30 THE DOG IN HEALTH. 



tliird of its length, from which its power will be evident. 

 The stifle should be well bent for the same reason that the 

 shoulder-blades should be oblique and should not turn in, 

 but rather a little out, so that there may be movement 

 free of the body. 



Legs and Feet. However good the other parts of a 

 dog, if his legs are weak, improperly bent, or otherwise 

 defective, he will necessarily be of little service for con- 

 tinuous work in hunting, etc. The upper arm (a part 

 often too little considered) should be strong in bone and 

 well muscled for the movement of what is commonly 

 understood by the forearm or front leg. The leg from 

 the elbow to the pastern or wrist (knee) should be perfect- 

 ly straight, the bone large i. e., so as to seem strong 

 enough to support the weight of the animal and afford 

 attachment to large muscles. The pasterns should also be 

 strong to bear the shocks to which they are exposed in 

 galloping, jumping, etc., and a slight obliquity in fast- 

 working dogs is probably an advantage, though on this 

 point there is diversity of opinion. 



The elbows should be strong, but work clear of the 

 body in every possible movement of the animal ; hence 

 they should be turned neither in nor out (" out at elbow ") 

 and placed low i. e., low enough to be free, as indicated 

 above. 



The " knee " is really the wrist of man, and should be 

 low placed for speed. 



In the hind-legs the hock corresponds to the ankle of 

 man. Like all joints that are called upon to bear severe 

 strains, it should be large or prominent and well bent 

 (well [turned) i. e., the junction of the bones composing 



