Toy Poodle with Roach Back

[Tundrapoodle]

Anyone have some tips on how to hide a roach back on a 6month old toy poodle. Her body hair has been taken down with a 5F 2x so she hasn't much of a coat. Some people have said she looks like a black cat.Help Deb

[diamienono]

Put a sweater on it.

[pamperedpups]

Put a sweater on the pup for now (when needed) and let her coat grow out so you can scissor it in an attempt to "level" the coat on her back. Keeping it level will take some work. Is this your dog? If so, honestly, who cares what other people say or think about her?

[Helly]

Well, you'll have to let the coat grow out a bit, but a full crest down her neck will help somewhat, and you could also try a modified continental clip, do the jacket with a snap on, then clipping her bumm shorter. Scissor the back on the jacket level, so it'll disguise the roached back.

[barknpurr]

You really need to let the hair grow in to hide the roach. You can still use a 5F elsewhere - just let the hair grow in where she needs it.

[Fluffy Puppy]

....and if you still can't hide the roach back, you could always talk the owners into putting the dog in a Bedlington cut!

[toomuchfunbnme]

Distraction is the solution!

Yep, I would definately keep the hair everywhere else shorter as the back is growing out. In my other life as a beauty professional, they taught us to try to emphasize other features, in order to distract attention from features you don't like. Have you tried a making her wear a silly hat? I think no one will notice her back then. Ha ha.

[Tundrapoodle]

Thanks everyone for your input. Yes she is my pup, the one out of the litter I deceided to keep. But she's a sweety anyway. Will just have to get that hair growing. Deb and the poodles

[redbird]

same boat here

My Coalfax is black and six months old as well.
Must be common in large poodles.

I did him for graduation, and I did his body in a half inch comb and his legs in a three quarter.

I left his hips and shoulder a little longer and clipped his high back closer.

Did't look perfectly level but close. He scored a 93.something, but
I lost a point for his necklace not being quite wide enough,
and his neck being a little to full.

One of these days these long lanky babies will fill out and be just fine.

[diamienono]

What exactly is a roach back? I am not familiar with the term. I don't get a lot of poodles either, but I am really interested in learning more. Can you show me a pic. I am a visual learner.

[Terry]

I believe a roach back shows up as a topline that is convex - higher in the middle than at the two ends. Like somebody said - think Bedlington! Poodles are supposed to have a level topline.

[SpikeyTheYorkie]

....and if you still can't hide the roach back, you could always talk the owners into putting the dog in a Bedlington cut!

LOL, Fluffy, I was thinking the same thing!

Tammy in Utah

[Fur Elite]

Think of a pissed off cat arching its back and hissing. That is an extreme roach back example. The correct back is level. Even a slight roach can be felt by placing your hand on the dogs back. If the back pokes into the hand it has a slight roach (if you can't see it).