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GENERAL APPEARANCE
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Small, long haired, working
dog of great beauty, free from cloddiness and coarseness.
Outline symmetrical so that no part appears out of proportion
to whole. Abundant coat, mane and frill, shapeliness of
head and sweetness of expression combine to present the
ideal. |
CHARACTERISTICS |
Alert,
gentle, intelligent, strong and active. |
TEMPERAMENT |
Affectionate
and responsive to his owner, reserved towards strangers, never
nervous. |
| HEAD |
Head refined; when viewed from top or
side a long, blunt wedge, tapering from ear to nose. Width
of skull in proportion to length of skull and muzzle.
Whole to be considered in connection with size of dog.
Skull flat, moderately wide between ears, with no prominence
of occipital bone. Cheeks flat, merging smoothly into
well rounded muzzle. Skull and muzzle of equal length,
dividing point inner corner of eye. Topline of skull parallel
to topline of muzzle, with slight but definite stop. Nose,
lips and eye rims black. The characteristic expression
is obtained by the perfect balance and combination of
skull and foreface, shape, colour and placement of eyes,
correct position and carriage of ears.
MOUTH - Jaws level, clean,
strong with a well-developed underjaw. Lips tight. Teeth-sound
with a perfect, regular and complete scissor bite, i.e.
upper teeth closely overlapping lower teeth and set square
to the jaws. A full complement of 42 properly placed teeth
highly desired.
EYES - Medium size obliquely
set, almond shape. Dark brown except in the case of merles,
where one or both may be blue or blue flecked.
EARS - Small, moderately
wide at base, placed fairly close together on top of skull.
In repose, thrown back; when alert brought forward and
carried semi-erect with tips falling forward.
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| NECK |
Muscular,
well arched, of sufficient length to carry head proudly.
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| BODY |
Slightly longer from point of shoulder to bottom of croup
than height at withers. Chest deep, reaching to point of
elbow. Ribs well sprung, tapering at lower half to allow
free play of forelegs and shoulders. Back level, with graceful
sweep over loins, croup slopes gradually to rear.
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TAIL |
Set low; tapering bone reaches to at least hock; with abundant
hair and slight upward sweep. May be slightly raised when
moving but never over level of back. Never kinked. |
LIMBS |
FOREQUARTERS - Shoulders
very well laid back. At withers separated only by vertebrae,
but blades sloping outwards to accommodate desired spring
of ribs. Shoulder joint well angled. Upper arm and shoulder
blade approximately equal in length. Elbow equidistant from
ground and withers. Forelegs straight when viewed from front,
muscular and clean with strong bone. Pasterns strong and
flexible.
HINDQUARTERS -
Thigh broad and muscular, thigh bones set into pelvis at
right angles. Stifle joint has distinct angle, hock joint
clean cut, angular, well let down with strong bone. Hocks
straight when viewed from behind.
Oval, soles well padded, toes arched and
close together.
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GAIT
/ MOVEMENT |
Lithe,
smooth and graceful with drive from hindquarters, covering
the maximum amount of ground with the minimum of effort. Pacing,
plaiting, rolling or stiff, stilted, up and down movement
highly undesirable. |
| COAT |
Double; outer coat of long hair, harsh
textured and straight. Undercoat soft, short and close.
Mane and frill very abundant, forelegs well feathered.
Hindlegs above hocks profusely covered with hair, below
hocks fairly smooth. Face smooth. Smooth coated specimens
highly undesirable.
COLOUR -
Sables - Clear or shaded, any colour
from pale gold to deep mahogany, in its shade, rich in
tone. Wolf sable and grey undesirable.
Tri-colours - intense black on body,
rich tan markings preferred.
Blue Merles - clear silvery blue, splashed
and marbled with black. Rich tan marking preferred but
absence not penalised. Heavy black markings, slate or
rust tinge in either top or undercoat highly undesirable;
general effect must be blue.
Black & White and Black & Tan -
are also recognised colours.
White markings may appear (except on black and tan) in
blaze, collar and chest, frill, legs and tip of tail.
All or some white markings are preferred (except on black
and tan) but absence of these markings not to be penalised.
Patches of white on body highly undesirable.
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| SIZE
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Height:
Dogs 37 cm (14.½ ins) at withers
Bitches 35.5 cm (14 ins) at withers
More than 2.5 cms (1 in) above or below these heights highly
undesirable. |
| 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.
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| N.B. |
Male animals should have two apparently
normal testicles fully descended into the scrotum.
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