General Appearance

Sturdily built, robust, sinewy, nearly square (length of body equal to height at shoulders). Expression keen and attitude alert. Correct conformation is of more importance than colour or purely 'beauty' points.

Characteristics

Strong, vigorous dog capable of great endurance.

Temperament

Alert, reliable and intelligent. Primarily a companion dog.

Head and Skull

Head strong and of good length, narrowing from ears to eyes and then gradually forward towards end of nose. Upper part of the head (occiput to the base of the forehead) moderately broad between the ears. Flat, creaseless forehead; well muscled but not too strongly developed cheeks. Medium stop to accentuate prominent eyebrows. Powerful muzzle ending in a moderately blunt line with bristly, stubby moustache and chin whiskers. Ridge of nose straight and running almost parallel to extension of forehead. Nose black with wide nostrils. Lips tight, but not overlapping.

Eyes

Medium sized, dark, oval, set forward with arched bushy eyebrows.

Ears

Neat, V-shaped, set high and dropping forward to temple.

Mouth

Jaws strong with perfect, regular and complete scissor bite - i.e. the upper teeth closely overlapping the lower teeth and set square to the jaws.

Neck

Moderately long, strong and slightly arched, skin close to throat, neck set cleanly on shoulders.

Forequarters

Shoulders flat and well laid. Forelegs straight viewed from any angle. Muscles smooth and lithe, rather than prominent. Bone strong, straight and carded well down to feet. Elbows close to body and pointing directly backward.

Body

Chest moderately broad, deep with visible, strong breast bone reaching at least to the height of elbow rising slightly backwards to loins. Back strong and straight, slightly higher at shoulder than at hindquarters with short well developed loins. Ribs well sprung. Length of body equal to height from top of withers to ground.

Hindquarters

Thighs slanting and flat but strongly muscled. Hind legs (upper and lower thighs) at first vertical to the stifle, from stifle to hock in line with the extension of the upper neck line, from hock, vertical to ground.

Feet

Short, round, cat like, compact with closely arched toes, dark nails, firm black pads, feet pointing forward.

Tail

Previously customarily docked. Docked: Set on and carried high, customarily docked to three joints. Undocked: Set on and carried high, of moderate length to give general balance to the dog. Thick at root tapering towards the tip, as straight as possible, carried jauntily.

Gait/Movement

Free, balanced and vigorous with good reach in forequarters and good driving power in hindquarters. Topline remains level in action.

Coat

Harsh, wiry and short enough for smartness. Closer on neck and shoulders, clean on throat, ears and skull. Harsh hair on legs. Dense undercoat essential.

Colour

a) Pure Black.
b) Pepper and Salt shades range from dark iron grey to light grey. Hairs banded dark/light/dark. Facial mask to harmonise with corresponding coat colour.

Good pigmentation essential in all colours.
Any other colour or combination of colours unacceptable.

Size

Ideal height at withers for bitches is 45.7cm (18in) and for dogs, 48cm (19in). Any variations of more than 2.5cm (1in) in these heights is undesirable.

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 descended into the scrotum.

1st April 2026 (RKC)

General Appearance

Sturdily built, robust, sinewy, nearly square, (length of body equal to height at shoulders). Expression keen and attitude alert. Correct conformation is of more importance than colour or other purely 'beauty' points.

Characteristics

Well balanced, smart, stylish and adaptable.

Temperament

Alert, reliable and intelligent. Primarily a companion dog.

Head and Skull

Head strong and of good length, narrowing from ears to eyes and then gradually forward toward end of nose. Upper part of the head (occiput to the base of forehead) moderately broad between ears. Flat, creaseless forehead; well muscled but not too strongly developed cheeks. Medium stop to accentuate prominent eyebrows. Powerful muzzle ending in a moderately blunt line, with bristly, stubby moustache and chin whiskers. Ridge of nose straight and running almost parallel to extension of forehead. Nose black with wide nostrils. Lips tight but not overlapping.

Eyes

Medium-sized, dark, oval, set forward, with arched bushy eyebrows.

Ears

Neat, V-shaped, set high and dropping forward to temple.

Mouth

Jaws strong with perfect, regular and complete scissor bite, i.e. upper teeth closely overlapping lower teeth and set square to the jaws.

Neck

Moderately long, strong and slightly arched; skin close to throat; neck set cleanly on shoulders.

Forequarters

Shoulders flat and well laid. Forelegs straight viewed from any angle. Muscles smooth and lithe rather than prominent; bone strong, straight and carried well down to feet; elbows close to body and pointing directly backwards.

Body

Chest moderately broad, deep with visible strong breastbone reaching at least to height of elbow rising slightly backward to loins. Back strong and straight, slightly higher at shoulder than at hindquarters, with short, well developed loins. Ribs well sprung. Length of body equal to height from top of withers to ground.

Hindquarters

Thighs slanting and flat but strongly muscled. Hindlegs (upper and lower thighs) at first vertical to the stifle; from stifle to hock, in line with the extension of the upper neck line; from hock, vertical to ground.

Feet

Short, round, cat-like, compact with closely arched toes, dark nails, firm black pads, feet pointing forward.

Tail

Previously customarily docked. Docked: Set on and carried high, customarily docked to three joints. Undocked: Set on and carried high, of moderate length to give general balance to the dog. Thick at root and tapering towards the tip, as straight as possible, carried jauntily.

Gait/Movement

Free, balanced and vigorous, with good reach in forequarters and good driving power in hindquarters. Topline remains level in action.

Coat

Harsh, wiry and short enough for smartness, dense undercoat. Clean on neck and shoulders, ears and skull. Harsh hair on legs. Furnishings fairly thick but not silky.

Colour

a) Pepper and Salt – Shades range from dark iron grey to light grey. Hairs banded dark/light/dark. Dark facial mask to harmonise with corresponding coat colour
b) Pure Black
c) Black and Silver – Solid black with silver markings on eyebrows, muzzle, chest, forelegs below point of elbow, inside of hindlegs below stifle joint, vent and under tail.
d) White

Good pigmentation essential in all colours.
Any other colour or combination of colours unacceptable.

Size

Ideal height: dogs: 36cm (14in); bitches: 33cm (13in). Too small, toyish appearing dogs are not typical and undesirable.

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 into the scrotum.

1st April 2026 (RKC)

General Appearance

Powerfully built, robust, sinewy, appearing almost square. Imposing, with keen expression and alert attitude. Correct conformation of the utmost importance.

Characteristics

Versatile, strong, hardy, intelligent and vigorous. Adaptable, capable of great speed and endurance and resistant to weather.

Temperament

Bold, reliable, good-natured and composed.

Head and Skull

Head strong, of good length, narrowing from ears to eyes and then gradually toward end of nose. The overall length (from nose to occiput) is in proportion to the back (from withers to set on of tail) approximately 1:2. Upper part of head (occiput to base of forehead) moderately broad between ears – with flat creaseless forehead. Well muscled but not over-developed cheeks. Medium stop accentuated by bushy eyebrows. Powerful muzzle ending in a moderately blunt wedge, with bristly stubby moustache and chin whiskers. Ridge of nose straight, running parallel to extension of forehead. Nose black with wide nostrils.

Eyes

Medium-sized, dark, oval, set forward, with lower lid fitting closely.

Ears

Neat, V-shaped, set high and dropping forward to temple.

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. Lips black, closing tightly but not overlapping.

Neck

Moderately long, strong and slightly arched, skin close to throat, neck set cleanly on shoulders.

Forequarters

Shoulders flat, well laid back. Forelegs straight viewed from any angle. Muscles smooth and lithe rather than prominent, bone strong, carried straight to feet. Elbows set close to body and pointing directly backward.

Body

Chest moderately broad and deep, reaching at least to height of elbow rising slightly backward to loins. Breast bone clearly extends to beyond joint of shoulder and upper arm forming the conspicuous forechest. Back strong and straight, slightly higher at shoulder than at hindquarters, with short, well developed loins. Slightly sloping croup. Ribs well sprung. Length of body equal to height at top of withers to ground.

Hindquarters

Strongly muscled. Stifles forming a well defined angle. Upper thighs vertical to stifle, from stifle to hock in line with extension of upper neck line, from hock vertical to ground. When viewed from rear, hindlegs parallel.

Feet

Pointing directly forward, short, round, compact with closely arched toes. Deep, dark and firm pads. Dark nails.

Tail

Previously customarily docked. Docked: Set on high and carried at an angle slightly above topline. Customarily docked to two joints. Undocked: Set on high and carried at an angle slightly above topline. In balance with the rest of the dog.

Gait/Movement

Free, balanced and vigorous, with good reach of forequarters and good driving power from hindquarters. Topline remains level in action.

Coat

Top coat harsh and wiry, just short enough for smartness on body. Slightly shorter on neck and shoulders, but blending smoothly into body coat. Clean on throat, skull, ears and under tail. Good undercoat. Harsh hair on legs.

Colour

a) Pure black
b) Pepper and Salt: Shades range from dark iron grey to light grey; hairs banded black/light/black. Dark facial mask essential, harmonising with corresponding body colour.
c) Black and Silver: solid black with silver markings on eyebrows, muzzle, chest, forelegs below point of elbow, inside of hindlegs, below stifle joint vent and under tail.

Good pigmentation essential in all colours
Any other colour or combination of colours unacceptable

Size

Height: dogs: 65-70cm (25½-27½in); bitches: 60-65cm (23½-25½in). Variations outside these limits undesirable.

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 into the scrotum.

1st April 2026 (RKC)