74 THE KEEPER'S BOOK 



more absurd ? We, however, have something different 

 in our eye we require all the brains we can get in our 

 dog, and we are going, therefore, to select that puppy 

 with the big head, skull nicely rounded, with a muzzle 

 of moderate proportions, terminating in a nose of good 

 size and open nostrils. Whether retriever or pointer, 

 we want a level mouth, neither undershot nor overshot 

 the former condition is almost never seen, but the 

 so-called snipey muzzle is a common defect in our 

 retrievers at the present time, and a bad one. 



The neck should be of a good length to give 

 " carriage " to the animal, and set on shoidders which 

 slope well back, and the tops of the shoulder-blades 

 should come high up and fairly close together. As in 

 a hunter, you cannot have pace and staying power with 

 the reverse of these. 



The chest, looking at it from the front, should be 

 narrow ; but behind the shoulders should be deep from 

 above downwards, and ribs springing well outwards, 

 giving a good " barrel." This should be continued 

 right back to the free or short ribs. If deficient there 

 and great apparent length in the loins, you have a 

 " slack " animal, without endurance. 



The loins should therefore be firm, almost slightly 

 arched, with plenty of room from the projecting iliac 

 bones to the root of the tail. 



The thighs should be strong and muscular, with 

 hocks well let down neither " cow-hocked " nor bend- 

 ing outwards and short below. If your dog is to gallop 



