A toy dog, intelligent, alert, sturdy, with a thickset,
short body, a smart carriage and set-up, attracting attention by an almost
human expression. There are two distinct types of coat: rough or smooth.
Except for coat, there is no difference between the two.
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Size - Weight usually 8 to 10 pounds,
and should not exceed 12 pounds. Type and quality are of greater
importance than weight, and a smaller dog that is sturdy and well
proportioned should not be penalized.
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Proportion - Square, as measured from
point of shoulder to rearmost projection of upper thigh and from withers
to ground.
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Substance - Thickset, compact with good
balance. Well boned.
A very important feature. An almost human expression.
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Eyes set well apart, very large, black,
prominent, and well open. The eyelashes long and black. Eyelids edged
with black.
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Ears small and set rather high on the
head. May be shown cropped or natural. If natural they are carried
semi-erect.
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Skull large and round, with a domed
forehead. The stop deep.
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Nose very black, extremely short, its
tip being set back deeply between the eyes so as to form a lay-back. The
nostrils large.
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Disqualifications - Dudley or butterfly
nose.
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Lips edged with black, not pendulous but
well brought together, giving a clean finish to the mouth.
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Jaws must be undershot. The incisors of
the lower jaw should protrude over the upper incisors. The lower jaw is
prominent, rather broad with an upward sweep. Neither teeth nor tongue
should show when the mouth is closed. A wry mouth is a serious fault.
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Disqualifications - Bite overshot.
Hanging tongue.
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Neck medium length, gracefully arched.
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Topline - Back level and short.
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Body - A thickset, short body. Brisket
should be broad and deep, ribs well sprung. Short-coupled.
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Tail - set and held high, docked to
about one-third.
Forelegs medium length, straight in bone, well muscled, set
moderately wide apart and straight from the point of the shoulders as viewed
from the front. Pasterns short and strong. Feet round, small, and compact,
turned neither in nor out. Toes well arched. Black pads and toenails
preferred.
Hind legs set true, thighs strong and well muscled, stifles
bent, hocks well let down, turning neither in nor out.
The rough coat is wiry and dense, the harder
and more wiry the better. On no account should the dog look or feel woolly,
and there should be no silky hair anywhere. The coat should not be so long
as to give a shaggy appearance, but should be distinctly different all over
from the smooth coat. The head should be covered with wiry hair, slightly
longer around the eyes, nose, cheeks, and chin, thus forming a fringe. The
rough coat is hand-stripped and should never appear unkempt. Body coat of
sufficient length to determine texture. The coat may be tidied for neatness
of appearance, but coats prepared with scissors and/or clippers should be
severely penalized.
The smooth coat is straight, short, tight
and glossy, with no trace of wiry hair.
Red: reddish brown with a
little black at the whiskers and chin allowable.
Belge: black and reddish
brown mixed, usually with black mask and whiskers.
Black and Tan: black with
uniform reddish brown markings, appearing under the chin, on the legs, above
each eye, around the edges of the ears and around the vent.
Black: solid black. Any
white hairs are a serious fault, except for "frost" on the muzzle of a
mature dog, which is natural.
Movement is a straightforward, purposeful trot, showing
moderate reach and drive, and maintaining a steady topline.
Intelligent, alert and sensitive. Full of self-importance.
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