The Breed Standard

 
     
General Appearance: Smart, workmanlike, well balanced and compact.
   
Characteristics: Affectionate, obedient and easily controlled.
   
Temperament:

Happy and volatile, rarely of a shy nature. Game and fearless but definitely not aggressive although at all times able to hold his own when necessary.

   
Head and Skull:

Flat, of moderate width between ears. Jaws powerful, clean cut, rather deep and punishing. Stop not too defined. Medium length from stop to end of nose. Nose black.

   
Eyes:

Small, well set in, dark, expression indicative of temperament. A round full eye undesirable.

   
Ears:

V shaped, small, leathers not too thin, set on fairly high, carried forward and close to cheek.

   
Mouth:

Jaws strong with perfect, regular scissor bite, i.e. upper teeth closely overlapping lower teeth and set square to the jaws.

   
Neck: Moderate length and thickness, slightly arched and sloping gracefully into shoulders.
   
Forequarters:

Shoulders long, sloping and well set back. Legs straight and muscular possessing ample bone with upright and powerful pasterns.

   
Body: Back short and well ribbed up, loin strong, good depth and moderate width of chest.
   
Hindquarters:

Strong, thighs muscular of good length, with hocks well bent, well let down and with ample bone.

   
Feet: Small, round and cat like.
   
Tail: Customarily docked.
Docked: Well set on. Carried erect but not too gaily.
Undocked: Well set on. Carried erect but not too gaily.
In overall balance with the rest of the dog.
   
Gait/Movement:

Fore and hind legs carried straight forward and parallel. Elbows move perpendicular to body, working free of sides, stifles turning neither in nor out.

   
Coat: Wiry, hard, very close and abundant. Single coat undesirable.
   
Colour:

Black and tan for preference, or black, grizzle and tan, free from black pencilling on toes. Black below hocks most undesirable.

   
Size: Height at shoulder not exceeding 39cm (15 1/2"). Weight; 9 - 9.5Kg (20-21lbs).
   
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.

   
Note:

Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles, fully descended into the scrotum.

 

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