Strangely, the subject was not addressed by any American Standard until 1993. Apparently the fancy shared the opinion of Dorothy Caspersz, who wrote: "If the two ends of the dog are properly constructed there is seldom any need to worry about the middle-piece."

The Standard now says the topline of the back should be firm and level. There should be no dip at or just behind the shoulders or any roaching over the loin.

Any student of canine anatomy knows that the spine of every dog actually curves downward slightly behind the withers and just slightly upward over the loin (that curve may be more pronounced in some breeds). The drawing below left shows a good Scottie topline as  it looks under the coat. In a properly constructed Scottie in modern trim, below right, those slight spinal curves are virtually imperceptible, whether the dog is standing or moving.