Download a copy of the Breed Standard Extension (2001) (pdf) here
BREED STANDARD
GENERAL APPEARANCE - A strong, compact-looking dog of great symmetry;
absolutely free of legginess; profusely coated all over. All round he is a
thick-set, muscular, able-bodied dog, with a most intelligent expression, free
of all Poodle or Deerhound character.
CHARACTERISTICS - The dog stands lower at the shoulders than the loin. When
walking or trotting has a characteristic ambling or pacing movement. His bark
should be loud with a peculiar "pot-casse" ring in it.
TEMPERAMENT - (There is no specification for temperament.)
HEAD AND SKULL - Skull capacious and rather squarely formed, giving plenty of
room for brain power. The parts over the eyes should be well arched and the
whole well-covered with hair. Jaw fairly long, strong, square and truncated; the
stop should be defined to avoid a Deerhound face. Nose always black, large and
capacious.
EYES - Dark or wall eyes are to be preferred.
EARS - Small and carried flat to side of head, coated moderately.
MOUTH - Teeth strong and large, evenly placed and level.
NECK - The neck should be fairly long, arched gracefully, and well coated with
hair.
FOREQUARTERS - The forelegs should be dead straight, with plenty of bone,
holding the body well from the ground, without approaching legginess, well
coated all round. The shoulders sloping and narrow at the points, the dog
standing lower at the shoulders than at the loin.
BODY - Rather short and very compact, ribs well sprung and brisket deep and
capacious. The loin should be very stout and gently arched.
HINDQUARTERS - The hindquarters should be round and muscular, hocks well let
down and the hams densely coated with a thick, long jacket in excess of that of
any other part of the body.
FEET - Small, round; toes well arched, and pads thick and round.
TAIL - Preferably docked. Puppies requiring docking should have the operation
performed within a week from birth, preferably within four days.
GAIT/MOVEMENT - Very elastic in gallop but in walking or trotting has a
characteristic ambling or pacing movement.
COAT - Profuse and of good hard texture; not straight, but shaggy and free from
curl. The undercoat should be a waterproof pile when not removed by grooming.
COLOUR - Any shade of grey, grizzle, blue or blue merle, with or without white
markings; any shade of brown or sable to be considered distinctly objectionable
and not to be encouraged.
SIZE - 56 cm (22 ins) and upwards for dogs, slightly less for bitches. Type,
symmetry and character of the greatest importance and on no account to be
sacrificed to size alone.
FAULTS - A long, narrow head.
NOTE - Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles fully descended
into the scrotum.
Working Dog Group A.N.K.C. © January 1998
Download a copy of the Breed Standard (2001) (pdf) here
Download a copy of the Breed Standard Extension (2001) (pdf) here
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