HEAD
Proportionate to size of dog,
appearing neither too large nor too small for the body.
Expression - The sweet, gentle,
melting expression is an important breed characteristic.
Eyes - Large, round, but not prominent
and set well apart; color a warm, very dark brown; giving a lustrous,
limpid look. Rims dark. There should be cushioning under the eyes which
contributes to the soft expression. Faults - small, almond-shaped,
prominent, or light eyes; white surrounding ring.
Ears - Set high, but not close, on top
of the head. Leather long with plenty of feathering and wide enough so
that when the dog is alert, the ears fan slightly forward to frame the
face.
Skull - Slightly rounded, but without
dome or peak; it should appear flat because of the high placement of the
ears. Stop is moderate, neither filled nor deep.
Muzzle - Full muzzle slightly tapered.
Length from base of stop to tip of nose about 1 1/2 inches. Face well
filled below eyes. Any tendency towards snippiness undesirable. Nose
pigment uniformly black without flesh marks and nostrils well developed.
Lips well developed but not pendulous giving a clean finish. Faults -
Sharp or pointed muzzles.
Bite - A perfect, regular and complete
scissors bite is preferred, i.e. the upper teeth closely overlapping the
lower teeth and set square into the jaws. Faults - undershot bite, weak
or crooked teeth, crooked jaws.
NECK, TOPLINE, BODY
Neck - Fairly long, without
throatiness, well enough muscled to form a slight arch at the crest. Set
smoothly into nicely sloping shoulders to give an elegant look.
Topline - Level both when moving and
standing.
Body - Short-coupled with ribs well
sprung but not barreled. Chest moderately deep, extending to elbows
allowing ample heart room. Slightly less body at the flank than at the
last rib, but with no tucked-up appearance.
Tail - Well set on, carried happily
but never much above the level of the back, and in constant
characteristic motion when the dog is in action. Docking is optional. If
docked, no more than one third to be removed.
FOREQUARTERS
Shoulders well laid back. Forelegs
straight and well under the dog with elbows close to the sides. Pasterns
strong and feet compact with well-cushioned pads. Dewclaws may be
removed.
HINDQUARTERS
The hindquarters construction should
come down from a good broad pelvis, moderately muscled; stifles well
turned and hocks well let down. The hind legs when viewed from the rear
should parallel each other from hock to heel. Faults - cow or sickle
hocks.
COAT
Of moderate length, silky, free from
curl. Slight wave permissible. Feathering on ears, chest, legs and tail
should be long, and the feathering on the feet is a feature of the
breed. No trimming of the dog is permitted. Specimens where the coat
has been altered by trimming, clipping, or by artificial means shall be
so severely penalized as to be effectively eliminated from competition.
Hair growing between the pads on the underside of the feet may be
trimmed.
COLOR
Blenheim - Rich chestnut markings well
broken up on a clear, pearly white ground. The ears must be chestnut and
the color evenly spaced on the head and surrounding both eyes, with a
white blaze between the eyes and ears, in the center of which may be the
lozenge or "Blenheim spot". The lozenge is a unique and desirable,
though not essential, characteristic of the Blenheim.
Tricolor - Jet black markings well
broken up on a clear, pearly white ground. The ears must be black and
the color evenly spaced on the head and surrounding both eyes, with a
white blaze between the eyes. Rich tan markings over the eyes, on
cheeks, inside ears and on underside of tail.
Ruby - Whole-colored rich red.
Black and Tan - Jet black with rich,
bright tan markings over eyes, on cheeks, inside ears, on chest, legs
and underside of tail.
Faults - Heavy ticking on Blenheims or
Tricolors, white marks on Rubies or Black and Tans.
GAIT
Free moving and elegant in action,
with good reach in front and sound, driving rear action. When viewed
from the side, the movement exhibits a good length of stride, and viewed
from front and rear it is straight and true, resulting from
straight-boned fronts and properly made and muscled hindquarters.
TEMPERAMENT
Gay, friendly, non-aggressive with no
tendency towards nervousness or shyness. Bad temper, shyness and
meanness are not to be tolerated and are to be so severely penalized as
to effectively remove the specimen from competition.
Approved Date: January 10, 1995
Effective Date: April 30, 1995