General Appearance
Medium-sized working sled-dog, quick and light on feet. Free and
graceful in action, with well furred body, erect ears and brush tail.
Proportions reflect a basic balance of power, speed and endurance,
never appearing so heavy or coarse as to suggest a freighting animal,
nor so light and fragile as to suggest a sprint-racing animal. Males
are masculine but never coarse, bitches feminine but without weakness
of structure. Muscle firm and well developed, no excess weight.
Characteristics
Medium size, moderate bone, well balanced proportions, ease and freedom of movement, and good disposition.
Temperament
Friendly and gentle, alert and outgoing. Does not display traits of
the guard dog, not suspicious with strangers or aggressive with dogs
but some measure of reserve expected in mature dog. Intelligent,
tractable and eager disposition. An agreeable companion and willing
worker.
Head and Skull
Medium size in proportion to the body, presents a finely chiselled
fox-like appearance. Slightly rounded on top, tapering gradually from
widest point to eyes. Muzzle medium length and width, neither snipy nor
coarse, tapering gradually to rounded nose. Tip of nose to stop
equidistant from stop to occiput. Stop clearly defined but not
excessive. Line of the nose straight from the stop to tip. Nose black
in grey, tan or black dogs; liver in copper dogs; and may be
flesh-coloured in pure white. In winter, pink-streaked ‘snow nose’ is
acceptable.
Eyes
Almond-shaped, moderately spaced and set obliquely. Any shade of
blue or brown, one of each colour, or parti-colours equally acceptable.
Expression keen, but friendly, interested, even mischievous.
Ears
Medium size, relatively close together, triangular in shape, the
height slightly greater than width at base. Set high on head, strongly
erect, the inner edges being quite close together at the base, when the
dog is at attention carried practically parallel. Slightly arched at
the back. Thick, well furred outside and inside, tips slightly rounded.
Mouth
Lips well pigmented, close fitting. 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
Medium length and thickness, arched and carried proudly erect when
standing. When moving at a trot, extended so that the head is carried
slightly forward.
Forequarters
Shoulder blade well laid back, upper arm angles slightly backward
from point of shoulder to elbow, never perpendicular to the ground.
Muscle holding shoulder to rib cage firm and well-developed. Straight
or loose shoulders highly undesirable. Viewed from the front, forelegs
moderately spaced, parallel and straight with elbows close to the body,
turning neither in nor out. Viewed from the side, pasterns slightly
sloping, wrist strong but flexible. Length from elbow to ground
slightly more than distance from elbows to top of withers. Bone
proportionate, never heavy. Dewclaws may be removed.
Body
Straight and strong, with level topline from withers to croup.
Medium length, not cobby, nor slack from excessive length. In profile,
body from point of shoulder to rear point of croup slightly longer than
height from ground to top of withers. Chest deep and strong but not too
broad, deepest point being just behind and level with elbows. Ribs well
sprung from spine but flattened on sides to allow for freedom of
action. Loins slightly arched, well muscled, taut and lean, narrower
than rib cage with a slight tuck-up. Croup slopes away from spine at an
angle, but never so steeply as to restrict the rearward thrust of hind
legs.
Hindquarters
Viewed from rear, hindlegs moderately spaced and parallel. Upper
thighs well muscled and powerful, stifles well bent, hock joint well
defined and set low to ground.
Feet
Oval, not long, turning neither in nor out in natural stance.
Medium size, compact, well furred and slightly webbed between toes.
Pads tough and thickly cushioned. Trimming of fur between toes and
around feet permissible.
Tail
Well furred, of round, fox brush shape set on just below level of
topline and usually carried over back in graceful sickle curve when dog
at attention. When carried up, tail should not curl too tightly, nor
should it curl to either side of body, or snap flat against back. Hair
on tail of medium length and approximately same length all round. A
trailing tail is normal for dog when working or in repose.
Gait/Movement
Smooth and seemingly effortless. Quick and light on feet, gaited on
a loose lead at a moderately fast trot, exhibiting good reach in
forequarters and good drive in hindquarters. When walking, legs move in
parallel, but as speed increases, gradually angling inward to single
track .As pad marks converge, forelegs and hindlegs carried straight
with neither elbows nor stifles turning in nor out, each hindleg moving
in path of foreleg on same side. Topline of back remaining firm and
level during gaiting.
Coat
Double, and medium in length, giving a well furred appearance,
never so long as to obscure clean-cut outline of dog. Undercoat soft
and dense; of sufficient length to support outer coat. Guard hairs of
outer coat straight and somewhat smooth-lying, never harsh, rough or
shaggy, too silky nor standing straight off from body. Absence of
undercoat during shedding normal. No trimming of fur on any part of
dog, except feet.
Colour
All colours and markings, including white, allowed. Variety of
markings on head is common, including many striking patterns not found
in other breeds.
Size
Height: dogs: 53-60 cms (21-231/2 ins) at withers; bitches: 51-56
cms (20-22 ins) at withers. Weight: dogs: 20.-27 kgs (45-60 lbs);
bitches: 16-23 kgs (35-50 lbs). Weight should be in proportion to
height. These measurements represent the extremes in height and weight,
with no preference given to either extreme. A dog should not exceed 60
cms (231/2 ins) or a bitch exceed 56 cms (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 and its effect upon the
health and welfare of the dog.
Note
Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles fully descended.