Most
people are accustomed to thinking of dogs only in terms of
height. Our
standard gives us specific numbers to use as a guide in regard to
height,
which makes it easy to understand. Length of body or
“proportion”
is somewhat
more difficult to identify. Our standard says, “The
length from
point of
shoulder to point of buttocks longer than height at
withers”. The
question
is, how much longer? And if we prefer to see a certain length
of
body on
a Lhasa Apso, how do we then describe that proportion to others without
a visual representation?
The solution to this problem is to describe dogs using their longer than tall percentage. It is relatively easy to determine the percentage, all you will need are accurate height and length measurements of the dog. Height is always measured from the highest point over the shoulder blades (AKC regulations) and the measurement of length is to be taken from the point of shoulder to the point of buttocks (as per the reference in our standard). Since the longer than tall percentage will only be as accurate as the measurements taken it is very important to measure your dog as carefully as possible.
As you begin to apply a longer than tall percentage to each dog measured, you will no doubt begin to develop your own range of preference regarding proportion. And just as important, you will now be able to express that preference to others in a way that they can understand immediately, without visual representation. Conversely, if someone describes to you their preference by using a longer than tall percentage, you also will have an excellent idea of what proportion they like to see in a dog.
Educating ones self about Lhasa Apso proportion often opens the door to a whole new world of information. Structural differences that can affect the longer than tall percentage of each dog will become more apparent to the observant measurement student, leading to an ever greater understanding of Lhasa Apso physiology. Each answer will lead to new questions in this fascinating world of proportion, and the more you learn the more you will realize that there is more to a Lhasa Apso’s length of body than meets the eye.
