THE TERRIER (IRISH). 



Ill 



Head. — Long ; skull flat, rather narrow between ears, free from 

 wrinkle ; stop hardly visible. Jaws strong, muscular, but not too 

 full in cheek, and of good punishing length. There should be a 

 slight faUing away below the eye, so as not to have a greyhound 

 appearance. Hair on face same description as on body : short 

 (about J inch long), almost smooth and straight ; a slight beard 

 is permissible, and that is characteristic. Teeth strong and level. 

 Lips not so tight as a bull-terrier's, but well fitting. Nose black. 

 Eyes dark hazel, small, not prominent, full of life, fire, and intelli- 

 gence. Ears, when uncut, small and V-shaped, of moderate thick- 

 ness, set well up, dropping forward close to cheek, free from fringe, 

 and hair thereon shorter and generally darker in color than the body. 



Neck. — Fair length, gradually widening toward shoulders, free 

 from throatiness, with a slight sort of frill at each side of neck, 

 running nearly to corner of ear, which is characteristic. 



Shoulders and Chest. — Shoulders /////sf be fine, long, sloping ; 

 chest deep, muscular, but neither full nor wide. 



Back and Loins. — Body moderately long ; back strong, straight, 

 with no appearance of slackness; loins broad, powerful, slightly 

 arched ; ribs fairly sprung, rather deep than round. 



Hind Quarters. — Well under the dog, strong, muscular ; thighs 

 powerful ; hocks near the ground ; stifles not much bent. 



Stern. — Generally docked, free from fringe or feather; set on 

 pretty high ; carried gaily, but not over back, nor curled. 



Feet and Legs. — Feet strong, tolerably round, moderately 

 small ; toes arched, neither turned out nor in ; black toe-nails. 

 Legs moderately long, well set on, perfectly straight, plenty of bone 

 and muscle ; pasterns short and straight ; fore and hind legs mov- 

 ing straight forward when traveling ; stifles not turned outward ; 

 legs free of feather, and covered with hair as on head. 



Coat. — Hard, wiry, not soft nor silky, not so long as to hide 

 outlines of body ; straight, flat, no shagginess, no lock nor curl. 



Color. — " Whole-colored," the most preferable being bright red, 

 wheaten, yellow, and gray ; briiidle disqiialifyijig. AVhite sometimes 

 appears on chest and feet ; more objectionable on the latter. 



Symmetry. — The dog must present an active, lively, lithe, and 

 wiry appearance ; lots of substance, free of clumsiness, and framed 

 on the "lines of speed." 



Temperament. — The Irish terrier, as a breed, is remarkably 

 good-tempered, notably so with mankind, it being admitted, how- 

 ever, that it is perhaps a little too ready to resent interference on 

 part of other dogs, hence called " daredevils." 



Weight. — Sixteen to twenty-four pounds. 



Disqualifications. 

 Nose cherry or red ; brindle color. 



