The Dachshund. 93 



less smutty, as well as the brown with tawny markings, some of which 

 are very handsome. In black and tan we do not demand pencilled toes, 

 as in the terrier, although, if good in every other respect, we should con- 

 sider it an acquisition ; but we prefer such as nearest approach the 

 standard of excellence, and care little for shades of colour, so that it 

 be any of these above-named. The head, when of the proper type, 

 greatly resembles that of the bloodhound. The ears also are long and 

 pendulous, and in a 201b. dog should measure from 4|in. to 5in. each, and 

 from tip to tip over the cranium, when hanging down in their natural 

 position, from 13in. to 14in. ; the length from the eye to the end of the 

 nose should be over 3in., 3|in. being a good length for a dog of 201b. 

 weight ; girth of muzzle from Sin. to 8|in., which should finish square, and 

 not snipey or spigot-nosed, and the flews should be fairly developed ; the 

 eyes should be very lustrous and mild in expression, varying in colour 

 with that of the coat ; the teeth should be very strong and perfectly 

 sound, as a dog with a diseased mouth is of little use for work, is very 

 objectionable as a companion, and is quite unfit for the stud in this or any 

 other breed of dogs ; the neck should be rather long, and very muscular. 

 We have a brood bitch from one of the best kennels in Germany, in which 

 the dewlap is very strongly pronounced ; but this and the conical head 

 are but rarely met with as yet. The chest should be broad, with the 

 brisket point well up to the throat ; the shoulders should be very loose, 

 giving the chest an appearance of hanging between them ; they should be 

 well covered with muscle, with plenty of loose skin about them. The 

 fore legs are one of the great peculiarities of the breed ; these are very 

 large in bone for the size of the dog, and very crooked, being turned out 

 at the eldows and in at the knees ; the knees, however, should not 

 'knuckle,' or stand forward over the ankles, as we frequently see in 

 very crooked -legged dogs, which render them more clumsy and less 

 powerful. The feet should be very large, and armed with strong claws, 

 and should be well splayed outwards to enable him to clear his way in the 

 burrow. Terrier -like fore feet cannot be tolerated in the dachshund, as 

 great speed is not required, the great essentials being a good nose, for 

 tracking ; a conformation of body that will admit of his entering the 

 badger earth, and adapting himself to his situation ; and a lion heart and 

 power to grapple with the quarry, in the earth or the open ; and these 

 are no small requirements. We are frequently told so-and-so's terrier 



