GENERAL APPEARANCE.- strong, compact-looking dog
of great symmetry ; absolutely free of legginess ; profusely
coated all over ; very elastic
in a gallop but in walking or trotting has a characteristic ambling
or pacing movement; and his bark should be loud, with a peculiar
"pot caase" ring in it. All round he is a thick-set,
muscular, able-bodied dog, with a most intelligent expression,
free of all poodle or deerhound character.
Head and Skull.-Skull capacious and rather squarely
formed, giving plenty of room for brain power, lie parts
over the eyes should be well arched
and the whole well-covered with hair. Jaw fairly long, strong,
square,and truncated.
The stop should be defined to avoid a deerhound face. Nose always
black, large, and capacious
Eyes.-Dark or wall eyes are to he preferred.
Ears.-Small and carried flat to side of head, coated moderately.
Mouth.-Teeth strong and .large, .evenly placed and level.
Neck.-The neck should be fairly long, arched gracefully,
and well coated .with hair.
Forequarters.-The forelegs should be dead straight,
with plenty of bone, holding the body well from the ground, without
approaching legginess; well .coated all round- The shoulders sloping
and narrow at the points, the dog standing lower at the shoulders
than at the loin.
Body.-Rather short and very compact, ribs well sprung,
and brisket deep-and capacious. The loin should be very stout
and gently arched.
Hindquarters.-The hindquarters should be round and muscular,
hocks well let down and the hams densely coated with a thick,
long jacket in excess of that of any other part of the body.
Feet.-Small, round; toes well arched, and pads thick
and round.
Tail.-Puppies requiring docking should have the operation
performed within. 8 week from birth, preferably within four days.
Coat.-Profuse, and of good hard texture ; not straight,
but shaggy and free from curl. The undercoat should be a waterproof
pile when not removed by grooming.
Colour.-Any shade of grey, grizzle, blue or blue merle,
with or without white markings ; any shade of brown or sable to
be considered distinctly objectionable and not to be encouraged.
Weight and Size.-Twenty-two inches and upwards for dogs,
slightly less for bitches. Type, symmetry and character of the
greatest importance, and on no account to be sacrificed to size
alone.
Fault*.-A long, narrow head.