Body: Of medium length, short coupled; high at with- ers, back curved and drooping at hindquarters, the highest point of curve at start of loin, creating a definite tuck-up at flanks. Greyhound: Back: Muscular and broad. Loins: Good depth of muscle, well arched, well cut up in the flanks. The statement “medium length, short coupled” indicates that the length in the Italian Greyhound’s body is in his rib - cage. The loin area (between the last rib and the start of the pelvic girdle) is short. X = wither. XX = highest point of curve.
left and middle:The ideal front assembly, shoulder long and sloping, legs set well under, chest deep and narrow. right: This front is incorrect. The shoulders are straight (upright), the legs are set on too far forward, and the chest is shallow and hollow.
The below examples are not what is meant by “S” curves. left: The Ideal Body and Topline. right: Although this topline is correct according to the Standard, the dip behind the shoulders is undesirable, as it lacks the elegant smoothness of the ideal topline.
left: When the loin area is longer, as in this illustration, the topline tends to flatten out. right: The ribcage is short and the loin is long, causing the high point of the curve (although it is at the start of the loin) to appear to be in the middle of the dog’s back and higher than the withers.
Hindquarters: Long, well-muscled thigh; hind legs par- allel when viewed from behind, hocks well let down, well-bent stifle. Greyhound: Long, very muscular and powerful, wide and well let down, well-bent stifles. Hocks well bent and rather close to ground, wide but straight fore and aft. left: Chest is wide rather than narrow, with too much rib spring. right: Chest is hollow. Even with the legs stacked straight there is incorrect attachment of the upper arm to the ribs.
Shoulders: Long and sloping. Greyhound: Placed as obliquely as possible, muscular with- out being loaded. Chest: Deep and narrow. Greyhound: Deep, and as wide as consistent with speed, fairly well-sprung ribs. Forelegs: Long, straight, set well under shoulder; strong pasterns, fine bone. Greyhound: Perfectly straight, set well into the shoulders, nei- ther turned in nor out, pasterns strong. left: This dog’s topline is completely wrong. The shoulder is low and the highest point of the arch is in the middle of the back rather than at the start of the loin. A dog built like this is likely to also be a poor mover. right: This dog is low in the shoulder and high in the rear, both of which are incorrect. Note also the ewe neck and dish face.
The Ideal Rear Assembly
44 • T op N otch T oys , S eptember /O ctober 2022
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