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The neck is strong and
moderately arched. The skin on the neck is pliable and the dewlap should
not be pendulous or excessive. The neck fur is slightly longer than the body
fur and forms a protective ruff.
The topline is level when
gaiting.
Back
will be powerful, muscular, and
have a slight arch over the loin, sloping slightly downward at the croup.
Chest
is well-developed, deep (to the elbow), and well sprung with a distinct tuck
up at the loin. The forechest extends well in front of the legs. The body
is well proportioned.
Tail-
The gentle sickle tail is set just below the
topline and has an overall well-furred appearance. The tail is distinctly
flattened on the sides, with longer hair occurring on the underside and at
the base of the tail. When relaxed, it reaches approximately to the hock
with a slight curve at the tip. When alert, the tail is carried up in a
graceful sickle curve but does not curl to either side of the body, nor does
it snap flat against the back. Both positions are acceptable when gaiting.
The Chinook tail is never docked. Faults-tail set too high or low.
Forequarters-
The shoulders are
moderately laid back. The scapula and upper arm form an angle of about 110
degrees. When standing, the forelegs are placed directly under the
withers. The forelegs are straight, well-muscled, and moderately
boned. The shoulder blade and upper arm are roughly equal in length. When
viewed from the front, the legs are moderately spaced, parallel and
straight, with the elbows close to the body and turned neither in nor out.
Pasterns are short and strong. A slight slanting of the pastern
causing the dog to toe out not more than 10 degrees so that the dog pushes
off from the center toes is allowed. Dewclaws on the forelegs may be
removed. The feet are of the snowshoe type, with moderately webbed
toes, dark pigmented pads, and are well-furred, even between toes. The
front feet turn slightly outward. Faults-straight shoulders, loose
shoulders, weak pasterns, too wide or narrow in the front, out at the
elbows, soft or splayed toes, fine bone.
Hindquarters-When
standing and viewed from the rear, the hind legs are moderately spaced and
parallel. The upper thighs are well muscled and powerful, the stifles
moderately angulated, the hock joint well-defined and set low to the
ground. When viewed from the rear, the legs stand and move true in line
with the movement of the front legs. Dewclaws, if any, are to be removed.
Faults-straight
stifles, cow hocks, sickle hocks. Neck too short or long, barrel chest, weak
or slack back, roached back, sloping topline.
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