MR. Loi'ELL Off DACHSriUXDS. 



317 



" The fore-feet are exceedingly thick and large, the sole being hard and horny ; the stern 

 is long, tapering gradually to the tip, it is rough underneath, and is carried straight with a 

 downward curve near the end, but when the dog is excited gaily over the back ; the coat must 

 be short, fine, and as thick and close as possible ; the skin very thick and extremely loose. 

 The two original colours were the same as in the Bloodhound red and black-and-tan but from 

 a long continuance of careless breeding they are found of all colours ; but colour in the present 

 state of the breed should count for very little if other points be all there. In height the 

 Dachshund ought not to exceed 10 inches at the shoulder, and a dog of that height, and 40 or 



DACHSHUNDS, FROM "LA VENEK1E." 



42 inches long, should weigh 20 Ibs., the bitches being lighter than the dogs. At the same 

 time many of our very best specimens are a little more than this both in size and weight. 

 The prevailing faults in this breed are too great thickness of skull, combined with ears short 

 and badly placed ; the jaw is very weak in fact, not one dog in ten has a good level mouth, 

 while many have a lower jaw like an Italian Greyhound, and cannot crunch an ordinary chop- 

 bone. Others get out at elbows from want of exercise or from weakness, while some have 

 knees bent over, a great defect ; the stern is often carried too high, or even over the back. 

 There is one more hint which may be of service to exhibitors Dachshunds are too often 

 shown altogether out of condition : they require plenty of exercise and not too much to eat ; 

 their social qualities and their great intelligence make them pets in the house, but the points 

 of the breed must be brought out by hard muscle, and it is impossible for a judge to give 



