The Retriever 323 



Flat or Wavy Coated Retriever — Descriptive Particulars 



Nose and Jaws are to be considered from two points of view — first, 

 as to the powers of scent; and second, as to the capacity for carrying a 

 hare or pheasant without risk of damage. For both purposes the jaws 

 should be long, and for the development of scenting powers the nose should 

 be wide, the nostrils open and tip of nose moist and cool, teeth level, and 

 neither overshot nor undershot. 



Skull, Ears and Eyes. — Skull bone wide and flat at the top, with slight 

 furrow down the middle. Brow by no means pronounced, but the skull 

 is not absolutely in a straight line with the nose. The ears must be small, 

 lie close to the head and set on low, but not hanging down in hound fashion. 

 With regard to the hair on them, it must be short. The eyes should be of 

 medium size, dark in colour, bright, intelligent looking and mild in ex- 

 pression, indicating a good temper. 



Neck, Back and Loins. — The neck should be long enough to allow the 

 dog to stoop in seeking for the trail. A chumpy neck is especially bad; 

 for while a little dog may get along on a foot scent with a short neck, a 

 comparatively large and unwieldy dog tires himself terribly by the necessity 

 for crouching in his fast pace. Loins and back wide, deep and strong. 



Quarters and Stifles. — Must be muscular and so formed as to enable 

 the retriever to do his work fast enough for the modern sportsman, with 

 ease to himself. The stifles should be nicely turned. 



Shoulders. — Should be long and sloping; otherwise, even with a proper 

 length of neck, the dog cannot stoop to a foot scent without fatigue. 



Chest. — Should be broad as well as deep, with well-developed and 

 well-sprung ribs. 



Legs, Knees and Hocks. — The legs must not only be strong, but they 

 must be clean and free from lumber. The knees should be broad, and 

 the hocks well developed and clean. 



Feet. — The feet are rather larger proportionately than in the setter, but 

 they should be compact and the toes well arched. Soles thick and strong. 



Tail.- — Should be bushy in proportion to the dog, but not feathered. 

 It should be carried gaily, but not curled over the back. 



Coat. — Short, but not so short as in the pointer or hound; it should 

 be close and thick and as straight as possible; a thin, open coat, with the 

 skin easily found, is bad, however straight it may be. 



