General Appearance
The Terrier should be alert, quick of movement, keen of
expression, on the tip-toe of expectation at the slightest
provocation. Character is imparted by the expression of the eyes
and by the carriage of ears and tail.
Bone and strength in a small compass are essential, but this must
not be taken to mean that a Terrier should be "cloddy,"
or in any way coarse-speed and endurance being requisite as well
as power. The Terrier must on no account be leggy, nor must he be
too short on the leg. He should stand like a cleverly made,
short-backed hunter, covering a lot of ground.
N.B.Old scars or injuries, the result of work or
accident, should not be allowed to prejudice a Terrier's chance
in the show ring, unless they interfere with its movement or with
its utility for work or stud.
Size, Proportion, Substance
According to present-day requirements, a full-sized, well
balanced dog should not exceed 151/2 inches at the withers-the
bitch being proportionately lower-nor should the length of back
from withers to root of tail exceed 12 inches, while to maintain
the relative proportions, the head-as mentioned below-should not
exceed 71/4 inches or be less than 7 inches. A dog with these
measurements should scale 18 pounds in show condition-a bitch
weighing some two pounds less-with a margin of one pound either
way.
The dog should be balanced and this may be defined as the correct
proportions of a certain point or points, when considered in
relation to a certain other point or points. It is the keystone
of the Terrier's anatomy. The chief points for consideration are
the relative proportions of skull and foreface; head and back;
height at withers; and length of body from shoulder point to
buttock-the ideal of proportion being reached when the last two
measurements are the same. It should be added that, although the
head measurements can be taken with absolute accuracy, the height
at withers and length of back are approximate, and are inserted
for the information of breeders and exhibitors rather than as a
hard-and-fast rule.
Head
The length of the head of a full-grown well developed dog of
correct size-measured with calipers-from the back of the
occipital bone to the nostrils-should be from 7 to 71/4 inches,
the bitch's head being proportionately shorter. Any measurement
in excess of this usually indicates an oversized or long-backed
specimen, although occasionally-so rarely as to partake of the
nature of a freak-a Terrier of correct size may boast a head 71/2
inches in length. In a well balanced head there should be little
apparent difference in length between skull and foreface. If,
however, the foreface is noticeably shorter, it amounts to a
fault, the head looking weak and "unfinished." On the
other hand, when the eyes are set too high up in the skull and
too near the ears, it also amounts to a fault, the head being
said to have a "foreign appearance."
Keen of expression. Eyes should
be dark in color, moderately small, rather deep-set, not
prominent, and full of fire, life, and intelligence; as nearly as
possible circular in shape, and not too far apart. Anything
approaching a yellow eye is most objectionable. Ears
should be small and V-shaped and of moderate thickness, the flaps
neatly folded over and dropping forward close to the cheeks. The
topline of the folded ear should be well above the level of the
skull. A pendulous ear, hanging dead by the side of the head like
a Hound's, is uncharacteristic of the Terrier, while an ear which
is semierect is still more undesirable. Disqualifications-Ears
prick, tulip or rose.
The topline of the skull should be almost flat,
sloping slightly and gradually decreasing in width toward the
eyes, and should not exceed 31/2 inches in diameter at the widest
part-measuring with the calipers-in the full-grown dog of correct
size, the bitch's skull being proportionately narrower. If this
measurement is exceeded, the skull is termed "coarse,"
while a full-grown dog with a much narrower skull is termed
"bitchy" in head.
Although the foreface should gradually taper from eye to muzzle
and should dip slightly at its juncture with the forehead, it
should not "dish" or fall away quickly below the eyes,
where it should be full and well made up, but relieved from
"wedginess" by a little delicate chiseling. While well
developed jaw bones, armed with a set of strong, white teeth,
impart that appearance of strength to the foreface which is so
desirable, an excessive bony or muscular development of the jaws
is both unnecessary and unsightly, as it is partly responsible
for the full and rounded contour of the cheeks to which the term
"cheeky" is applied.
Noseshould be black. Disqualifications-Nose
white, cherry or spotted to a considerable extent with either of
these colors. Mouth-Both upper and lower jaws
should be strong and muscular, the teeth as
nearly as possible level and capable of closing together like a
viseÑthe lower canines locking in front of the upper and the
points of the upper incisors slightly overlapping the lower.Disqualifications-Much
undershot, or much overshot.
Neck, Topline, Body
Neck-should be clean, muscular, of fair
length, free from throatiness and presenting a graceful curve
when viewed from the side. The back should be
short and level with no appearance of slackness-the loins
muscular and very slightly arched. The term "slackness"
is applied both to the portion of the back immediately behind the
withers when it shows any tendency to dip, and also the flanks
when there is too much space between the back ribs and hipbone.
When there is little space between the ribs and hips, the dog is
said to be "short in couplings,"
"short-coupled," or "well ribbed up." A
Terrier can scarcely be too short in back, provided he has
sufficient length of neck and liberty of movement. The bitch may
be slightly longer in couplings than the dog.
Chest deep and not broad, a too narrow chest being almost as
undesirable as a very broad one. Excessive depth of chest and
brisket is an impediment to a Terrier when going to ground. The
brisket should be deep, the front ribs moderately arched, and the
back ribs deep and well sprung. Tail should be
set on rather high and carried gaily but not curled. It should be
of good strength and substance and of fair length-a
three-quarters dock is about right-since it affords the only safe
grip when handling working Terriers. A very short tail is
suitable neither for work nor show.
Forequarters
Shoulderswhen viewed from the front should
slope steeply downwards from their juncture, with the neck
towards the points, which should be fine. When viewed from the
side they should be long, well laid back, and should slope
obliquely backwards from points to withers, which should always
be clean-cut. A shoulder well laid back gives the long forehand
which, in combination with a short back, is so desirable in
Terrier or Hunter. The elbows should hang perpendicular to the
body, working free of the sides, carried straight through in
traveling. Viewed from any direction the legs should be straight,
the bone of the forelegs strong right down to the feet.
Feet should be round, compact, and not large-the
pads tough and well cushioned, and the toes moderately arched and
turned neither in nor out. A Terrier with good-shaped forelegs
and feet will wear his nails down short by contact with the road
surface, the weight of the body being evenly distributed between
the toe pads and the heels.
Hindquarters
Should be strong and muscular, quite free from droop or
crouch; the thighs long and powerful; the stifles well curved and
turned neither in nor out; the hock joints well bent and near the
ground; the hocks perfectly upright and parallel with each other
when viewed from behind. The worst possible form of hindquarters
consists of a short second thigh and a straight stifle, a
combination which causes the hind legs to act as props rather
than instruments of propulsion. The hind legs should be carried
straight through in traveling. Feet as in front.
Coat
The best coats appear to be broken, the hairs having a
tendency to twist, and are of dense, wiry texture-like coconut
matting-the hairs growing so closely and strongly together that,
when parted with the fingers, the skin cannot be seen. At the
base of these stiff hairs is a shorter growth of finer and softer
hair-termed the undercoat. The coat on the sides is never quite
so hard as that on the back and quarters. Some of the hardest
coats are "crinkly" or slightly waved, but a curly coat
is very objectionable. The hair on the upper and lower jaws
should be crisp and only sufficiently long to impart an
appearance of strength to the foreface. The hair on the forelegs
should also be dense and crisp. The coat should average in length
from 3/4 to one inch on shoulders and neck, lengthening to 11/2
inches on withers, back, ribs, and quarters. These measurements
are given rather as a guide to exhibitors than as an infallible
rule, since the length of coat depends on the climate, seasons,
and individual animal. The judge must form his own opinion as to
what constitutes a "sufficient" coat on the day.
Color
White should predominate; brindle, red, liver or slaty blue
are objectionable. Otherwise, color is of little or no
importance.
Gait
The movement or action is the crucial test of conformation.
The Terrier's legs should be carried straight forward while
traveling, the forelegs hanging perpendicular and swinging
parallel to the sides, like the pendulum of a clock. The
principal propulsive power is furnished by the hind legs,
perfection of action being found in the Terrier possessing long
thighs and muscular second thighs well bent at the stifles, which
admit of a strong forward thrust or "snatch" of the
hocks. When approaching, the forelegs should form a continuation
of the straight of the front, the feet being the same distance
apart as the elbows. When stationary it is often difficult to
determine whether a dog is slightly out at shoulder but, directly
he moves, the defect-if it exists-becomes more apparent, the
forefeet having a tendency to cross, "weave," or
"dish." When, on the contrary, the dog is tied at the
shoulder, the tendency of the feet is to move wider apart, with a
sort of paddling action. When the hocks are turned
in-cow-hocks-the stifles and feet are turned outwards, resulting
in a serious loss of propulsive power. When the hocks are turned
outwards the tendency of the hind feet is to cross, resulting in
an ungainly waddle.
Temperament
The Terrier should be alert, quick of movement, keen of
expression, on the tip-toe of expectation at the slightest
provocation.
Disqualifications
Ears prick, tulip or rose.
Nose white, cherry or spotted to a considerable extent with
either of these colors.
Mouth much undershot, or much overshot.
This information from the AKC
American Fox
Terrier Club
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