I wonder about Norberts back, it is very hunched. Is this normal? I have looked at your pictures here and I haven't seen another DH puppy with such a hunched back.

And here is another one

It looks like a very normal , actually quite beautiful topline to me -dhs backs vary quite a bit - they are supposed to have a " raise over their loin " , at times , I find that gets exaggerated and then the backs are rather stiff ( 2 of mine are like this ) , some are almost flat ( not that they mind ! ) and some just have a bit of a raise and their backs are great , strong and flexible. He looks very nice and sweet !

Thanks, it was good to hear, I begun to wonder. This is my first dh and we seen his sisters sometimes but they are not like him. His breeder says nothing about he back and I thought it was ok, but still I was wondering. (chickenmother)

Most pups have a prominent topline particularly during varied growth spurts. It will probably be less prominent as it matures. The only thing I would think is that it should be slightly further back over the loin but that is most likely a growth thing.

Keijke wrote:


Then you have not seen this yet

Penticton at 5 months.

You can be happy that he has a topline!
On a webpage here in Germany I saw a youngster which has a topline the other way round…………….. So do not worry, he will be fine when he is older.
Here you see his sister, sure not standing free. But I like to start early;)

Penticton will be just fine once he has all grown up ....- no exaggerated toplines in his lineage .
Actually , as much as I like a good topline , I'd rather have them have a flat back than one of those with a beautiful topline but not as flexible as they can (and should ! ) be in their backs - which is basically " pretzel hound " .

Here a few pics of a deerhound whom I think has a phantastic back and topline - flexible with the " arch " that is required - her name is Peigi and she belongs to a friend of mine ( lives IN Penticton btw)

first her as a wee pup as mini pretzel

now she has grown a bit and one can really see how much she can twist - being absolutely comfortable with it , oneof her preferred positions !

And now Peigi standing , with a , in my eyes , beautiful and functional topline - she is about 1.5 years old on this photo .

And here a pic of one of my girls - Na'lee( 3 years on the pic ) - who , in the eyes of every judge , has a beautiful topline . For her it means though , that she can not lay on her back , let alone roll over - also sideways the back is not very " bendy " . As nice at it looks , I -at times- feel a bit sad for her , not being able to use her body to the fullest . I heard that especially Borsoi , too , have similar problems with those exaggerated toplines. Just my thoughts.....

Hi Verena,

You do not have to feel sorry for the top line of your bitch. There is only one Standard, and that describes how the Deerhound should look like.
And there is of course also a combination of body length and top line. So a dog has to have a balance between body-length and curves. A Deerhound is not a Galgo Español, bred for being able to chase rabbits. It is more important that a the Deerhound has a broad neck and a broad and long loin with an arch and of course as Kenneth Cassels mention’s the depth and volume of the brisket is more than important, otherwise the Deerhound would not be able to hunt red deer. Well, and where are the angulations gone..?

He looks lovely. The pictures of Peigi took some working out. How can that be comfortable!

I do not feel sorry for the shape( though I am not a fan of that much topline ) , only therefor , that this ( often ) causes the spine to be fairly stiff and does not allow for the whole range of motion that is necessary for a huntress in the mountains , the suppleness is gone , the dog more prone to injuries , it also takes a lot more work to run when one is build like that( thank goodness , she is not really a huntress) .I can watch my girls hunting basically every day here in our very rough , mountainous terrain and see how their physical shape influences that - 3 of mine I'd consider sound , broadly build , flexible hounds with lots of muscle and enough angulation , perfectly apt to do their work , the other 2 somewhat unsound , more rigid , fairly narrow , one with little substance but more seize ( the one above , Na'lee ) . But oh my , what she lacks in body , she makes good with her face - and , of course her wonderful personality , wouldn't want to miss her for a day .
Here my sweet and beloved Na'lee aged 8 , pic taken today.

All are girls - and yes , it hurts(us) to see Peigi lying like that - she still loves it , even now at 2.5 years with a lot more body and muscle ....

Great photo!

Thanks all for your opinions, and I would not be worried more about Norberts back I just hope his front legs will grow a little bit more Of course they do. His sister are beautiful too.

Verena: are you sure that Peigi have backbone???? She is lovely.

So is your boy !- I do like Peigi , too . And yes , she does have a backbone , meanwhile I think , one could saddle her up and ride her , so strong and muscular has she become ( 2.5years now ) and still loves to sleep all twisted .

Ow! That photo looks painful and rather abnormal. Never seen a Deerhound contortionist before Maybe she is double jointed

I have chalk and cheese dogs! Dougal does not twist, he prefers to sleep on his sides. Jock does 'the pretzel' quite well, and lies like that a lot.