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
