28 THE DOG IN HEALTH. 



should be somewhat boat-shaped. The chest must be 

 rather narrow in front and keeled both before and behind 

 the shoulder-joints, but, in order that abundant room be 

 provided for both heart and lungs, there must be a limit 

 to the narrowness in front, and the chest must be very 

 wide above, w'lieh is insured by the ribs being well 

 sprung, while at the same time the back ribs must be 

 much shorter, otherwise there will be interference with 

 the working of the hinder locomotive apparatus. 



But an opposite conformation is required in the large, 

 heavy dog destined not for speed, but strength, and an- 

 swering to the heavy draught-horse, in which the chest is 

 rather barrel-shaped. 



Back. — As the shoulders cover so much of the chest 

 in the fast animal, the back, if due proportion is to be 

 maintained, must be short, and in most breeds it is level, 

 and should be in all fairly muscled, and in running dogs 

 especially so. 



Loin and Quarters may well be considered together, 

 as these parts have so much to do with the fast gallop, as 

 witness the conformation of the greyhound, race-horse, 

 rabbit, etc. Both leverage and muscling are to be taken 

 into account, so that the loin should be strong, which usu- 

 ally implies both breadth and depth. At all events, it 

 should measure well around. It begins at the last rib and 

 passes into the quarters. 



In bitches more depth is required than in dogs, to 

 allow of breeding room. The exact length of the loin 

 depends so much on the relative proportions of the animal 

 that no rule can be laid down. If very short, there is 

 neither strength nor freedom ; and if too long, the animal 



