256 DOGS AND ALL ABOUT THEM 



loins, with a very slight gradual drop from top of loins to root of tail ; 

 both sides of backbone well supplied with muscle. Tail Rather short, 

 say from eight inches to ten inches, and covered on the upper side with 

 wiry hair of darker colour than that of the body, the hair on the under 

 side being lighter in colour, and not so wiry, with a nice feather, about 

 two inches long, getting shorter as it nears the tip ; rather thick at the 

 root, getting thicker for about four inches, then tapering off to a point. 

 It should not be twisted or curled in any way, but should come up 

 with a curve like a scimitar, the Up, when excited, being in a per- 

 pendicular line with the root of the tail. It should neither be set on 

 too high nor too low. When not excited it is carried gaily, and a little 

 above the level of the body. Legs The fore-legs short, with immense 

 muscular development and bone, set wide apart, the chest coming well 

 down between them. The feet well formed, and not //a/, with very 

 strong brown or dark-coloured claws. Bandy legs and flat feet are 

 objectionable. The hair on the fore-legs and feet of a pepper dog 

 should be tan, varying according to the body colour from a rich tan 

 to a pale fawn ; of a mustard dog they are of a darker shade than its 

 head, which is a creamy white. In both colours there is a nice feather, 

 about two inches long, rather lighter in colour than the hair on the 

 fore-part of the leg. The hind-legs are a little longer than the fore ones, 

 and are set rather wide apart, but not spread out in an unnatural 

 manner, while the feet are much smaller, the thighs are well developed, 

 and the hair of the same colour and texture as the fore ones, but having 

 no feather or dew claws ; the whole claws should be dark ; but the 

 claws of all vary in shade according to the colour of the dog's body. 

 Coat This is a very important point ; the hair should be about two 

 inches long ; that from skull to root of tail a mixture of hardish and soft 

 hair, which gives a sort of crisp feel to the hand. The hair should not 

 be wiry ; the coat is termed pily or pencilled. The hair on the under 

 part of the body is lighter in colour and softer than that on the top. 

 The skin on the belly accords with the colour of dog. Colour The 

 colour is pepper or mustard. The pepper ranges from a dark bluish 

 black to a light silver grey, the intermediate shades being preferred, 

 the body colour coming well down the shoulder and hips, gradually 

 merging into the leg colour. The mustards vary from a reddish brown 

 to a pale fawn, the head being a creamy white, the legs and feet of a 

 shade darker than the head. The claws are dark as in other colours. 

 (Nearly all Dandie Dinmonts have some white on the chest, and some 

 have also white claws.) Size The height should be from 8 to 11 inches 

 at the top of shoulder. Length from top of shoulder to root of tail 

 should not be more than twice the dog's height, but, preferably, one or 

 two inches less. Weight From 14 Ib. to 24 Ib. the best weight as 

 near 18 Ib. as possible. These weights are for dogs in good working 

 order. 



In the above standard of points we have a very full and 

 detailed account of what a Dandie should be like, and if only 

 judges at shows would bear them in mind a little more, we 

 should have fewer conflicting decisions given, and Dandie 



