Australian Terrier Breed Magazine - Showsight

“A DESIRABLE BREED CHARACTERISTIC IS AN INVERTED V-SHAPED AREA FREE OF HAIR EXTENDING FROM THE NOSE UP THE BRIDGE OF THE MUZZLE, VARYING IN LENGTH IN THE MATURE DOG.”

Colors Blue and tan, solid sandy and solid red. Blue and tan-Blue: dark blue, steel blue, dark grey-blue, or silver-blue. In silver-blues, each hair carries blue and silver alternating with the darker color at the tips. Tan markings (not sandy or red), as rich as possible, on face, ears, underbody, lower legs and feet, and around vent. The richer the color and more clearly defined the better. Top- knot-Silver or a lighter shade than head color. Sandy or Red-Any shade of solid sandy or solid red, the clearer the bet- ter. Topknot-Silver or lighter shade of body coat. Faults All black coat in the adult dog. Tan smut in the blue portion of the coat, or dark smut in sandy/red coated dogs. In any color, white markings on chest or feet are to be penalized. Gait As seen from the front and from the rear, the legs are straight from the shoulder and hip joints to the pads, and move in planes parallel to the centerline of travel. The rear legs move in the same planes as the front legs. As the dog moves at a faster trot, the front and rear legs and feet may tend to converge toward the centerline of travel, but the legs remain straight even as they flex or extend. Viewed from the side, the legs move in a ground-covering stride. The rear feet should meet the ground in the same prints as left by the front feet, with no gap between them. Topline remains firm and level, without bounce. Temperament The Australian Terrier is spirited, alert, courageous and self-confident, with the natural aggressiveness of a ratter and hedge hunter; as a compan- ion, friendly and affectionate. Shyness or aggressiveness toward people is a fault.

Rims are black, oval in shape. Light-col- ored or protruding eyes are faults. Ears Small, erect and pointed; set high on the skull yet well apart, carried erect without any tendency to flare obliquely off the skull. Skull Viewed from the front or side is long and flat, slightly longer than it is wide and full between the eyes, with slight but definite stop. Muzzle Strong and powerful with slight fill under the eyes. The jaws are powerful. Nose Black. A desirable breed character- istic is an inverted V-shaped area free of hair extending from the nose up the bridge of the muzzle, varying in length in the mature dog. Lips Should be tight and dark brown or black rimmed. Bite Scissors with teeth of good size. Neck Long, slightly arched and strong, blending smoothly into a well laid back shoulder. Topline Level and firm. Body The body is of sturdy structure with ribs well-sprung but not rounded, form- ing a chest reaching slightly below the elbows with a distinct keel. The loin is strong and fairly short with slight tuck- up. Faults-Cobbiness, too long in loin. Tail-Set on high and carried erect at a twelve to one o’clock position, docked in balance with the overall dog leaving slightly less than one half, a good hand- hold when mature. Forequarters and Shoulders Long blades, well laid back with only slight space between the shoul- der blades at the withers. The length

of the upper arm is comparable to the length of the shoulder blade. The angle between the shoulder and the upper arm is 90 degrees. Faults Straight, loose and loaded shoulders. Elbows-Close to the chest. Forelegs- Straight, parallel when viewed from the front; the bone is round and medium in size. They should be set well under the body, with definite body overhang (keel) before them when viewed from the side. Pasterns Strong, with only slight slope. Down on the pasterns is a fault and dew claws are to be removed. Nails Short, black and strong. Hindquarters Strong, legs well-angulated at the stifles and hocks, short and perpen- dicular from the hocks to the ground. Upper and lower thighs are well mus- cled. Viewed from behind the rear legs are straight from the hip joints to the ground and in the same plane as the forelegs. Lack of muscular development or excessive muscularity are faults. Feet (See under Forequarters). Coat Outer Coat-Harsh and straight; 2½ inches all over the body except the tail, pasterns, rear legs from the hocks down and the feet which are kept free of long hair. Hair on the ears is kept very short. Undercoat Short and soft. Furnishings-Softer than body coat. The neck is well fur- nished with hair, which forms a protec- tive ruff blending into the apron. The forelegs are slightly feathered to the pasterns. Topknot Covering only the top of the skull; of finer and softer texture than the rest of the coat.

242 • S HOW S IGHT M AGAZINE , J ULY 2017

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