GENERAL APPEARANCE:
A medium-sized sheepdog with an oblong
shaped body. It has a long coat with rich under coat, which makes the coat weather-resistant. The body structure has superb harmony. All body parts are assembled so as to give an overall compact and graceful appearance. The breed is characterized by its posture and its short ears, the elegant shape of the long neck and high withers, as well as the richness of the long coat. Movement is light and free. The overall shape of the body, from the head to the tail, is made up of a set of graceful curves.
IMPORTANT PROPORTIONS:
Relation of height at withers to length of body (measured from point of
shoulder to point of buttocks) should by 10 : 11.
Depth of chest should be half of height at withers.
Muzzle should be slightly shorter than half the total length of head.
BEHAVIOUR/TEMPERAMENT:
A lively dog with fast, although not
with impetuous reactions. A docile dog that is easily trained, attentive, easy to control and amenable. It is modest, undemanding, tenacious and makes a loving member of the family. It is fearless, has strong nerves and is exceptionally vigilant. It has a superb sense of smell. The breed is noted for its lively personality with no signs of nervousness.
HEAD:
Overall, the head should have a noble appearance and be in
proportion to the body. It should not seem massive or too fine.
Skull: The skull is flat and gradually tapers towards the eyes, with the
tapering cantered at the stop which is lightly marked. The occipital
protuberance is tangible, although it is not obviously visible.
The superciliary ridges are clearly- yet not prominently marked. The skin
on the skull is taut and covered with short, thick and smooth hair.
Stop: Distinctive, but neither too sharp nor too gentle.
FACIAL REGION:
Nose: Medium-sized, full, black pigmented, open nostrils.
Muzzle: The muzzle is slightly shorter than the skull. The bridge of the
muzzle is level (straight) and almost parallel with the extended line of the
skull. It tapers in a wedge shape towards the nose.
Lips: Firm, dry, close-fitting and with closed corners.
Jaws/Teeth: The jaws are proportionate, strong and long, gradually tapering
towards the nose. Healthy, strong, pure white teeth regularly placed in a
scissors bite. Molars fit together exactly; incisors touch each other. Full set
of teeth.
Cheeks: The cheeks are dry and covered by flat muscles. Smooth, snugfitting, not slack below the eyes.
EYES: Medium-sized, almond-shaped, slightly slanting. They should not
protrude or be deep set. Eyes are brown in colour with close-fitting lids;
bright, full of energy yet with a pleasing expression.
EARS: Short, erect forward-facing, positioned high and close together.
They are triangular with a broad base; tips are either pointed or slightly
rounded. The earlobes are covered with long thick hair which forms
brushes, particularly at the root and along the edges. The characteristic
shape of the head, correct placement, size, shape and carriage of the long
coated ears determine the breed’s true type.
NECK: Graceful in shape and carriage, long and very flexible. It broadens
slightly towards the shoulders. The line of the neck forms a 45 degree angle
with the horizontal. The neck is covered in long thick hair.
BODY:
Top line: Firm, straight.
Withers: Accentuated, slightly raised above line of back.
Back: Straight, firm, not too long, sloping gently down from the withers.
Loin: Short, supple, well muscled, connecting with the back in a single line.
Croup: Begins at the same height as the back and slopes slightly towards
the tail with no transition.
Chest: Oval in cross-section; the upper edge is obtuse, while the lower is
pointed. Not to reach below the elbow. The ribs are slightly sprung, but not barrel-shaped.
Underline and belly: Firm, tucked up.
TAIL: At rest and when moving it is carried naturally in a slight curve;
when excited it is raised to the level of the back. It is thickly covered with
coat and reaches to the hocks. Not to be docked.
LIMBS
FOREQUARTERS:
Shoulder: The shoulder-blade should be long, muscular, oblique and lying
flat. The angle is around 90 degrees towards upper arm.
Upper arm: Straight, well developed.
Elbow: Points straight towards the rear, turning neither in nor out.
Forearm: Appears straight from any angle, with well developed dry
musculature.
Carpus (Wrist): Firm.
Metacarpus (Pastern): Firm, long and angle not too abrupt.
Forefeet: Close, firm, nails and pads strong, black pigmentation. The
pigment of the pads and nails is black.
HINDQUARTERS:
General appearance: Well angulated at knee and hock. Straight and parallel when viewed from behind.
Thigh: Strong substantially muscled.
Stifle (Knee): Firm and muscled; angle 120 degree.
Lower thigh: Muscled and strong.
Hock joint: Strong and firm.
Metatarsus (Rear pastern): Strong.
Hind feet: Closed – firm, toes – flexible and strong. The pigment of the pads and nails is black.
GAIT / MOVEMENT: The natural gait is a low trot. Movement is light,
supple and far reaching.
SKIN: Taut and close- fitting all over. Dark pigmentation.
COAT: Hair: The body is covered by a glossy, long, thick coarser type of coat. The length is between 5 and 12 cm. It should be straight or slightly wavy, on the neck and chest slightly open, otherwise laying flat. The well developed undercoat is shorter and softer. The earlobes are richly covered in hair; brushes form at the base and along the edges. The coat is particularly long on the neck, back and on the backside of the thighs and hocks, where it is slightly wavy.
The tail is thickly covered in coat and has long, slightly wavy fringes on the underside. Only the facial parts of the head, the tips of the ears and the front of the limbs have short, smooth coat.
Colour: Black to gunmetal-black with vivid tan-markings. The more vivid
and rich the markings are the better. Coat colour other than black-and-tan is not permissible. The typical tan-markings are placed, when fully
extended: Inside and on the edges of the ears; above the eyes; on the cheeks; on the sides of the muzzle smoothly blending into the throat and forming a crescent shape; on the brisket but distinct from the markings on the throat; on the inner and rear part of the thighs; on the feet and pasterns up to the hock joint; on the forelegs; on the forefeet and up to the elbow; under the tail and around the anus.
SIZE AND WEIGHT:
Height at the withers: Males: 20-22 inches. Females: 19 to 21 inches.
Weight: Males: 40-65 lbs. Females: 25-53 lbs.
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 and its ability to perform its traditional work.
• Stop not well defined.
• Weak jaws.
• Height +- 2 cm, limits stipulated in standard.
• Overly long- or too short in back.
• Pale tan-markings.
• Over marked with tan.
• White chest-mark (tolerance up to 3 cm in size).
SEVERE FAULTS
• Ears which are big, soft or too widely set.
• Short neck.
• Barrel-shaped or flat sided ribcage.
• Elbows turned in or out.
• Steep shoulder-blades.
• Soft or roached back.
• Weak hocks, cow-hocked.
• Steep croup.
• Restricted gait.
• Tail curled above level of back.
• Curly coat.
DISQUALIFYING FAULTS
• Aggressive or overly shy dogs.
• Any dog clearly showing physical or behavioural abnormalities.
• Height less than 20″ or over 22.5″ in males. Height less than 18.5″
or over 21.5″ in females.
• Any deviation from a scissors bite.
• Absence of any tooth (except for PM1 and M3).
• Predatory eye colour (i.e. very pale yellow).
• Hanging or floppy ears.
• Colour other than black with tan-markings.
• Markings appearing in places other than described.
• Shorthaired or lack of undercoat.
• Complete absence of tan-markings.
N.B.:
• Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles
fully descended into the scrotum.
• Only functionally and clinically healthy dogs, with breed
typical conformation should be used for breeding