Dogs and All about Them eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 437 pages of information about Dogs and All about Them.

Dogs and All about Them eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 437 pages of information about Dogs and All about Them.
in front, the upper ones very slightly overlapping the under ones. (Many of the finest specimens have a “swine mouth,” which is very objectionable, but it is not so great an objection as the protrusion of the under jaw.) EYES—­Set wide apart, large, full, round, bright, expressive of great determination, intelligence and dignity; set low and prominent in front of the head; colour a rich dark hazel.  EARS—­Pendulous, set well back, wide apart and low on the skull, hanging close to the cheek, with a very slight projection at the base, broad at the junction of the head and tapering almost to a point, the fore part of the ear tapering very little, the tapering being mostly on the back part, the fore part of the ear coming almost straight down from its junction with the head to the tip.  They should harmonise in colour with the body colour.  In the case of a pepper dog they are covered with a soft, straight, brownish hair (in some cases almost black).  In the case of a mustard dog the hair should be mustard in colour, a shade darker than the body, but not black.  All should have a thin feather of light hair starting about two inches from the tip, and of nearly the same colour and texture as the topknot, which gives the ear the appearance of a distinct point.  The animal is often one or two years old before the feather is shown.  The cartilage and skin of the ear should not be thick, but rather thin.  Length of ear, from three to four inches.  NECK—­Very muscular, well developed, and strong; showing great power of resistance, being well set into the shoulders.  BODY—­Long, strong, and flexible; ribs well sprung and round, chest well developed and let well down between the fore-legs; the back rather low at the shoulder, having a slight downward curve and a corresponding arch over the loins, with a very slight gradual drop from top of loins to root of tail; both sides of backbone well supplied with muscle.  TAIL—­Rather short, say from eight inches to ten inches, and covered on the upper side with wiry hair of darker colour than that of the body, the hair on the under side being lighter in colour, and not so wiry, with a nice feather, about two inches long, getting shorter as it nears the tip; rather thick at the root, getting thicker for about four inches, then tapering off to a point.  It should not be twisted or curled in any way, but should come up with a curve like a scimitar, the tip, when excited, being in a perpendicular line with the root of the tail.  It should neither be set on too high nor too low.  When not excited it is carried gaily, and a little above the level of the body.  LEGS—­The fore-legs short, with immense muscular development and bone, set wide apart, the chest coming well down between them.  The feet well formed, and not flat, with very strong brown or dark-coloured claws.  Bandy legs and flat feet are objectionable.  The hair on the fore-legs and feet of a pepper dog should be tan, varying according to the body colour from a rich tan to a pale fawn; of a mustard dog they
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Dogs and All about Them from Project Gutenberg. Public domain.