THE DAND1E DIN MONT TERRIER 487 



muzzle, and always black. The muzzle should measure, from the corner of the 

 eye to the tip of the nose, about 3'm. in length, or in proportion to length of skull 

 as three is to five, and round close in front of the eyes about two and a half to 

 three times its length. The muzzle should be thinly covered with short and 

 hardish hair of rather darker colour than on the body ; the top of muzzle should 

 be nearly bare for about an inch from the black part of the nose, coming to a 

 point towards the eye. A foxy or snipy muzzle is very objectionable. The jaws 

 should be long and powerful, with very strong teeth, perfectly level in front, the 

 canines fitting well into each other, so as to give the greatest available holding 

 and punishing power. A pig-jawed or an undershot mouth is very objectionable, 

 though, as it occurs in the purest strains, it cannot be altogether considered a dis- 

 qualification. The mouth should be very large, and the roof of it very dark, 

 almost always black. 



Eyes. The eyes should be wide apart, large, round, moderately full, very 

 clear, bright, and expressive of great intelligence, set low, and well in front 

 of forehead ; colour, a rich brown or hazel, yellowness being a great fault. 

 Frequently there is a dark ring round the eye, the hair of which is rather short 

 and of a downy nature. This dark shade, together with that (already referred 

 to) down the centre of the nose, contrasts beautifully with the bright silvery 

 top-knot, and imparts to the breed that gipsy and game appearance which is 

 an essential characteristic of the Dandie Dinmont Terrier. 



Ears. The ears should be large and pendulous, from 3|in. to 4in. long, 

 set far apart, well back, and rather low on the skull, hanging close to the 

 cheeks, like a hound's, but a little more pointed or almond-shaped i.e. broad 

 at the base, and tapering to a small, rounded point. The taper should be 

 all, or nearly all, on the back edge, the front edge hanging nearly straight 

 down from its junction with the head to the tip. They ought to show a 

 little shoulder at the base, which causes the tips of the ears to point a little 

 forwards towards the jaw. They should be moderately thick and leathery, and 

 covered with a short, soft, darker and brighter sort of hair than on the body, 

 having a smooth, velvety appearance, showing no lint or silky hair, excepting 

 in some cases a thin feather of lighter hair starting about an inch or so from 

 the tip, and of the same colour and texture as the top-knot ; this gives the top 

 of the ear the appearance of a distinct point. 



Neck. The neck should be rather short, and very muscular, well developed, 

 and strong, showing great power by being well set into the shoulder. The 

 length of neck should average about one-third of its girth. 



Body. The body should be very long and flexible, measuring, from top of 

 shoulders to root of tail, about an inch or two over one and a half times the 

 height of dog at shoulder. Chest well developed and broad, with brisket round 

 and deep, being well let down between the fore leg-. The back should be 

 rather low at the shoulders, and slightly curved down behind them, with a 

 corresponding arch, the rise commencing about 2in. behind the shoulder-blade ; 

 over the loins, which should be higher than the shoulders, broad and strong, 

 with a slight gradual droop from the top of loins to root of tail. Ribs well 

 sprung and rounded, back and front, forming a good barrel. Both sides of 

 spine should be well supplied with muscle ; in fact, every part of the dog seems 

 to be abundantly supplied with muscle, giving it great compactness. 



Tail. The tail (or stern) should be in length a little less than the height 

 of the dog at the shoulder. It should be set on at the bottom of a gentle slope, 

 about 2in. from top of loins, being rather thick at the root, getting very slightly 

 thicker for about 4in., then tapering off to a fine point. It should be covered 

 on the upper side with wiry hair, of darker colour and stronger nature than 

 that on the body, while the under side is lighter and less wiry, with a little nice 

 light feather, commencing about 2in. from root, and from lin. to 2in. long, 

 getting shorter as it nears the tip, which is pointed. It should be carried gaily, 



