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GENERAL
APPEARANCE
Medium sized, compactly made of slightly
elongated shape. Tricolour. Alert, clever and friendly facial
expression.
SIZE
16 to 20 inches at the withers, Dogs – 44-50
cm (up to 52 cm tolerated), Bitches – 42-48 cm (up to 50 cm
tolerated). Ratio of height at withers to length of body = 8:10;
ratio of length of muzzle to length of skull = 9:10.
HEAD
The skull is flat on top with a well-defined
but not exaggerated stop. The muzzle is straight and strong. The
lips are clean, eyes dark brown and lively. Nose always black. Full
dentition. Ears are medium size, set high, triangular in shape,
gently rounded at the tip. When alert, ears are brought forward and
raised at the base. The teeth meet in a scissor bite. Occipital bone
barely visible. Frontal furrow slightly pronounced.
NECK, LINES &
BODY
Short and muscular, topline level, chest is
deep and capacious, well sprung ribs, dog is longer than tall (10:8
ratio). Pronounced fore chest. Naturally grown tail and bobtail
equally acceptable (as of date when European Convention forbids tail
docking). Back straight, firm, broad and relatively long. Loins
strong, pliable and not too short. Rump slopes slightly, relatively
long. Lower line has slight tuck up.
FOREQUARTERS
The shoulders are moderately laid back, flat
lying, well-muscled and never loose. Legs are straight and strong,
placed well under the body. Upper arm length equal or slightly
shorter than shoulder blade. Angle to shoulder blade about 110-120
degrees. Elbows lying well onto the body. Pastern see from front in
straight continuation of the forearm; seen from side slightly
angulated and relatively short. Feet are round and compact with
arched toes, pointing straight forward. Pads coarse and robust.
Dewclaws may be removed on the front legs.
HINDQUARTERS
Well-muscled thighs, broad and strong. Upper
thigh fairly long, forming a rather wide angle with the lower thigh
at the stifle joint. Lower thigh approximately equal length to upper
thigh, clean. Hock joint strong, set relatively low, well angulated.
Hock fairly short, sturdy, vertical and parallel in position.
Dewclaws must be removed. Hind feet same as front.
GAIT
Ground covering, free, fluid movement with
strong drive from rear. Seen from front or rear, hind legs track in
line with forelegs.
HAIR
Double coat. Topcoat short, close fitting,
harsh and shiny. Undercoat dense.
COLOUR
& MARKINGS
Typically tricolour.
Basic colour black with tan (faun to rust
red) and white markings which should be as symmetric as possible.
The tan markings are placed above the eyes, on cheeks, muzzle and
through, either side of the chest, and on four legs. On legs, the
tan is situated between the black and the white. White markings
include a distinct small blaze which runs without interruption from
top of head over bridge of nose, and can wholly or partially
cover the muzzle. White from chin over throat without interruption
to chest. White on all four feet. Undesirable but tolerated — small
white patch on the nape of the neck (not more than half a hand’s
breadth).
FAULTS
Any departure from the foregoing
points must be considered as a fault, and the seriousness with
which the fault should be regarded should be in exact proportion
to its degree.
Under or over size; rounded skull; short, too
long or pointed muzzle; roman nose; eyes too light, too deep set
or protruding; ectropion, entropion; ears set on low, too small
or too pointed; ears carried in a flyaway position or folded; bite
over or undershot; absence of teeth other than 2 PM 1 (Premolar 1,
absence of M3 not considered); back too short, hollow or roach back;
rising or strong sloping croup; chest too shallow or barrel shaped;
kinky tail or tail carried over back; limbs too fine-boned,
insufficiently or too strongly angulated, incorrect position, cow
hocked or bow-legged, too close together; weak or broken down
pasterns; feet longish or splayed; weakness in temperament;
aggressiveness.
Faults in markings: interrupted blaze; too big
white patch on the nape of the neck; white collar around whole neck;
broken white on chest; white reaching distinctly above pasterns.
DISQUALIFICATIONS
Yellow hawk eyes, wall eyes, blue eyes; too long, soft coat; ring-tail; other than tricoloured
coat; basic colour other than black.
Breed standard
Copyright © NEMDA
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