Breed standard
(APPROVED BY THE ENGLISH KENNEL CLUB)
GENERAL APPEARANCE
A stylish dog, with gallopping lines, having a thoroughbred appearance consistent with its build which can be compared to a weight carrying hunter.
Must have symmetrical conformation throughout, showing true balance.
Strong, fairly short and level back. Shortish tail.
Head fairly long, clearly lined with intelligent expression, clear colours and long flat coat.
CHARACTERISTICS
Intelligent, able and dignified.
TEMPERAMENT
Bold, outgoing, of a kindly even disposition.
HEAD AND SKULL
Head deep than broad, but broader than muzzle, showing brain room. Skull slightly
rounded, broadest between ears. Clearly defined stop, lenght from occiput to stop slightly longer than from stop to nose. Below and above eyes lean, cheeks as narrow as leanness of head allows. Muzzle fairly long with almost parallel lines, neither pointed, nor snipy. Flews not pendulous, clearly defined lips. Nose large, broad, nostrils open and black. Muzzle not quite as deep as its length.
EYES
Dark brown, bright. Neither deep nor prominent, set sufficient under brows, showing keen, intelligent expression.
EARS
Medium size, thin. Set low, lying close to head.
MOUTH
Jaws strong with perfect, regular and complete scissor bite, i.e. upper teeth closely overlapping the lower teeth and set square to the jaws.
NECK
Long, lean, arched, without throatiness.
FOREQUARTERS
Shoulder blades long, sloping well back, wide flat bone, close at withers, not loaded. Elbows well let down, and close to body. Forelegs flat boned, straight, strong, upright pasterns.
BODY
Moderate lenght, deep brisket, ribs well sprung. Back ribs deep. Loins wide, slightly arched. Chest not too broad.
HINDQUARTERS
From hip to hock long, broad and muscular, hock to heel short, strong, stifles well bent, straight from hock joint to ground. Pelvis tending to horizontal.
FEET
Oval, close knit, well arched toes, plenty of hair between. Well padded toes, deep heel cushions.
TAIL
Straight or slightly scimitar, not reaching below hocks. Carried horizontally or below line of back. Thick at root, tapering to fine point. Feather or flag starting near root, long, straight, growing shorter to point.
GAIT/MOVEMENT
Steady, free moving and true, plenty of drive behind.
COAT
On head, front of legs, tips of ears short and fine, moderate length, flat and free from curl or wave on all other parts of body. Feather on upper portion of ears long and silky, on backs of legs long, fine, flat and straight; fringes on belly may extend to chest and throat. As free as possible from curl or wave.
COLOUR
Deep shining coal black, without rustiness, with markings of chestnut red, i.e. lustrous tan. Black pencilling on toes and black streak under jaw permissible. "Tan markings": two clear spots over eyes and not over 2 cm. in diameter. On sides of muzzle ( tan not reaching above base of nose), resembling a stripe around clearly defined end of muzzle from one side to other. Also on throat, two large clear spots on chest. On inside of hindlegs and inside thighs, showing down front of stifle and broadening out to outside of hindlegs from hock to toes. On forelegs, up to elbows behind, and to knees or a little above, in front. Around vent. Very small wiìhite spot on chest permissible. No other colour permissible.
SIZE
Height : Dogs 66 cms. Bitches 62 cms.
Weight : Dogs 29.5 kgs. Bitches 25.5 kgs.
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.