General
Appearance
A medium size sighthound giving the appearance of elegance and fitness,
denoting great speed, power and balance without coarseness. A true
sporting hound that covers a maximum of distance with a minimum of lost
motion. Should convey an impression of beautifully balanced muscular
power and strength, combined with great elegance and grace of outline.
Symmetry of outline, muscular development and powerful gait are the main
considerations; the dog being built for speed and work, all forms of
exaggeration should be avoided.
Size, Proportion, Substance
Ideal height for dogs, 19 to 22 inches; for bitches, 18 to 21 inches,
measured at the highest point of the withers. More than one-half inch
above or below the stated limits will disqualify. Length from forechest
to buttocks equal to or slightly greater than height at the withers.
Moderate bone throughout.
Head
Keen intelligent alert expression. Eyes large and dark. Both eyes must
be of the same color. Yellow or light eyes should be strictly penalized.
Blue or wall eyes shall disqualify. Fully pigmented eyelids are
desirable.
Rose ears, small, fine in texture; in repose, thrown back and folded
along neck. Fold should be maintained when at attention. Erect ears
should be severely penalized.
Skull long and lean, fairly wide between the ears, scarcely perceptible
stop.
Muzzle should be long and powerful, denoting great strength of bite,
without coarseness. Lack of underjaw should be strictly penalized. Nose
entirely black.
Teeth of upper jaw should fit closely over teeth of lower jaw creating a
scissors bite. Teeth should be white and strong. Undershot shall
disqualify. Overshot one-quarter inch or more shall disqualify.
Neck, Topline, Body
Neck long, clean and muscular, well arched with no suggestion of
throatiness, widening gracefully into the top of the shoulder. A short
thick neck, or a ewe neck, should be penalized. The back is broad, firm
and well muscled, having length over the loin. The backline runs
smoothly from the withers with a graceful natural arch, not too
accentuated, beginning over the loin and carrying through over the
croup; the arch is continuous without flatness. A dip behind shoulder
blades, wheelback, flat back, or a steep or flat croup should be
penalized. Brisket very deep, reaching as nearly as possible to the
point of the elbow. Ribs well sprung but with no suggestion of barrel
shape. The space between the forelegs is filled in so that there is no
appearance of a hollow between them. There is a definite tuckup of the
underline. The tail long and tapering, reaching to the hipbone when
drawn through between the hind legs. When the dog is in motion, the tail
is carried low with only a gentle upward curve; tail should not be
carried higher than top of back.
Forequarters
Shoulder blade long, well laid back, with flat muscles, allowing for
moderate space between shoulder blades at peak of withers. Upper arm of
equal length, placed so that the elbow falls directly under the withers.
The points of the elbows should point neither in nor out, but straight
back. A steep shoulder, short upper arm, a heavily muscled or loaded
shoulder, or a very narrow shoulder, all of which restrict low free
movement, should be strictly penalized. Forelegs straight, giving
appearance of strength and substance of bone. Pasterns strong, slightly
bent and flexible. Bowed legs, tied-in elbows, legs lacking substance,
legs set far under the body so as to create an exaggerated forechest,
weak or upright pasterns should be strictly penalized.
Both front and rear feet must be well formed with hard, thick pads. Feet
more hare than cat, but both are acceptable. Flat, splayed or soft feet
without thick hard pads should be strictly penalized. Toes should be
long, close and well arched. Nails strong and naturally short or of
moderate length. Dewclaws may be removed.
Hindquarters
Long and powerful. The thighs are broad and muscular, stifles well bent;
muscles are long and flat and carry well down toward the hock. The hocks
are well let down and close to the ground. Sickle or cow hocks should be
strictly penalized.
Coat
Short, close, smooth and firm in texture. Any other coat shall be a
disqualification. Old scars and injuries, the result of work or
accident, should not be allowed to prejudice the dog's chance in the
show ring.
Color
Color immaterial.
Gait
Low, free moving and smooth, with reach in the forequarters and strong
drive in the hindquarters. The dog has great freedom of action when
viewed from the side; the forelegs move forward close to the ground to
give a long, low reach; the hind legs have strong propelling power. When
moving and viewed from front or rear, legs should turn neither in nor
out, nor should feet cross or interfere with each other.
Lack of front reach or rear drive, or a short, hackney gait with high
wrist action, should be strictly penalized. Crossing in front or moving
too close should be strictly penalized.
Temperament
Amiable, friendly, gentle, but capable of great intensity during
sporting pursuits.
Disqualifications
More than one-half inch above or below stated height limits.
Blue or wall eyes.
Undershot, overshot one-quarter inch or more.
Any coat other than short, close, smooth and firm in texture.
Approved August 10, 1993
Effective September 29, 1993
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