THE BODY

Now is the time to run your hands over the dog .....

Feel the coat, it should be short, smooth and shiny. The muscles should be long, firm yet pliant, not bunched up and hard.

Run your hands down the neck, over the withers and onto the back. This should flow in a smooth unbroken line without lumps or wrinkling over the shoulders.

You should be able to lay your hand flat onto the back of the dog, and feel the muscles on each side of the backbone. The "old-timers" used to say you could place a cup and saucer behind the withers on a good back when moving!

Feel for forechest and fill between the front legs.

Feel for length of the brisket bone. It should be long, reach well to the rear, and not cut up sharply.

Feel the coupling, you should only be able to put no more than three to four fingers in the flank area, between the last rib and the start of the hindquarters.

Lift the tail and place your hand flat on the croup. It should be fairly level and there should be no wrinkles evident in front of the tail.