Breed standards are the official guidelines that describe the ideal characteristics, temperament, and appearance of a breed and ensures that the breed is fit for function with soundness essential.
Last Updated: 05 Nov 2015
Kennel Club, London 1994
FCI Standard No 12
Group 2 (Terriers)
Active and lively, bone and strength in small compass, never cloddy nor coarse. Neither leggy nor too short in the leg, standing like a well made, short backed hunter, covering a lot of ground.
Alert, quick of movement, keen of expression, on tiptoe of expectation.
Friendly, forthcoming and fearless.
Head And Skull:
Skull flat, moderately narrow, gradually decreasing in width to eyes. A little 'stop' apparent, cheeks never full, jaws, upper and lower, strong and muscular, falling away only slightly below eyes. This portion of foreface moderately chiselled out, so as not to go down in a straight line like a wedge. Nose black.
Dark, moderately small, as near as possible circular in shape. Expression bright and intelligent.
Small, V-shaped and dropping forward close to cheek, not hanging by side of head. Fold of ear above level of skull. Leather of moderate thickness.
Jaws strong with a perfect, regular and complete scissor bite, i.e. upper teeth closely overlapping the lower teeth and set square to the jaws.
Clean and muscular, without throatiness, of fair length and gradually widening to shoulders.
Shoulders long and sloping, well laid back, fine at points, cleanly cut at withers. Legs from any angle must be straight showing little or no appearance of an ankle in front. They should be strong in bone throughout.
Chest deep, not broad. Back short, level and strong without slackness. Loin powerful, very slightly arched. Fore-ribs moderately sprung, back ribs deep.
Strong and muscular, quite free from droop or crouch; thighs long and powerful, hocks well let down, good turn of stifle.
Small, round and compact. Soles hard and tough, toes moderately arched, and turning neither in nor out.
Docked: Set on rather high and carried gaily, but not over back or curled. Of good strength. Undocked: Set on rather high and carried gaily, but no over back. As straight as possible. Tail of moderate length to give balance to the dog.
Fore and hind legs carried straight forward and parallel. Elbows move perpendicular to body, working free of sides, stifles neither turning in nor out and hocks not close. Good drive coming from well flexing hindquarters.
Straight, flat, smooth, hard, dense and abundant. Belly and underside of thighs not bare.
White should predominate, all white, white with tan, black and tan or black markings. Brindle, red or liver markings highly undesirable.
Height at withers not exceeding 39 cms (15.5 ins) in dogs, bitches slightly less.
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.
Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles fully descended into the scrotum.