Carolina Dog Breed Magazine - Showsight

Chest: The chest is narrow to medium in width, but deep, with plenty of lung and heart room. The brisket reaches to the elbows in mature specimens. Fault: Wide or broad chested. Tail : Like the ears, the tail is a most expressive characteristic feature of this breed. The tail is set horizontally as a continuation of the spine but may have a slight lift at the tail base. In addition, toward its end, the ideal tail is shaped like a fishhook, meaning that approximately the last third of the tail bends back over itself toward the direction of the dog’s head. The tail should never completely curl over the back of the dog, as to touch the dog’s back. When the dog is alert, the fishhook tail is often held at about a 45-degree angle above the horizontal. When the dog is trotting, the tail may be carried in a downward "pump handle" configuration displaying the fishhook. At other times, especially when the dog is being approached by a stranger, the tail may be held low or tucked between the rear legs. When the tail is tucked some of the fishhook curvature may diminish; however, the tail should not be straight, slack, or loose in its hang, as the tail, when foraging or on alert, should be able to be hoisted and waived vigorously in tall weedy cover. The tail may have a moderate brush or plume that is more heavily haired on the underside. The underside is usually lighter-colored or at least paler than the upper tail surface, which may show some dark sable colored hair. Note, black dogs are unlikely to have paler coloring on the underside of the tail. Major Faults: A straight tail. Fault: Any tail which twists or makes a full arc or curl over the back. Fault: Tail without a fishhook at the end. FOREQUARTERS FORELEGS - The forelegs are straight and often closer together than in many breeds. The forelegs have good length, with a long upper arm, longer than that of the shoulder blade and are moderately straight. The flexible pasterns have a 15-to-20-degree angle. Shoulders are long and laid back with a definitive prosternum. The return places the elbow just under the front edge of the shoulder blade. HINDQUARTERS The hindquarters are strong, powerful, and muscular. The upper thigh muscles are thick and strong, almost as in well-conditioned racing sighthound. Hind legs are set squarely or directly under the dog with the hock joint almost vertical to the hip joint. The upper thigh and lower thigh are equal, making them well angulated for speed with agility, enabling the dog to turn quickly while moving forward. Rear pasterns are longer than those of the forelegs. Rear dewclaws may be present and may be doubled. FEET

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