THE DANDIE DINMONT 255 



Club, with the object of settling the question for ever, and for 

 this purpose all the most noted breeders and others interested 

 were invited to give their views upon it. 



The standard of points adopted by the club is as follows : 



Head Strongly made and large, not out of proportion to the dog's 

 size ; the muscles showing extraordinary development, more especially 

 the maxillary. Skull Broad between the ears, getting gradually less 

 towards the eyes, and measuring about the same from the inner corner 

 of the eyes to back of skull as it does from ear to ear. The forehead 

 well domed. The head is covered with very soft silky hair, which should 

 not be confined to a mere topknot, and the lighter in colour and silkier 

 it is the better. The cheeks, starting from the ears proportionately 

 with the skull, have a gradual taper towards the muzzle, which is deep 

 and strongly made, and measures about three inches in length, or in 

 proportion to skull as three is to five. The muzzle is covered with hair 

 of a little darker shade than the topknot, and of the same texture 

 as the feather of the fore-legs. The top of the muzzle is generally 

 bare for about an inch from the black part of the nose, the bareness 

 coming to a point towards the eye, and being about one inch broad at 

 the nose. The nose and inside of mouth black or dark coloured. The 

 teeth very strong, especially the canine, which are of extraordinary 

 size for such a small dog. The canines fit well into each other, so as to 

 give the greatest available holding and punishing power, and the teeth 

 are level in front, the upper ones very slightly overlapping the under 

 ones. (Many of the finest specimens have a "swine mouth," which is 

 very objectionable, but it is not so great an objection as the protrusion 

 of the under jaw.) Eyes Set wide apart, large, full, round, bright, 

 expressive of great determination, intelligence and dignity ; set low 

 and prominent in front of the head ; colour a rich dark hazel. Ears 

 Pendulous, set well back, wide apart and low on the skull, hanging close 

 to the cheek, with a very slight projection at the base, broad at the 

 junction of the head and tapering almost to a point, the fore part of the 

 ear tapering very little, the tapering being mostly on the back part, 

 the fore part of the ear coming almost straight down from its junction 

 with the head to the tip. They should harmonise in colour with the 

 body colour. In the case of a pepper dog they are covered with a soft, 

 straight, brownish hair (in some cases almost black). In the case of 

 a mustard dog the hair should be mustard in colour, a shade darker 

 than the body, but not black. All should have a thin feather of light 

 hair starting about two inches from the tip, and of nearly the same 

 colour and texture as the topknot, which gives the ear the appearance 

 of a distinct point. The animal is often one or two years old before the 

 feather is shown. The cartilage and skin of the ear should not be thick, 

 but rather thin. Length of ear, from three to four inches. Neck 

 Very muscular, well developed, and strong ; showing great power 

 of resistance, being well set into the shoulders. Body Long, strong, 

 and flexible ; ribs well sprung and round, chest well developed and 

 let well down between the fore-legs ; the back rather low at the shoulder, 

 having a slight downward curve and a corresponding arch over the 



