496 BRITISH DOGS 



Ears. They should be filbert-shaped, lie close to the cheek, and be set 

 on low like a Dandie, thus leaving the head clear and flat, and they should 

 be feathered at the tips. 



Eyes. In blue, or blue and tan, the eyes have an amber shade ; in livers, etc., 

 it is much lighter, and is commonly called the " hazel eye." It should be small, 

 well sunk into the head, and placed very close together ; very piercing when 

 roused. 



Jaw and Teeth. The jaw should be long, lean, and powerful. Most of 

 these dogs are a little "shot" at the upper jaw, and are often termed "pig- 

 jawed." Many prefer what is called "pincer-jaw" that is, the teeth should 

 meet evenly together but it is not very often they are found so. The teeth should 

 be large, regular, and white. 



Nose. The nose, or nostrils, should be large, and stand out prominently from 

 the jaw. Blues or blue and tans have black noses ; and livers *nd sandies xed 

 or flesh-coloured noses. 



Neck and Shoulders. The neck is long and muscular, rising gradually from 

 the shoulders to the head. The shoulder is flat and light, and set much like the 

 Greyhound's. The height at the shoulder is less than at the haunch. More 

 or less this is the case with all dogs, but is very pronounced with this breed, 

 especially in bitches. 



Body, Ribs, Back, Loins, Quarters, and Chest. A moderately long body, 

 rather flat ribs, short straight back, slightly arched, tight, and muscular loins, 

 just a little "tucked up" in the flank, fully developed quarters, widish and 

 deep chest, the whole showing a fine muscular development. 



Legs and Feet. Legs perfectly straight and moderately long ; the feet 

 should be rather large that is a distinguishing mark of the breed ; long claws 

 are also admired. 



Coat. This is the principal point on which fanciers differ ; some prefer a 

 hard, wiry coat, but the proper hair of these dogs is linty or woolly, with a very 

 slight sprinkling of wire hairs, and this is still the fancy of the majority of North- 

 country breeders. 



Colour. The original colours of this breed of dogs were blue and tan, 

 liver, and sandy, and these are still the favourite colours of the old breeders. 

 The tan of these dogs is of a pale colour, and differs greatly from the tan of the 

 Black-and-tan English Terriers ; and the blues should be a proper blue linty, not 

 nearly black, which is sometimes seen now. In all colours the crown of the 

 head should be linty or nearly white, otherwise white is objectionable. 



Tail. The tail should be of moderate length (Sin. to loin.), either straight 

 or slightly curved, carried low, and feathered underneath. The tail should by 

 no means be curled or carried high on to the back. 



Weight. The weight of these dogs varies greatly, but the average is from 

 i81b. to 23lb., or at ^the outside about 25lb. 



The present Bedlington Terrier Club has issued an altered 

 descriptive standard, as given below, but it cannot be regarded 

 as a model of lucidity. A descriptive standard of excellence adopted 

 and published by a club should largely aim at instructing the 

 ignorant, as well as furnishing a criterion by which to test the 

 merits of the dog described ; but that many fall far short of this 

 is very well known. 



Skull. Narrow, but deep and rounded; high at occiput, and covered with 

 a nice silky tuft or top-knot. 



[aw. Long, tapering, sharp, and muscular ; as little stop as possible between 



