I2O THE BOOK OF THE DOG. 



" In forming an opinion of a dog's merits, the general appearance (by which is meant the 

 impression which a dog makes as a whole on the eye of the judge) should be first considered. 

 Secondly should be noticed the dog's size, shape, and make i.e., its proportions in the relation 

 they bear to each other; no point should be so much in excess of the others as to destroy 

 the general symmetry, and cause the dog to appear deformed, or interfere with its usefulness 

 in the occupations for which it is specially adapted. Thirdly, the dog's style, carriage, gait, 

 temperament, and each of its other points, should be considered separately. 



"POINT i. General Appearance. The general appearance of the Dandie Dinmont Terrier 

 is that of a rough-coated, thick-set dog, very low on its legs, and having a body very flexible 

 and long in proportion to its height, but broad, deep-chested, and compact. The head very 

 large, with broad and well-domed skull, covered with light-coloured hair of a softer and more 

 silky texture than that on the body. This hairy scalp very often gives the head an appearance 

 of being disproportionate to the body, while such is not actually the case. Jaws long and 

 slightly tapering to the nose, which must be large and always black ; covered with shorter 

 and slightly harder hair than on the body. Neck thick and muscular ; shoulders low, and 

 back slightly curved down behind them, with a corresponding arch of the loins, which are 

 broad and strong. Ears pendulous, and bearing low. Legs short and very muscular. The 

 Dandie carries in his countenance the appearance of great determination, strength, and activity, 

 with a constant and vigilant eagerness to be busy. In brief, he is an embodiment of docility, 

 courage, strength, intelligence, and alertness. 



"POINT 2. The Head should be very large, and rather heavy-looking in proportion to the 

 dog's size. Skull broad between the ears, with a very gradual and slight taper towards the 

 eyes. It should be long from back to front, with high forehead, and cranium conical and 

 well domed, measuring about the same from the point of the eye to back of skull as it does 

 between the base of ears, and round the largest part about a third more than the dog's height 

 at the shoulder. The head should always be covered with soft silky hair, not curled, but 

 slightly wavy, and not confined to a mere top-knot ; it is also of a much lighter colour than 

 that on the body. The cheeks, starting from the ears, proportionately broad with the skull, 

 should, without any unsightly bulge, taper very gradually towards the muzzle, the muscles 

 showing extraordinary development, more especially those that move the lower jaw. The head 

 of the bitch, as in nearly every other breed of dogs, is comparatively smaller and lighter in 

 proportion to that of the dog. 



"POINT 3. The Muzzle should be long, deep, and very powerful; very slightly tapering to 

 the nose, which should be large, well-formed, well-spread over the muzzle, and always black. 

 The muzzle should measure from the corner of the eye to the tip of the nose about three 

 inches 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 should fit 

 well into each other, so as to give the greatest available holding and punishing power. A pig- 

 jawed or under-shot mouth is very objectionable, though, as it occurs in the purest strains, it 

 cannot be altogether considered a disqualification. The mouth should be very large, and the 

 roof of it very dark, almost always black. 



" POINT 4. The Eyes should be wide apart, large, round, moderately full, very clear, bright, 



