[PyrNet-L] No apparent stop

[Carol Brescher Boyle <carol@NaturalDogFood.com>]

Hi everyone!

I want to address the issue of the words "no apparent stop".
Years ago, my husband and I studied with a group from
the University of Guelph in Canada. These people used
the calipers and the goniometer to measure lengths, and
angles and use these to define planes, and vectors. The
purpose of all of this was to learn to quantify structure,
and through structure, dissect gait. 

One of the first lessons we learned was the importance of 
correct terminology. Words and the linking of certain words 
to define what we see is critical to the accurate representation
of a breed. 

This is a long, round about way of saying that I believe that
the phrase "no apparent stop" is quite accurate in defining
the physical characteristics of the head of a Pyr. It has,
unfortunaltely, been muddied by the current illustrations
in the "Illustrated Breed Standard."

When you look at the Pyr Head in profile, you see two planes.
The top of the head forms one plane, and the muzzle forms
the second plane. In a good Pyr head these two planes are
almost parallel. If the muzzle and the head were of one plane,
we would have a Collie or a Borzoi head. We do not have this
in Pyrs - or at least we should not.

We have these two planes joining and that area in which
it joins is called (what has become a four letter work in
the Pyr World) a "stop". 

Its very simple - head and muzzle on one plane - collie head.
Any other configuration requires a joining of planes - the stop.

The operative word in apparent. And this is where I have
to want to crisp up Joe Genzel's description:

> My definition of no apparent stop.  When you look at the dog, can you
> see a stop?  However whewn you run you hande up the dog's skull you can
> feel the gentle glid up ward of the skull.  There is no hesitation in
> moving the hand upward, there is only a soflt glide.

I would have to say that the hand running up the muzzle
would have to hesitate slightly at the area between the eyes (the
stop) where the head plane meets the muzzle plane. The angle
of this meeting provides the stop. The coat, and
the way the fur lays will further change the appearance of
it. 

The wording is excellent. It does not say NO stop, and
therefore there is one. It is simply not as apparent as
it is in other breeds like Newfies or Saints.

The wording in this part of our breed standard is excellent. 
Unfortunaltely, IMHO the implementation via illustration was
faulty. The illustrations confuse the issue. I'll rely on the words.


-- 
  Carol
 -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
 Carol Brescher Boyle                Improving the health of our dogs,
 carol@NaturalDogFood.com                          one meal at a time.

 Need a wholesome dog-friendly recipe? See the "Recipe of the month"
        at the our web-site http://www.naturaldogfood.com
 -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-