1. The Skull (Value 10)

1. The skull (value 10) is long and slightly arched, the occiput being wide, and its protuberance well developed; eyebrows raised, but without any marked "stop".

2. The Jaw (Value 10)

2. The jaw (value 10) is long, and tapering gradually from the eyes; but, nevertheless, it should not be "pig-jawed"- the end, though narrow, being cut off nearly square, with the teeth level and very strong.

3. The Ears, Eyes, And Lips (Value 10)

The ears are long enough to reach nearly to the tip of the nose when brought over the jaw without force. They are broad, rounded at the ends, and soft in " leather" and coat, hanging back in graceful folds; but, when excited, brought forward so as to lie close to the cheeks. Eyes rather small, piercing, and deeply set. In the black and tan variety they should be dark-brown, or almost black; but in the red or chocolate deep hazel. Dr. Fitzinger has often observed the two eyes vary in colour, and even in size. The lips are short, but with some little flew towards the angles; not at all approaching, however, to that of the bloodhound. The skin is quite tight over the cheeks, and indeed over the whole head, showing no bloodhound wrinkle.

4. Length Of Body (Value 15)

In taking this into consideration the neck is included: this part, however, is somewhat short, thick, and rather throaty. The chest is long, round, and roomy, but not so as to be unwieldy. It gradually narrows towards the back ribs, which are rather short. The brisket should be only 2 1/2in. to 3in. from the ground, and the breast bone should project considerably. The loin is elegantly arched, and the flanks drawn up so as to make the waist look slim, the dog measuring higher behind than before. The quarters are strong in muscle as well as the shoulders, the latter being especially powerful.

5. Legs (Value 15)

The fore legs should be very short, strong in bone, and well clothed with muscle. The elbows should not turn out or in, the latter being a great defect. The knees should be close together, never being more than 2 1/2in. apart, causing a considerable bend from the elbows inwards, so as to make the leg crooked, and then again turning outwards to the foot, but this bend at the knees should not be carried to the extent of deformity. In order that the brisket should approach the ground as above described, the fore legs must be very short. On the hind leg there is often a dew claw, but this is not essential either way.

6. The Feet (Value 7 1/2)

6. The feet (value 7 1/2) should be of full size, but very strong and cat-like, with hard, horny soles to the pads. The fore feet are generally turned out, thus increasing the appearance of crookedness in the legs. This formation gives assistance to the out-throw of the earth in digging.

7. The Stern (Value 10)

7. The stern (value 10) is somewhat short and thick at the root, tapering gradually to the point, with a slight curve upwards, and clothed with hair of moderate length on its under-surface. When excited, as in hunting, it is carried in a hound-like attitude over the back. Its shape and carriage indicate high breeding, and are valued accordingly.

8. The Coat (Value 5)

8. The coat (value 5) is short and smooth, but coarse in texture, and by no means silky, except on the ears, where it should be very soft and shiny.

9. The Colour (Value 7 1/2)

The best colours are red, and black-and-tan, which last should be deep and rich, and this variety should always have a black nose. The red strain may have a flesh-coloured nose, and some good judges in England maintain that this is indispensable, but in Germany it is not considered of any importance. In the black-and-tans, the tan should extend to the lips, cheek, a spot over each eye, the belly and flank, under-side of tail, and a spot on each side of breast bone; also to the lower part of both fore and hind legs and feet. Thumb marks and pencilling of the toes are not approved of in this country; but they are often met with in Germany. Whole chocolate dogs are often well bred, but they are not liked in England, even with tan markings, which are, however, an improvement. Whole blacks and whites are unknown out of Germany, where they are rare. In England white on toes or breast is objected to, but not in Germany.

10. Size, Symmetry. And Quality (Value 10)

In size the dachshund should be in . an average specimen from 39in. to 42in. long, from tip to tip, and in height l0in. to llin. at the shoulder; the weight should be from 111b. to 181b., the bitches being considerably smaller than the dogs. In symmetry the dachshund is above the average, as may be judged from a reference to the excellent examples belonging to Mr. Barclay Hanbury, which I have had drawn by Mr. Baker, who has caught the peculiar characteristics of the breed with marvellous truth. Though not able to show as many first prizes as Mr. Fisher's Feldmann or the Earl of Onslow's Waldmann, they are quite up to the level of those dogs, and being within easy reach of Mr. Baker, I have selected them accordingly. Their dimensions are as follows: -

I append the following interesting and very valuable letter received from Germany, which, in the main, confirms the information previously obtained from the various sources above-mentioned; although in unimportant details there is, of course, some difference of opinion. I may observe, in reference to Herr Beck-mann's insisting on the propriety of regarding the dachshund as used only underground in Germany, that I have nothing to do with the intentions of those who originally bred the dog; all that is now within my province is to describe him as he exists.

Notes oh the German Type of the Dachshund.

(By Herr Ludwig Beckhann, of Dnsseldorf.)

Sib

There has been a great deal of correspondence in the Field and other sporting papers regarding the points of the dachshund, and yet the question seems to be still unsettled. This uncertainty is rather striking, if we notice that hundreds of dachshunds have already been imported into England, and among them certainly many well-bred, if not even high bred, dogs, which might serve as a model for the real dachshund type every moment. The writer of these lines has bred and worked dachshunds all his life, and, as he has given the subject peculiar attention, he begs to state his opinion as to what may be the cause of this uncertainty, and in what respect some English fanciers might perhaps be in error regarding points, size, colours, or employment of this ancient German breed.

1. The Houndlike Type

The dachshund has had the misfortune, on his introduction into England, to be confounded by some authors with the French basset. This mistake was favoured by the fact that even our modern German and French kynologists* make no difference between the two races. M. A. Pierre Pichot, editor Vide Prof. Fitzinger, "Der Bund und seine Racen," p. 179; and De la Blanchere in his excellent book, "Les Chiens de Chaase."De la B. says verbally (p. 110): " Lee bassets sont extremement nombrenx en Allemagne, et quelques races out lee oreilles tellement enormes, qn'elles trainent jusqu'a terre." I beg to state here that dachshunds of that kind have never existed. The.French basset was identical with the German dachshund in days of yore, and was most of the Revue Bntannique, was the first who cautioned the English dachshund fanciers against confounding the dachshund with the basset, " the dachshund being quite a different breed."* Nevertheless, the desire for "long ears, houndlike head, and much throatiness" was going on, though one of our first and most successful breeders protested in the Field † agamst these erroneous points on several accounts.

Some fanciers of the dachshund breed went even a step further, and regarded the bloodhound, with its peaked skull and " drapery-like" ears, as the beau ideal of our little dachshunds! (I beg to state here that the Germans have never had a native breed of dogs with head and ears like the present English bloodhound, and least of all a breed of dachshunds.)