"Well-sprung ribs, deep in rear. All ribs close together"

     The dog should show well-sprung ribs, that continue back to the loins without tightening up. Viewed from above, the ribs, loins, and hips should show an "hourglass" shape, with a definite narrowing at the loins and more width at the ribs and hips. The ribs are not barrel shaped, nor are they slab-sided. Viewed from the front, the ribs should describe an oval with the longest distance from the top to bottom, not from side to side. The lower line of the dog’s body should show good depth, with the brisket dropping approximately to the elbows or slightly below. The deep in rear ribs should continue back from the brisket to from a good cage for the heart and lungs.

"forelegs set rather wide apart to permit chest development. Chest deep and broad"

     The standard calls for the forelegs to be set "rather" wide apart, rather, according to the dictionary, means "to a certain extent, somewhat, to a degree". The legs therefore should be moderately wide apart, not as wide as possible. As a rule of thumb, the shoulders and forelegs should be about the same width as the rear, when viewed from above. The dog should never look larger in the front than in the rear, but both ends should be in balance. The width of the chest has a direct bearing on the total agility and ease of movement of the dog. There should be good chest development, with strong muscle attachment, but not overdone for the sake of being the "widest". The area of the chest between the forelegs should be rounded with muscle below the sternum. No hollow, concave or shallow look. The muscles of the lower chest should round and flow smoothly into the brisket. The sternum should not appear prominent or boney.