COMB — COMBING 



be narrower than it really is ; they should be carried semi- 

 erect when the dog is excited, at other times backwards 

 and almost buried in the coat. 



The neck is long and graceful ; the shoulders of good 

 length, and well laid back to ensure activity; the chest 

 being narrow, but very deep. The back is inclined to 

 be long, but the body is powerful, being well ribbed up 

 and strong at the loin ; and the back is muscular, with 

 a slight rise at the loin. The fore-legs should be quite 

 straight, good in bone, and set on right under the body — 

 a collie which is out at elbow is an impossibility — the 

 pasterns being long, and the feet oval and compact. The 

 tail, which is well feathered, should be carried low, except- 

 ing when the dog is excited ; whilst the coat, excepting on 

 the head and the legs where it is smooth, should be pro- 

 fuse, the outer coat being long, close, and harsh, and the 

 under one soft and sealskin-like, so as to provide an ample 

 protection from the weather. The feathering on the back 

 of the fore-legs should not extend down to the ground, as 

 in the case of the setter, but should cease a little above the 

 pasterns, the hind ones being smooth ; whilst the exuber- 

 ance of coat on the chest and neck is called the frill. The 

 collie is met with in all colours, but when tan markings 

 are present they should be of a light shade, the deep 

 mahogany tan being suggestive of a setter cross. (See 

 China Eye^ Mirle,) 



Comb. — The best combs to use for a dog are those 

 made of metal, with teeth slightly blunted at the point. 

 Bone or vulcanite combs are apt to break and become 

 useless, and in many of them the teeth are far too close 

 together. 



Combing. — It is never wise to comb a dog's coat unless 

 there are tangles in it which renders the use of the comb 

 imperative. The reason of this is that new hair is often 

 pulled out or the skin of a delicate animal injured by the 



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