Australian Terrier Breed Magazine - Showsight

“IN PROFILE, YOU SHOULD SEE A DISTINCTIVE KEEL AND PROMINENT FORECHEST. These are distinguishing features of the breed.”

Th e nose is black. In mature dogs there is an area free of hair, which runs up the bridge of the nose forming an inverted v. Th is black area, the nose leather, is a desir- able breed characteristic of the mature Australian Terrier. Approaching the head for examina- tion, bring your hand under the muzzle, check for a scissors bite and teeth of good size. Also note the tight lips with a narrow brown or black rim. Place your hand gen- tly on the top of the skull and check to see that it is fl at. Th en run your hand along the top of the muzzle toward the skull, check- ing for the slight but de fi nite stop. Th e sides of the skull should be clean and free of excessive thickness in the cheekbones. Now examine the head for the correct one-to-one proportion of length of head and muzzle. Th e muzzle is long and strong, of equal length to the skull. Th e skull should be slightly longer than it is wide and full between the eyes. Th ese propor- tions are essential for correct breed type. Place your hands one on each side of the head. You should feel a more rectangular shape rather than a pie-shaped wedge. If your hands fl are out on the sides of the

skull, you need to check the width of the skull which should be slightly less than its length. Incorrect: a too wide skull, a domed skull, a weak, snipey muzzle, a muzzle lacking a chin, or a too short muz- zle. Remember, the muzzle should be long and strong and equal in length to the fl at, clean-sided skull. Th e front legs are straight and with medium bone. Front pasterns should be strong with only slight slope. “Faults: Down on pasterns.”* Feet small and catlike toeing neither in nor out. Dewclaws should be removed. Nails are black. Th e elbows should fi t against the sides of the chest. Moving to the side of the dog, look for a long, slightly arched neck. Feel the neck for its length and check that the arch is dog and not artful grooming. Th e head and neck should angle forward as well as upward. Continue running your hand down the neck to the back. Check that there is only a slight space between the shoulder blades at the withers and that shoulders are well laid back. Th e shoul- der blade and upper arm should be of equal length and ideally form a 90 degree angle. Th is allows for maximum forward

reach of the front legs. Th e elbows are located below the withers; the forechest should protrude at the front; the fore- legs are set well under the body. Th e ribs should be well sprung and the chest should drop about 1 " below the elbow. In pro fi le, you should see a distinctive keel and prominent forechest. Th ese are distinguishing features of the breed. Th e forechest protects the heart and lungs, gives more support to the muscles of the neck and those holding the front together, and provides balance to the forequarters. Place your hand on the front of the chest; the forechest should fi ll your hand. With- out checking, your eye may be deceived by the work of a good groomer disguising its lack with an abundance of coat. It is important that these features, the distinc- tive keel and prominent forechest, not be lost. Th ey are important elements of cor- rect breed type. While the Australian Terrier is usually listed among the short legged terriers, in actual fact the length of leg from the elbow to the ground is at least 50% of its height measured from the withers to the ground. Th e term low set is used to describe the

186 • S HOW S IGHT M AGAZINE , F EBRUARY 2014

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