All dogs recognized by the Kennel Club
have a Breed Standard which is a useful guide when looking for a puppy. The
standard is the perfection to which every breeder tries to aim and no dog born
has all the points mentioned. It is quite comprehensive so please read it
and compare litters to the standard as you view them, remember the standard is
for a fully grown adult dog.
GENERAL APPEARANCE: Active, graceful and well balanced,
with gentle expression.
CHARACTERISTICS: Sporting, affectionate, absolutely
fearless.
TEMPERAMENT: Gay, friendly, non-aggressive, no tendency
towards nervousness.
HEAD & SKULL: Skull almost flat between ears. Stop
shallow. Length from base of stop to tip of nose about 1 1/2 inches. Nostrils
black and well developed without flesh marks, muzzle well tapered. Lips well
developed but not pendulous. Face well filled below eyes. Any tendency to
snipiness undesirable.
EYES: Large, dark, round but not prominent; spaced well
apart.
EARS: Long, set high, with plenty of feather.
MOUTH: Jaws strong, with a perfect, regular and complete
scissor bite, i.e. the upper teeth closely overlapping the lower teeth and set
square to the jaws.
NECK: Moderate length, slightly arched.
FOREQUARTERS: Chest moderate, shoulders well laid back,
straight legs moderately boned.
BODY: Short coupled with good spring of rib. Level
back.
HINDQUARTERS: Legs with moderate bone; well turned
stifle - no tendency to cow or sickle hocks.
FEET: Compact, cushioned and well feathered.
TAIL: Length of tail in balance with body, well set on,
carried happily but never much above the level of the back. Docking optional.
If docked no more than one third to be removed.
GAIT: Free moving and elegant in action, plenty of drive
from behind. Fore and hind legs move parallel when viewed from in front and
behind.
COAT: Long, silky, free from curl. Slight wave
permissible. Plenty of feathering. Totally free from trimming.
COLOURS: Recognized colours are:
Black & Tan: Raven black with tan markings above the
eyes, on cheeks, inside ears, on chest and legs and underside of tail. Tan
should be bright. White marks undesirable.
Ruby: Whole colour rich red. White marks undesirable.
Blenheim: Rich chestnut markings well broken up, on
pearly white background. Markings evenly divided on head, leaving room between
ears for much valued lozenge mark or spot (a unique characteristic of the
breed).
Tricolour: Black and white well spaced, broken up, with
tan markings over eyes, cheeks, inside ears, inside legs, and on underside of
tail.
Any other colour or combination of colours most
undesirable.
WEIGHT & SIZE: Weight - twelve to eighteen pounds. A
small well-balanced dog well within these weights desirable.
FAULTS: Any departure from the foregoing points should be
considered a fault and the seriousness with which the fault should be regarded
should be in exact proportion to its degree.
NOTE: Male animals should have two apparently normal
testicles fully descended into the scrotum. |