In my opinion, as a Judge, there is nearly nothing more satisfying than examining a dog whose muscling is 'hard as a rock.' Truly, nowadays this is a rarity because many dog entries are poorly conditioned having soft and squishy muscling. In fact, this is not localized to a few breeds but runs the gamut of our breeds.

Over the past decade or so, I have had various opportunities for discussions with judges who adjudicated over a respectable number and quality of entries. Surely not in a challenging manner, afterward, we reflected on their awards, and on just one or two of these occasions had a judge ever reflected back on their conclusions and stated that fitness was of primary importance. Just one instance comes to mind. I observed the judging of a large entry of Rhodesian Ridgebacks at a Hound Show and approximately a month or so later I had the opportunity to chat with the judge while we both happened to be attending another event. I asked them why they awarded their Winners and without hesitation, the judge stated that the dog’s muscling fitness was essential and became the deciding factor. I had already suspected this was the case because I am a keen observer of judges’ hands. As I’ve written in other articles, communication is a lost art form in our sport because our late ‘great’ sportsmen and women communicated everything they were thinking simply with their hands as they examined dogs. This particular judge did, in fact, go back and feel all his class winners hindquarters before awarding Winners. The judge stated it was one of the few hounds that day who had toned, firm muscling!

Although I have been judging for less than a decade, I still can count only a few times where I had the great pleasure of finding a well-muscled, robust dog to examine. When I do, I congratulated the exhibitor, with glee. When I am not judging and either spectating or exhibiting, I will ask if I can ‘go over a dog’ that interests me and nine times out of ten, the dog will have weak muscle tone. I should define muscle tone as this is instrumental to the conversation. Muscle tone (residual muscle tension) is best described by any of the online dictionaries as the normal level of firmness or slight contraction in a resting muscle. This continuous and passive partial contraction of the muscles or its resistance is felt when the dog is standing for examination. Of course, not all muscles are tangible. Therefore, I speak only to these that are palpable during the examination. Excellent toned muscle and abundance thereof are inextricable with fitness. Yes, heart and lungs are other important factors in exercise performance, but I am only speaking to muscle right now.

It is extremely disappointing, as well as sad, that otherwise ‘typey’ specimens are not in good, physical condition. Conceivably many fanciers and exhibitors are not aware that if a dog is unfit, the condition will affect a dog’s movement. In some breeds, such as the hunting sighthounds, e.g., Irish Wolfhound, if a pup has not developed muscling by a certain age in puppyhood, most likely the hound will have a poor quality of muscling throughout its adult life. This quality of state is predicated first on genetic properties -- the expression of genes directing the cellular development of the muscling -- and constructive metabolism overall influencing quality skeletal muscling. If the potential for muscling exists, then we need to look at the quality and length of play, romping, turning and twisting in big, secure areas which will affect and tone these bands of tissue.

A genetically favored dog with superior skeletal muscling that has not received the supervised, safe exercise his breed demands, will suffer. His capacity and ability to excel in work, skills or performance will flag. Muscling is responsible for contracting and producing movement in the body as well as maintaining the position of the body parts. If the dog has inferior quality and toning of muscle, it will affect the dog's energy level, his efforts, and his motion, all of which are obvious.

Muscling in today’s show dogs seem to be overlooked and undervalued as aesthetics is usually always front and center. Often there are commonly neglected muscle groups in breeds who require specified areas to have exceptional muscling. To illustrate, my sighthound breed’s neck muscling is critical in the kill and take down. I am quite proud to say that nearly every wolfhound that I have bred has possessed ‘hard as a rock’ neck muscles. Once you feel such power, you will not forget it. Despite this easily explored and excellent trait, to the best of my recollection over my nearly 32 years, I can count on one hand the number of judges who recognized and commented on this significant feature on my hounds.

Today, there remain a few conscientious, knowledgeable breeders who will grade their dogs on skeletal muscling. Indeed, I knew a former breeder who had a lovely hound epitomizing breed type, but the breeder would not use this bitch in their breeding program because the hound possessed genetically inferior quality muscling. Rather than perpetuate this considerable weakness and its limitations, the breeder abstained from using the dog in their otherwise noteworthy breeding program. To be sure, these were actions of a role model.

This edited article was first published on the Canine Chronicle website. Short URL: http://caninechronicle.com/?p=15225