THE DACHSHUND 



231 



outspreading, and not twisted. The twisted foot is oftenest 

 observed, and no dog with such a fault can be considered absolutely 

 sound. Then, again, another striking fault, though not, I believe, 

 so damning as unsoundness, is the loose shoulder out-at-elbow 

 a sign of weakness in a most vital part of a Dachshund. How 

 rarely one sees a good level back, with proper loin development ! 

 A great number of present-day winners dip behind the shoulders, 

 and perhaps more are higher on quarters than at shoulder. 



Muscle is absolutely at a discount, and its place is taken by 

 beefiness. I wonder how many of our show dogs get more than 





FIG. 55. Miss A. M. PJGOTT'S DACHSHUND CHAMPION PRIME MINISTER. 



the minimum allowance of exercise, to say nothing of work. . . . 

 Sterns must not be neglected curly tails, sausage tails, crooked 

 tails, etc., are all only too apparent ; but the correct tail not 

 too long, strong at base, tapering gradually to the top, and 

 moderately feathered underneath how few do we see ! Skin of 

 the right texture we neglect, or perhaps I should say we are losing 

 it, in spite of ourselves, by inbreeding. The Dachshund should 

 have plenty of thick skin, but it should be thick and covered with 

 hair that, on being stroked the wrong way is resisting to the touch, 

 instead of soft and yielding. Colour is rapidly fading. Red dogs 

 are nowadays chiefly yellow, shading to whitish fawn. The 



