GENERAL APPEARANCE:Active,graceful and well balanced,with a gentle expression

CHARACTERISTICS:Sporting,affectionate,absolutely fearless.

TEMPERAMENT:Gay,friendly,non-aggressive;no tendency to nervousness
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HEAD AND SKULL:Skull almost flat between ears.Stop shallow.Length from base of stop to tip of nose about 3.8cm (1.1/2ins).Nostrils black and well developed without flesh marks,Muzzle well tapered.Lips well developed but not pendulous.Face well filled below eyes.Any tendency to snipiness undesirable
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EYES:Large,dark,round but not prominent;spaced well apart.

EARS:Long,set high,with plenty of feather.

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.

NECK:Moderate length,slightly arched.

FOREQUARTERS:Chest moderate,shoulders well laid back;straight legs moderately boned.

BODY:Short-coupled with good spring of rib.Level back.

HINDQUARTERS:Legs with moderate bone;well turned stifle - no tendency to cowhocks or sickle-hocks.

FEET:Compact,cushioned and well feath
TAIL:Length of tail in balance with body,well set on,carried happily but never much above the level of the back. Docking optional.If docked, no more than one-third to be removed.

GAIT/MOVEMENT:Free moving and elegant in action,plenty of drive from behind.Forelegs and hindlegs move parallel when viewed from in front and behind.

COAT:Long,silky,free from curl.slight wave permissible.plenty of feathering.Totally free from trimming.

COLOUR:Recognised colours are:
Black and Tan: Raven black with tan markings above the eyes,on cheecks, inside ears, on chest and legs and underside of tail.Tan should be bright.White marks undesirable.
Ruby: Whole colour rich red,White markings undesirable.
Blenheim:Rich chestnut markings well broken up,on a pearly white ground.Markings evenly divided on head,leaving room between ears for much valued lozenge mark or spot (a unique characteristic of the breed)
Tricolour:Black and white well spaced,broken up,with tan markings over eyes,cheeks,inside ears,and underside of tail.
Any other colour or combination of colours highly undesirable.

SIZE: Weight 5.4-8kgs (12-18lbs).A small,well balanced dog well within these weights desirable.

FAULTS:Any departure from the forgoing 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.