What four lines can tell us about soundness in conformation . . Properly using the Four Lines of Balance requires observing a dog in person or using a photo of the dog in the correct position. Either mentally or actually drawing lines in a photo to recreate the four lines of balance. . . The first illustration is a young American Pit Bull Terrier in the correct position to be examined. His hocks and front legs are perpendicular to the ground and the photo is straight from the side, level with the dog not looking down on it. . . The first line is Line “A” line drawn on the dog’s top line. If you aren’t sure exactly where the dog’s top line begins, draw the line beginning past the head, beginning from its shoulder. The dog’s entire head must be above this line when held in a natural position. . . Line “B” is the single most important line. This line starts at the dog’s pro-sternum and runs directly back past the end of the dog’s body. The pro-sternum is that pointy lump on the front of the dog’s chest. The pro-sternum almost always indicates the position of the dog’s point of shoulder. It is common for the pro-sternum line to be placed far too low on the dog’s body, so be aware of placing so the line divides the dog in a perfect half and balance. . . For Line “C” imagine a line dropped from the dog’s point of rear to the ground. With the dog’s hocks absolutely perpendicular to the ground, the line should drop to the front of the dog’s rear toes. . . Line “D” is drawn up the front leg of the dog, with the legs perpendicular to the ground. The balanced dog will have its entire neck in front of this line. . . credit of this post to ADBA . . #showdog #performancedog #workingdog #apbt #pitbull #bulldog #rottweiler #dog #dogs #puppy #pets #labs #instadog #instagood #canecorso #presacanario #educate #info #boerboel #dogo #bullterrier #americanbulldog #tosa #dobe #boxer #germanshepherd (at Dos Lagos, Corona)
