GENERAL APPEARANCE. Slightly long in comparison to height; of
powerful, well muscled build with weather-resistant coat. Relation between
height, length, position and structure of fore and hindquarters (angulation)
producing far-reaching, enduring gait. Clear definition of masculinity and
femininity essential, and working ability never sacrificed for mere beauty.
CHARACTERISTICS. Versatile working dog, balanced and free from
exaggeration. Attentive, alert, resilient and tireless with keen scenting
ability.
TEMPERAMENT. Steady of nerve, loyal, self-assured, courageous
and tractable. Never nervous, over-aggressive nor shy.
HEAD &
SKULL. Proportionate in size to body, never coarse, too fine or long. Clean
cut; fairly broad between ears. Forehead slightly domed; little or no trace of
central furrow. Cheeks forming softly rounded curve, never protruding. Skull
from ears to bridge of nose tapering gradually and evenly, blending without too
pronounced stop into wedge shaped powerful muzzle. Skull approximately 50% of
overall length of head. Width of skull corresponding approximately to length, in
males slightly greater, in females slightly less. Muzzle strong, lips firm,
clean and closing tightly. Top of muzzle straight, almost parallel to forehead.
Short, blunt, weak, pointed, overlong muzzle undesirable.
EYES. Medium
sized, almond-shaped, never protruding. Dark brown preferred, lightly shade
permissible, provided expression good and general harmony of head not destroyed.
Expression lively, intelligent and self-assured.
EARS. Medium sized,
firm in texture, broad at base, set high, carried erect, almost parallel, never
pulled inwards or tipped, tapering to a point, open at front. Never hanging.
Folding back during movement permissible.
MOUTH. Jaws strongly
developed. With a perfect, regular and complete scissor bite, i.e. upper teeth
closely overlapping lower teeth and set square at the jaw. Teeth healthy and
strong. Full strong. Full dentition desirable.
NECK. Fairly long,
strong, with well developed muscles, free from throatiness. Carried at 45
degrees angle to horizontal, raised when excited, lowered at fast
trot.
FOREQUARTERS. Shoulder blades long, set obliquely (45 degrees)
laid flat to body. Upper arm strong, well muscled, joining shoulder blade at
approximately 90 degrees. Forelegs straight from pasterns to elbows viewed from
any angle, bone oval rather than round. Pasterns firm, supple and slightly
angulated. Elbows neither tucked in or turned out. Length of foreleg exceeding
depth of chest.
BODY. Length measured from point of breast bone to
rear edge of pelvis, exceeding height at withers. Correct ratio 10 to 9 or 8 and
a half. Undersized dogs, stunted growth, high-legged dogs, those too heavy or
too light in build, overloaded front, too short overall appearance, any feature
detracting from reach or endurance of gait, undesirable. Chest deep (45% - 48%)
of height at shoulder, not too broad, brisket long, well developed. Ribs well
formed and long; neither barrel-shaped nor too flat; allowing free movement of
elbows when gaiting. Relatively short loin. Belly firm, only slightly drawn up.
Back between withers and croup, straight, strongly developed, not too long.
Overall length achieved by correct angle of well laid shoulders, correct length
of croup and hindquarters. Withers long, of good height and well defined,
jointed back in smooth line without disrupting flowing topline, slightly sloping
from front to back. Weak, soft and roach backs undesirable and should be
rejected. Loin broad, strong, well muscled. Croup long, gently curving downwards
to tail without disrupting flowing topline. Short, steep or flat croups
undesirable.
HINDQUARTERS. Overall strong, broad and well-muscled,
enabling effortless forward propulsion of whole body. Upper thighbone, viewed
from side, sloping to slightly longer lower thighbone. Hind angulation
sufficient if imaginary line dropped from point of buttocks cuts through lower
thigh just in front of hock, continuing down slightly in front of hind feet.
Angulations corresponding approximately with front angulation, without
over-angulation, hock strong. Any tendency towards overangulation of
hindquarters reduces firmness and endurance.
FEET. Rounded toes
well-closed and arched. Pads well-cushioned and durable. Nails short, strong and
dark in colour. Dewclaws removed from hindlegs.
TAIL. Bushy-haired,
reached at least to hock - ideal length, reaching to middle of metatarsus. At
rest tail hangs, in slight sabre-like curve; when moving raised and curve
increased, ideally never above level of back. Short, rolled, curled, generally
carried badly or stumpy from birth, undesirable.
GAIT/MOVEMENT.
Sequence of step follows diagonal pattern, moving foreleg and opposite hindleg
forward simultaneously; hind foot thrust forward to midpoint of body and having
equally long reach with forefeet without any noticeable change in
backline.
COAT. Outer coat consisting of straight. hard, close lying
hair as dense as possible. Thick undercoat. Hair on head, ears, front of legs,
paws and toes short, on back, longer and thicker; in some males forming slight
ruff. Hair longer on back of legs as far down as pasterns and stifles and
forming fairly thick trousers on hindquarters. No hard and fast rule for length
of hair; mole-type coats undesirable.
COLOUR. Black or black saddle
with tan or gold to lightgrey markings. All black, all grey, or grey with
lighter or brown markings referred to as Sables. Nose black. Light markings on
chest or very pale colour on inside of legs permissible but undesirable, as are
whitish nails, red tipped tails or wish-washy faded colours defined as lacking
in pigmentation. Blues, livers, albinos, white (i.e. almost pure white dogs with
back noses) and near whites highly undesirable. Undercoat, except in all black
dogs, usually grey or fawn. Colour in itself is of secondary importance having
no effect on character or fitness for work. Final colour of a young dog only
ascertained when outer coat has developed.
SIZE. Ideal height (from
withers and just touching elbows) : Dogs 62.5 cm (25 ins). Bitches 57.5 cm (23
inch). 2.5 cm (1 inch) either above or below ideal
permissible.
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.
Copyright: The Kennel Club 1986
