Characteristics
Very active with a keen game sense.
Temperament
Intensely friendly and good natured.
Head and Skull
Head carried high, long and reasonably lean, with well defined stop. Skull
oval from ear to ear, showing plenty of brain room, a well defined occipital
protuberance. Muzzle moderately deep and fairly square, from stop to point
of nose should equal length of skull from occiput to eyes, nostrils wide
and jaws of nearly equal length, flews not too pendulous; colour of nose
black or liver, according to colour of coat.
Eyes
Bright, mild and expressive. Colour ranging between hazel and dark brown,
the darker the better. In liver beltons only, a lighter eye acceptable.
Eyes oval and not protruding.
Ears
Moderate length, set on low, and hanging in neat folds close to cheek,
tip velvety, upper part clothed in fine silky hair.
Mouth
Jaws strong, with a perfect, regular and complete scissor bite, i.e. upper
teeth closely overlapping lower teeth and set square to the jaws. Full
dentition desirable.
Neck
Rather long, muscular and lean, slightly arched at crest, and clean-cut
where it joins head, towards shoulder larger and very muscular, never
throaty nor pendulous below throat, but elegant in appearance.
Forequarters
Shoulders well set back or oblique, chest deep in brisket, very good depth
and width between shoulder blades, forearms straight and very muscular
with rounded bone, elbows well let down close to body, pasterns short,
strong, round and straight.
Body
Moderate length, back short and level with good round widely sprung ribs
and deep in back ribs, i.e. well ribbed up.
Hindquarters
Loins wide, slightly arched, strong and muscular, legs well muscled including
second thigh, stifles well bent and thighs long from hip to hock, hock
inclining neither in nor out and well let down.
Feet
Well padded, tight, with close well arched toes protected by hair between
them.
Tail
Set almost in line with back, medium length, not reaching below hock,
neither curly nor ropy, slightly curved or scimitar-shaped but with no
tendency to turn upwards: flag or feathers hanging in long pendant flakes.
Feather commencing slightly below the root, and increasing in length towards
middle, then gradually tapering towards end, hair long, bright, soft and
silky, wavy but not curly. Lively and slashing in movement and carried
in a plane not higher than level of back.
Gait/Movement
Free and graceful action, suggesting speed and endurance. Free movement
of the hock showing powerful drive from hindquarters. Viewed from rear,
hip, stifle and hock joints in line. Head naturally high.
Coat
From back of head in line with ears slightly wavy, not curly, long and
silky as is coat generally, breeches and forelegs nearly down to feet
well feathered.
Colour
Black and white (blue belton), orange and white (orange belton), lemon
and white (lemon belton), liver and white (liver belton) or tricolour,
that is blue belton and tan or liver belton and tan, those without heavy
patches of colour on body but flecked (belton) all over preferred.
Size
Height: dogs: 65-69 cms (251/2-27 ins); bitches: 61-65 cms (24-251/2 ins).
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.