UK Breed Standard
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.
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 to the jaws.
Neck:
Good length, clean and muscular.
Forequarters:
Forelegs straight with good bone, shoulders well laid back, long in blade with upper arm of equal length placing legs well under body. Elbows close fitting.
Body:
Balanced, short coupled, deep through heart. Ribs deep and 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 rear, neither turning in nor out. Cowhocks highly undesirable.
Feet:
Round and cat-like.
Tail:
Set on and carried level back, reaching the 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 - 61 cms (22 - 24 ins); Bitches 51 - 56 cms (20 - 22 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.
Note:
Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles fully descended into the scrotum. |