May 25th, 2009 by admin

General Appearance: Well proportioned and of great substance.

THE IDEAL SPECIMEN

According to The Kennel Club, ‘The Breed Standard is the “Blueprint” of the ideal specimen in each breed approved by a governing body, e.g. The Kennel Club, the Federation Cynologique International (FCI) and the American Kennel Club.

‘The Kennel Club writes and revises Breed Standards taking account of the advice of Breed Councils/ Clubs. Breed Standards are not changed lightly to avoid “changing the standard to fit the current dogs” and the health taken into account when new standards are prepared or existing ones altered.’

Characteristics: Distinctly marked, largo-sized, mountain-rescue dog.

Temperament: Steady, kindly, intelligent, courageous, trustworthy and benevolent.

Head and Skill: large, massive circumference of skull being rather more than double its length. Muzzle short, full in front of the eye and square at nose end. Cheeks flat, great depth from eye to lower jaw. Lips deep but not too pendulous. From nose to stop perfectly straight and broad. Stop somewhat abrupt and well defined. Skull broad, slightly rounded at top, with fairly black with well developed nostrils.

Eyes: Of medium size, neither deep set nor prominent, eyelids should be reasonably tight, without any excessive haw. Dark in colour and not staring. There should be no excessive loose wrinkle on brow which would detract from a healthy eye.

Ears: medium size, lying close to cheeks, not heavily feathered.

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.

Neck: Long, thick, muscular, slightly arched, dewlap well developed.

Forequarters: Shoulders broad and sloping, well up at withers. Legs straight, strong in bone, of good length.

Body: Back broad, Strainght, ribs well rounded. Loin wide, very muscular. Chest wide and deep, but never projecting below elbows.

Hindquarters: Legs heavy in bone, hocks well bent, thighs very muscular.

Feet: Large, compact with well arched toes. Dewclaws removed.

Tail: Set on rather high, long, carried low when in repose, when excited or when in motion should not curl over back.

Gait/Movement: Easy extension, unhurried or smooth, capable of covering difficult terrain.

Coat: Roughs: dense and flat, rather fuller round neck, thighs and tail well feathered. Smooths: close and hound-like, slight feathering on thighs and tail.

Colour: Orange, mahogany-brindle, red-brinder, white with patches on body of any above named colours. Markings as follows: White muzzle, white chest, white forelegs, feet and end or tail, black shadings on face and ears.

Size: Taller the better, provided symmetry is maintained.

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 the degree.

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