110 DOMESTICATED DOGS. 
Legs,—The fore-legs short, with immense muscular development 
and bone, set wide apart, the chest coming well down between 
them. ‘I'he feet well formed and not flat, with very strong brown 
or dark-coloured claws. Bandy-legs and flat feet are objectionable, 
but may be avoided—the bandy-legs by the use of splints when 
first noticed, and the flat feet by exercise and a dry bed and floor 
to kennel, The hair on the fore-legs and feet of a blue 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 rich 
feather about 2 inches long, rather lighter in colour than the 
hair on the fere-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 of the claws should be dark; but the claws cf 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 foot 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 what 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 the dog. 
Colour—The colour is pepper or mustard. The pepper colour 
ranges from a dark bluish black to a light silvery grey, the inter- 
mediate shades being preferred—the body colour coming well 
down the shoulders and back, 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 have some white up the chest, and some have also white claws.) 
Size—The length 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 1 or 2 
inches less. 
