Breed Standard
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| General
Appearance Most striking. Medium and well balanced. Strong, active and graceful, free from coarseness but capable of great endurance |
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| Characteristics Intelligent, alert, full of action. ‘Smiling expression’. |
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| Temperament Displays affection to all mankind. Unprovoked nervousness or aggression highly undesirable. |
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| Head
and Skull Head powerful, wedge-shaped, with broad, flat skull, muzzle medium length, tapering foreface not too sharply defined. Lips black. Hair short and smooth before ears. Nose black for preference, but may be brown or flesh-coloured. |
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| Eyes Almond-shaped, set slanted, medium to dark brown, set well apart with alert, intelligent expression. Eye rims unbroken black. Light or black eyes undesirable. |
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| Ears Thick, not too long, slightly rounded at tips, set well apart and well covered inside with hair. Fully erect in adults. |
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| Mouth Jaws strong with a perfect, regular and complete scissor bite, i.e. upper teeth closely overlapping lower teeth and set square to the jaws. |
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| Neck Strong, not too short, and proudly arched. |
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| Forequarters Shoulders well laid, legs straight and muscular with good bone and not too short. |
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| Body Back medium in length, broad and very muscular with exceptionally strong loin. Chest deep but not too broad, well sprung deep ribs, giving plenty of heart and lung room. |
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| Hindquarters Very muscular, stifles well angulated. Viewed from rear, legs straight and parallel, with well let down hocks. Cowhocks or straight stifles highly undesirable. |
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| Feet Long, flattish, slightly spread and well feathered. Soles well cushioned with hair. Round cat feet highly undesirable. |
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| Tail Long, profusely coated, carried over the back and to side when alert, sometimes dropped when at rest. |
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| Gait/Movement Moves freely with strong, agile drive, showing power and elegance. |
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| Coat Body should be well covered with thick, close, soft and short undercoat, with harsh but not wiry hair growing through it, forming weather-resistant outer coat, which should stand straight away from body and be free from curl. |
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| Colour Pure white, white and biscuit, cream, outer coat silver tipped. |
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| Size Height: dogs: 51-56 cms (20-22 ins) at shoulder; bitches: 46-51 cms (18-20 ins) at shoulder. Weight in proportion to size. |
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| 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. |
