General appearance, characteritic
General Appearance
Sturdy, medium-sized, long-haired, generally square outline. Balanced, without exaggeration.
Characteristic
Lively, good-natured. Loyal companion dog with many engaging ways. Temperament Outgoing, alert, intelligent and game; neither fierce nor pugnacious. Sparing of affection to strangers.
Head and Skull
Skull of medium length, neither broad nor coarse, narrowing slightly from ear to eye, neither domed nor absolutely flat between ears. Zygomatic arch curved, but not overdeveloped so as to bulge. Marked stop in front of eyes but not exaggerated. Muzzle strong; well developed lower jaw. Length from eye to tip of nose equal to length from eye to occiput. Nose black. Head well furnished with long hair, falling forward but not affecting the dog's ability to see. Lower jaw carrying small, but not exaggerated amount of beard. In all giving a resolute expression.
Eyes
Large, round, dark brown, neither prominent nor sunken; set fairly wide apart. Eye rims black.
Ears
Pendant, carried not too close to head, V-shaped, not too large, set fairly high on the side of the skull, heavily feathered.General Appearance
Head, eyes and ears
Mouth, neck, forequarters
Mouth
Scissor or reverse scissor bite. Incisors set in slight curve, evenly spaced and set perpendicular to jaw. Full dentition desirable.
Neck
Strong, muscular, medium length, allowing head to be carried above level of back and giving overall balanced appearance. Flowing into well placed shoulders.
Forequarters
Heavily furnished. Shoulders well laid; with good length and slope of upper arm. Legs straight and parallel; pasterns slightly sloping.Sturdy, medium-sized, long-haired, generally square outline. Balanced, without exaggeration.
Body
Well muscled, compact and powerful. Length from point of shoulder to root of tail equal to height at withers. Fair spring of rib with depth of brisket to elbow. Ribbed well back. Top line level, loin short, slightly arched; croup level.
Hindquarters
Heavily furnished, well muscled. Well bent stifles and low set hocks giving level topline and drive.
Feet
Large, round, heavily furnished with hair between toes and pads. Standing well down on pads; no arch in feet.
Body, hindquarters, feet
Tail, gait, coat
Tail
Medium length, set on fairly high and carried in a gay curl over back. Very well feathered. Kink near tip often occurring and permissible.
Gait/Movement
Smooth; effortless stride with good reach; powerful drive. When walking or trotting hindlegs should track neither inside nor outside the front legs.
Coat
Double coat. Undercoat fine and woolly. Top coat profuse, fine but neither silky nor woolly; long; either straight or waved but not curly.Scissor or reverse scissor bite. Incisors set in slight curve, evenly spaced and set perpendicular to jaw. Full dentition desirable.
Colour
White, golden, cream, grey or smoke, black, parti-colour and tricolours; in fact any colour except chocolate, liver or merle permissible.
Size
Height at shoulder: dogs: 36-41 cms (14-16 ins); bitches: slightly smaller.
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 and its effect upon the health and welfare of the dog.
Note
Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles fully descended into the scrotum.
