of a GSD, you can sort of see that the place where there is a dip is where a bunch of muscles meet.

Why do fetch games cause that?

Emoore good one!

BlackthornGSD · 04-15-2011, 02:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sagelfn

Why do fetch games cause that?

Think about the muscles used--it's like wind-sprints versus jogging 10 miles.

04-14-2011, 02:26 PM	#1 (permalink)
sagelfn Crowned Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Illinois Posts: 3,748	Dip in withers If you're not sure what I'm talking about here's a picture.. Is this common in dogs only with flat withers? Are there any increased risks in back problems? Is it only common in certain lines? Is this something relatively new in the breed? Looking to learn as much as possible __________________ -Brandi Sage 6-5-09 Facebook

04-14-2011, 02:51 PM	#2 (permalink)
unloader Master Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Kentucky Posts: 507	Subscribed. I read somewhere that it can be 'corrected with proper muscling', but I have no idea if that is true. __________________ Michael See Remy Run Blog

04-14-2011, 03:18 PM	#3 (permalink)
lhczth Administrator & LOTR Addict Join Date: Apr 2000 Location: Michigan, USA Posts: 11,695	Can be found in dogs with both correct withers (not seen all that often anymore) and flat withers. Not that I know of. No, found in all lines. No. I have also seen it improved with exercise especially biking which is also good for improvement of the withers. __________________ Lisa Clark Zu Treuen Händen Working German Shepherd Dogs *South Michigan SchH and Police Club*

04-14-2011, 05:22 PM	#4 (permalink)
sagelfn Crowned Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Illinois Posts: 3,748	Thanks Lisa! __________________ -Brandi Sage 6-5-09 Facebook

04-14-2011, 05:26 PM	#5 (permalink)
onyx'girl Crowned Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: SW, MI Posts: 17,605	I wonder if walking the dog and letting the dog pull you(wearing a harness) will help strengthen the area? Not that we encourage pulling, but when I walk Karlo on the trails I let him pull to tone his muscles. __________________ Jane~ Kept by Onyx, Kacie and Gideon v Wildhaus aka Karlo

04-14-2011, 05:35 PM	#6 (permalink)
Liesje Crowned Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Grand Rapids, MI Posts: 12,962	I think it is somewhat common in all lines. Someone who is very well known and active in the show world told me that most dogs have it to some degree and it usually means nothing other than the aesthetics of the topline, and most show people groom it so that it isn't noticeable. Not sure if it truly happens to that extent but my show line dog had it and I never really bothered with it. He told me if I brushed my dog a certain way on a regular basis, the cow lick would go away. Same with the common cow licks where the dog's tail attaches. __________________ UCH Alta-Tollhaus-Krieger Lamb Chop FO OB1 CL1R CL1F RA TT HIT TDI CGC VPC's Coca-Cola HIT CGC SG UCH Alta-Tollhaus Bono SchH1 AD T1 FO PA CL1R UNJ UCA HIT TT CGC OFA SG Pantalaimon vom Geistwasser BH AD HIT CGC

04-15-2011, 12:34 AM	#7 (permalink)
BlackthornGSD Elite Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Central Virginia Posts: 1,094	The "dip" is often particularly pronounced with dogs who play a lot of ball as their primary source of exercise. If you look at this drawing of the musculature of a GSD, you can sort of see that the place where there is a dip is where a bunch of muscles meet. __________________ Christine Blackthorn Working German Shepherds

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