General Appearance:
Long and low, but with compact, well muscled body, bold defiant carriage of
head and intelligent expression.
Characteristics:
Intelligent, lively, courageous to the point of rashness, obedient.
Especially suited to going to ground because of low build, very strong
forequarters, and forelegs, long strong jaw, and immense power of bite and hold.
Excellent nose, persevering hunter and trackers.
Temperament:
Faithful, versatile and good tempered.
Head and Skull:
Long, appearing conical when seen from above; and from a side view tapering
uniformly to the tip of the muzzle. Skull only slightly arched. Neither too
broad nor too narrow, sloping gradually without a prominent stop into a slightly
arched muzzle. The length from the back of the skull to the eyes should be the
same as from the eyes to the end of the muzzle.
In Wirehaired particularly, ridges over the eyes strongly prominent, giving
appearance of a slightly broader skull.
Lips well stretched, neatly covering the lower jaw. Strong jaw bones, not too
square or snipy, but opening wide.
Eyes:
Medium size, almond shaped, set obliquely. Dark except in Chocolates, where
they can be lighter. In Dapples, one or both wall eyes are permissible.
Ears:
Set high and not too far forward. Broad, of moderate length and well rounded
(not narrow, pointed or folded). Forward edge touching the cheek. Mobile, and
when at attention, the back of the ear is directed forward and outward.
Mouth:
Teeth must be strongly developed; the powerful canine teeth fitting closely.
Jaws strong, with a perfect, regular and complete scissor bite; i.e. the upper
teeth closely overlapping the lower teeth and set square to the jaws. Complete
dentition important.
Pictures and
Discussion
Neck:
Long, muscular, clean with no dewlap, slightly arched, running in graceful
lines into shoulders, carried proudly forward.
Pictures and
Discussion
Forequarters:
Shoulder blades long, broad and placed firmly and obliquely (45 degrees to
the horizontal) upon very robust rib cage. Upper arm the same length as shoulder
blade, set at 90 degrees to it, very strong and covered with hard supple
muscles. Upper arm lies close to the ribs but able to move freely. Forearm short
and strong in bone, inclining slightly inwards; when seen in profile moderately
straight, must not bend forward or knuckle over, which indicates unsoundness.
Correctly placed foreleg should cover the lowest point of the keel.
Pictures and
Discussion (1)
Pictures and
Discussion (2)
Pictures and
Discussion (3)
Body:
Long and full muscled. Back level, with sloping shoulders, lying in the
straightest possible line between the withers and a slightly arched loin. Loin
short and strong. Breastbone strong and so prominent that a depression appears
on either side of it in front. When viewed from the front, thorax full and oval;
when viewed from side or above, full volumed so allowing by its ample capacity
complete development of the heart and lungs. Well ribbed up, underline gradually
merging into the line of the abdomen. Body sufficiently clear of the ground to
allow free movement.
Pictures and
Discussion (1)
Pictures and
Discussion (2)
Hindquarters:
Rump full, broad and strong pliant muscles. Croup long, full, robustly
muscled, only slightly sloping towards the tail. Pelvis strong, set obliquely
and not too short. Upper thigh set at right angles to pelvis, strong and of good
length. Lower thigh short, set at right angles to upper thigh and well muscled.
Legs when seen from behind set well apart, straight and parallel. Hind dewclaws
undesirable.
Pictures and
Discussion
Feet:
Front feet full, broad, deep, close knit, straight or very slightly turned
out. Hind feet smaller and narrower. Toes close together with a decided arch to
each toe, strong regularly placed nails, thick and firm pads. Dog must stand
true, i.e. equally on all parts of the foot.
Tail:
Continues line of the spine, but slightly curved, without kinks or twists,
not carried too high, or touching the ground when at rest.
Gait/Movement:
Should be free and flowing. Stride should be long with the drive coming from
the hindquarters when viewed from the side. Viewed from in front or behind, the
legs and feet should move parallel to each other with the distance apart being
the width of the shoulder and hip joints respectively.
Coat - Wire-haired:
With the exception of the jaw, eyebrows, chin and ears, the whole body should
be covered with a short, straight, harsh coat with dense undercoat, beard on the
chin, eyebrows bushy, but hair on the ears almost smooth. Legs and feet well but
neatly furnished with harsh coat.
Smooth-haired:
Dense, short and smooth. Hair on underside of tail course in texture. Skin
loose and supple, but fitting closely all over without dewlap and little or no
wrinkle.
Long-haired:
Soft and straight, or only slightly waved; longest under neck, on underparts
of body and behind legs where it forms abundant feathering, on tail where it
forms a flag. Outside of ears well feathered. Coat flat and not obscuring
outline. Too much hair on feet is undesirable.
Colour:
All colours allowed but (except in dapples which should be evenly marked all
over) no white permissible, save for a small patch on chest which is permitted
but not desirable. Nose and nails black in all colours except chocolate/tan and
chocolate/dapple, where brown is permitted.
Size:
Standards: Ideal weight 20-26 lbs (9-12 kg).
Miniatures: Ideal weight 4.5 kg (10 lbs).
Desired maximum weight 5 kg (11 lbs.) Exhibits which appear thin and
undernourished should be severely penalised.
Faults:
Any departure from the foregoing points, including
desired body condition, 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.
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