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Neck, Topline, Body
- Neck should be clean and muscular, without throatiness, of fair
length, and gradually widening to the shoulders. Back should be
short, straight, (i.e., level), and strong, with no appearance
of slackness. Chest deep and not broad. The Brisket should be
deep, yet not exaggerated. The fore ribs should be moderately
arched, the back ribs deep and well sprung, and the dog should
be well ribbed up. Loin should be powerful, muscular and very
slightly arched. Stern should be set on rather high. And carried
gaily, but not over the back or curled. It should be of good strength,
anything approaching a "Pipestopper" tail being especially objectionable.
Amplification
The neck is neither long nor short; it should be neither
slender nor stocky; it should be the balancing connection between
head and body. Proper length of neck will, with correct shoulder
placement, be of graceful, but not excessive length, and the back
will, as desired, appear short. The neck flows smoothly into the
shoulders and shows no sign of indentation at, or behind, the
withers. The short, strong back appears level whether standing
or moving. Viewed from the front, the chest should be somewhat
narrow rather than broad and muscular like that of a Bull Terrier,
but the front legs should not "come out of the same hole." The
ribs should be well sprung, but on no account "barrel-chested."
The slightly arched loin is felt rather than seen. The tail should
be set on height (forward of the rear projection of the pelvic
bones), and be carried either directly upright or slightly forward
of the perpendicular. A gay or squirrel is a bad fault. A "two
o'clock tail" spoil the dog's outline. Furthermore , no terrier
of correct temperament will drop its tail in the ring and admit
timidity. A poor topline may be disguised when the dog is posed
but will be discovered as the dog moves. The brisket should be
at least deep enough to reach the elbow, giving the pleasing contrast
in profile between the chest and tuck-up called a "good turn of
body."
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