the tip, when excited, being in a perpendicular line with the root of the tail. It should neither be set on too high or 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 Bandy legs and flat feet are objectionable, but may be avoided the bandy legs by the use of splints when first noticed, and the flat feet by exercise, and a dry bed and floor to kennel. The hair on the fore legs and feet of a blue dog should be tan, varying according to the body colour, from a rich tan to a pale fawn; of a mustard dog they are of a darker shade than its head, which is a creamy white. In both colours there is a nice feather, about 2in. long, rather lighter in colour than the hair on the fore part of the leg. The hind legs are a little longer than the fore ones, and are set rather wide apart, but not spread out in an unnatural manner, while the feet are much smaller; the thighs are well developed, and the hair of the same colour and texture as the fore ones, but having no feather or dewclaws; the whole claws should be dark, but the claws of all vary in shade according to the colour of the dog's body. Coat. This is a very important point; the hair should be about 2in. long, that from skull to root of tail a mixture of hardish and soft hair, which gives a sort of crisp feel to the hand. The hard should not be wiry; the coat is what is termed pily or pencilled. The hair on the under part of the body is lighter in colour and softer than on the top. The skin on the belly accords with the colour of the dog. Colour. The colour is pepper or mustard. The pepper colour ranges from a dark blueish black to a light silvery grey, the intermediate shades being preferred, the body colour coming well down the shoulder and hips, gradually merging into the leg colour. The mustards vary from a reddish-brown to a pale fawn, the head being a creamy white, the legs and feet of a shade darker than the head. The claws are dark, as in other colours. [Nearly all Dandie Dinmont terriers have some white on the chest, and some have also white claws.] Size. The height should be from 8in. to 11in. at the top of shoulder. Length from top of shoulder to root of tail should not be more than twice the dog's height, but, preferably, rin. or 2in. less. Weight. From 14lb. to 24lb., the best weight as near 181b. as possible. These weights are for dogs in good working order. |