2oo THE BOOK OF THE DOG. 



deeo and narrow ; if wide, the dog's power of going to earth is lessened without any propor- 

 tionate increase of power. Moreover, in nine cases out of ten a wide chest means bad action. 

 On the other hand, if the chest be narrow, it must be deep to give space for the heart and 

 lungs, as well as slope for the shoulders. The shoulders should be thin, long, and well laid 

 back, the two last-named points being even more important than the first. The middle 

 should be neither flat-sided on the one hand, nor tub-shaped on the other, but the ribs 

 should spring well from the spine, and descend with an oval sweep. The back-ribs should 

 be deep, and the dog should be well ribbed up. At the same time, I would rather have 

 a dog a trifle deficient here, provided he had plenty of liberty and hind-leg action than have 

 him too short in the quarters. The stern should be set on fairly high, and gaily carried, 

 though of course not like a Pug's. In this point, indeed, a Foxhound is a good model, 

 and if fashion allowed us to show Terriers with their tails unmutilated, the likeness in this 

 respect would be complete. The thighs should be long and muscular, and the hocks well let 

 down. This, indeed, is a more important point than is often supposed. Strong, well-formed 

 hocks are no doubt important, but I would rather have somewhat weaker hocks well let down, 

 than good ones with a long interval between them and the ground. Lastly, the dog should 

 stand square and true on his feet. 



Of the coat I have already spoken. It should be dense, abundant, and hard, fine to the 

 eye, and thick to the hand. A strong feather on the thighs, and a thick stern are desirable, 

 as sure accompaniments of a good coat, and symptoms of a hardy constitution. On no account 

 should the belly and the under-side of the thighs be bare. 



It is clear, however that a dog may have all these points, and yet not be up to the 

 standard of merit required in a show Terrier. Here comes in what I have called secondary 

 qualities. In the first place, besides being truly shaped, the dog must have that indescribable 

 look of style and high breeding usually known as quality. The neck should be of moderate 

 length and thickness, slightly arched, and sloping gracefully into the shoulders. I now come 

 to that important point the head. In calling this a secondary point I do not in the least 

 mean to detract from its value. A good head is essential to beauty, and is also a requisite 

 symptom of pure breeding. But provided that the jaw be strong enough that is all we require 

 for mere working purposes, and therefore the head fairly falls under the class of what I have 

 called secondary points. A few years ago an idea prevailed now I think happily on the 

 wane, though not yet wholly exploded that length was the great thing to be aimed at 

 in a Terrier's head. Now, where length can be got without any sacrifice of Terrier character 

 or expression, as in Dorcas, and still more in Olive or Belgrave Joe, no doubt we have the 

 perfection of a head. But the real point is the shape and expression of the head, and length 

 is too often obtained at the expense of these. A long straight head, going down like a 

 wedge, is an infallible symptom of affinity to the Bull-terrier or his first cousin the English 

 Terrier. It is noteworthy that in certain strains, notably that of Old Chance, a short thick 

 head is found alternating with an abnormally long one, the Bull-terrier cross manifesting itself 

 sometimes in one form, sometimes the other. Those who care to push this inquiry further 

 will find some interesting speculations on the subject of length of head in domestic animals 

 in the writings of Mr. Darwin. The right type of head is more easily illustrated than 

 described ; and a walk round the benches at a big show with a competent critic will do more 

 to instruct a beginner on this point than pages of writing. The jaw, of course, should be 

 strong, and the teeth level. A slightly undershot mouth is no practical hindrance to a 

 dog's work ; but it is an infallible sign of a Bulldog cross, and as such very properly puts its 



