Standard |
Description |
GENERAL APPEARANCE |
Symmetrical, balanced, active, powerful level mover, sound with kindly expression. |
CHARACTERISTICS |
Biddable, intelligent, and possessing natural working ability |
TEMPERAMENT |
Kindly, friendly and confident |
HEAD & SKULL |
Balanced and well chiselled, skull broad without coarseness; well set on neck; muzzle powerful, wide and deep. Length of foreface approximately equals length from well defined stop to occiput. Nose preferably black. |
EYES |
Dark brown, set well apart, dark rims |
EARS |
Moderate size, set on approximate level with eyes |
MOUTH |
Jaws strong, with a perfect, regular and complete scissor bite, i.e. upper teeth closely overlapping lower teeth and set square to the jaw |
NECK |
Good length, clean and muscular |
FOREQUARTERS |
Forelegs straight with good bone, shoulders well laid back, long in the blade with upper arm of equal length placing legs well under body. Elbows close fitting |
BODY |
Balanced, short-coupled, deep through heart. Ribs deep, well sprung. Level topline |
HINDQUARTERS |
Loin and legs strong and muscular, good second thighs, well bent stifles. Hocks well let down, straight when viewed from the rear, neither turning in nor out. Cow-hocks are highly undesirable. |
FEET |
Round and cat-like |
TAIL |
Set on and carried level with back, reaching to hocks, without curl at tip |
GAIT/MOVEMENT |
Powerful with good drive. Straight and true in front and rear. Stride long and free with no sign of hackney action in front |
COAT |
Flat or wavy with good feathering, dense water-resisting undercoat |
COLOUR |
Any shade of gold or cream, neither red nor mahogany. A few white hairs on chest only, permissible |
SIZE |
Height at withers Dogs: 56-61cm (22-24in) Bitches: 51-56cm (20-22in) |
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 |
NOTE |
Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles fully descended into the scrotum |