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Kennel Club -
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A Breed Standard is the
guideline which
describes the ideal
characteristics,
temperament and
appearance of a breed
and ensures that the
breed is fit for
function. Absolute
soundness is essential.
Breeders and judges
should at all times be
careful to avoid obvious
conditions or
exaggerations which
would be detrimental in
any way to the health,
welfare or soundness of
this breed. From time to
time certain conditions
or exaggerations may be
considered to have the
potential to affect dogs
in some breeds
adversely, and judges
and breeders are
requested to refer to
the Kennel Club website
for details of any such
current issues. If a
feature or quality is
desirable it should only
be present in the right
measure.
To
view photos of this
breed please visit
the
Kennel Club Picture
Library
INTERIM (Breed Standard
under review until June
2009)
General Appearance
Strongly built,
muscular, well balanced
and active with a keen,
determined and
intelligent expression.
Characteristics
Courageous, full of
spirit, with a fun
loving attitude. A
unique feature is a
downfaced, egg-shaped
head. Irrespective of
size dogs should look
masculine and bitches
feminine.
Temperament
Of even temperament
and amenable to
discipline. Although
obstinate is
particularly good with
people.
Head
and Skull
Head long, strong
and deep right to end of
muzzle, but not coarse.
Viewed from front
egg-shaped and
completely filled, its
surface free from
hollows or indentations.
Top of skull almost flat
from ear to ear. Profile
curves gently downwards
from top of skull to tip
of nose which should be
black and bent downwards
at tip. Nostrils well
developed and under-jaw
deep and strong.
Eyes
Appearing narrow and
triangular, obliquely
placed, black or as dark
brown as possible so as
to appear almost black,
and with a piercing
glint. Distance from tip
of nose to eyes
perceptibly greater than
that from eyes to top of
skull. Blue or partly
blue undesirable.
Ears
Small, thin and
placed close together.
Dog should be able to
hold them stiffly erect,
when they point straight
upwards.
Mouth
Teeth sound, clean,
strong, of good size,
regular with perfect,
regular and complete
scissor bite, i.e. upper
teeth closely
overlapping lower teeth
and set square to the
jaws. Lips clean and
tight.
Neck
Very muscular, long,
arched, tapering from
shoulders to head and
free from loose skin.
Forequarters
Shoulders strong and
muscular without
loading. Shoulder blades
wide, flat and held
closely to chest wall
and have a very
pronounced backward
slope of front edge from
bottom to top, forming
almost a right angle
with upper arm. Elbows
held straight and
strong, pasterns
upright. Forelegs have
strongest type of round,
quality bone, dog should
stand solidly upon them
and they should be
perfectly parallel. In
mature dogs length of
foreleg should be
approximately equal to
depth of chest.
Body
Body well rounded
with marked spring of
rib and great depth from
withers to brisket, so
that latter nearer
ground than belly. Back
short, strong with
backline behind withers
level, arching or
roaching slightly over
broad, well muscled
loins. Underline from
brisket to belly forms a
graceful upward curve.
Chest broad when viewed
from front.
Hindquarters
Hindlegs in parallel
when viewed from behind.
Thighs muscular and
second thighs well
developed. Stifle joint
well bent and hock well
angulated with bone to
foot short and strong.
Feet
Round and compact
with well arched toes.
Tail
Short, set on low
and carried
horizontally. Thick at
root, it tapers to a
fine point.
Gait/Movement
When moving appears
well knit, smoothly
covering ground with
free, easy strides and
with a typical jaunty
air. When trotting,
movement parallel, front
and back, only
converging towards
centre line at faster
speeds, forelegs
reaching out well and
hindlegs moving smoothly
at hip, flexing well at
stifle and hock, with
great thrust.
Coat
Short, flat, even
and harsh to touch with
a fine gloss. Skin
fitting dog tightly. A
soft textured undercoat
may be present in
winter.
Colour
For White, pure
white coat. Skin
pigmentation and
markings on head not to
be penalised. For
Coloured, colour
predominates; all other
things being equal,
brindle preferred.
Black, brindle, red,
fawn and tricolour
acceptable. Tick
markings in white coat
undesirable. Blue and
liver highly
undesirable.
Size
There are neither
weight nor height
limits, but there should
be the impression of
maximum substance for
size of dog consistent
with quality and sex.
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 and its effect
upon the health and
welfare of the dog.
Note
Male animals should
have two apparently
normal testicles fully
descended into the
scrotum.
Last Updated - January
2009
Glossary of Canine Terms
Health Information
The Kennel Club operates
health screening schemes
with other
organisations. Some are
clinical veterinary
screening schemes and
some are
DNA screening schemes,
which may be relevant to
this breed.
The current
health screening
requirements and
recommendations for
Kennel Club Accredited
Breeders of this breed
show what is required
and recommended for the
sire and dam of any
litter of this breed
bred by an Accredited
Breeder.
Breed specific summary
results from the
Purebred Dog Health
Survey in 2004 are
available. Individual
summaries are only
available where the
breed response rate was
greater than 15%.
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