Breed Standard - BODY

            The NECK is strong, long, graceful and well-muscled. There is no suggestion of throatiness. The neck is well furred beginning with the cheek ruff, extending and blending into the shoulders and chest. During movement, the neck is extended forward and downward, nearly level with the top-line. While standing, the neck is extended upward, so as to elevate the head and emphasize an alert expression. Physical examination should be used to determine correct neck physique and proper coat.

CLASS 1: lack of adequate furring on neck (ruff).

CLASS 2: short, thick, or close-set neck; long disproportionate                   neck.

CLASS 3: any other neck abnormalities.

              The CHEST should be narrow, keel-shaped, with a prominent, angulated breastbone. The ribs are moderately well-sprung, long and flattened on the sides. The rib cage should have visible length; point of brisket to last rib should encompass no less than two-thirds the total body length and should reach to the point of the elbow. Emphasis must be upon depth as opposed to breadth, with no suggestion of barrel shape.

CLASS 1: a broad or barrel-shaped chest.

CLASS 2: a chest that obstructs accepted movement in anyway.

CLASS 3: any other chest abnormalities.

            The BACK is long, well-muscled yet flexible, with a near-level top-line gradually sloping downward from the withers to the croup with a one-half to one-and-one-half inch taper. The back should be relatively narrow when viewed from the top, and should taper cleanly into the ribs. During movement, the back may demonstrate a supple, undulating motion at the walk, although this same movement is not apparent at the trot.

CLASS 1:

CLASS 2: a "colby" or humped back; sway back

CLASS 3: any other back abnormalities.

              The SHOULDERS are set close together at the withers and long with a slightly narrow view from the top, forming a near ninety degree angle with the forearm. The angle of the shoulders, measured off the spine of the blade, should be 25-30 degrees. The elbow should also form a 30 degree angle. The angle at the point of the shoulder should be 120-130 degrees.

CLASS 1: slight deviation from above, i.e. slightly broad shoulders.

CLASS 2: elbows pointing in or out; clearly broad shoulders.

CLASS 3: severe deviation from above; ‘fiddle’ front; any shoulder abnormalities.

              The FORELEGS should be straight, strong and parallel to each other; well up under the brisket. Bone should be moderate in structure and oval or flattened rather than round. The forelegs should show great length, equal to or greater than the depth of the chest.

CLASS 1: small boned.

CLASS 2: short legs in proportion to body.

CLASS 3: crooked legs or extremely short legs in proportion to body; or any other genetic foreleg abnormalities.

             The PASTERNS should be long, slightly sloped and flexible. They are capable of moving from side to side and from front to back.

CLASS 1:

CLASS 2: short, weak or over-angulated pasterns; crooked pasterns

CLASS 3: any other leg abnormalities.

             The FEET, turned slightly outward, are large in proportion to the total animal’s size. They have elongated, well arched and well spaced toes (numbering 16 plus two dew claws, one on each foreleg). The toes are webbed with large durable pads and are protected by hair between the toes, often called ‘snowshoe feet’. Toenails are strong and black or self-colored.

CLASS 1: small (disproportional) feet. no visible turning out of feet.

CLASS 2: small rounded (cat-like) compact feet (not splayed), lack of hairy toes; pads and toenails not black on dark animals or not at least as dark as predominant color of the animal; dew-claws on the hind legs; no dew-claws on forelegs; lack of webbing between toes.

CLASS 3: any other foot abnormality.

         The THIGHS and hindquarters are muscular, powerful and streamlined. The femur & tibia should be parallel to the humerus and tibia respectively. They are rather long and moderately angulated, giving the canine powerful drive.

CLASS 1:

CLASS 2: a straight stifle.

CLASS 3: any other skeletal abnormalities.

           The HOCKS are long, strong and well let-down. They are slightly behind the body and parallel when at a trot.

CLASS 1: cow hocked (less than 45 degrees).

CLASS 2: excessively short hocks.

CLASS 3: cow hocked (45 degrees or greater); any other leg abnormalities.

             The TAIL is moderately low set and follows the spinal column off the croup smoothly. It is well furred (bush tailed), carried low while at rest and is moderately long; the bone should end at or above the hock joint. The tail should be long and tapered, but not so long as to brush the ground. The tail should be straight or slightly sickle-shaped when relaxed.

CLASS 1: a tail that is too long or doesn’t reach the hocks; a curled tail carried over the back.

CLASS 2: narrow or swirled; a frilly or feathered tail; crooked tail; lack of bushy tail.

CLASS 3: wheel tail (Akita-type curl over back) any type of docked tail or other corrective surgery.

              The COAT should be thick (double) with a coarse guard coat, not soft, not open and never curly. The undercoat is very dense and should appear woolly. The guard hairs stand out. There is thick fur around the neck with a prominent cheek-ruff. The coat is moderately long around the neck and over the croup. The coat is slightly shorter down the back and the sides of the body. The hair is very short on the fore face and fronts of the legs. Both guard hairs and undercoat vary with the season.

CLASS 1: coat length less than one inch, although still maintaining a double coat.

CLASS 2: the lack of a cheek ruffs, breeches, coat too long (collie-type); curly or wavy hair as adults.

CLASS 3: (seasonal): no guard hairs; single coated (lack of double coat); any other coat abnormalities.

              The COLOR should be a neutral, natural shade and may range from black phase through various shades of wolf gray, sable to white phase. Grays or sables should have blended or grizzled coloration (often called ‘Agouti’), with lighter undercoat. Multibanded guard hairs are exemplified by grizzled coloration. No stark or highly contrasting shading should occur. Well- blended facial masks are desirable on all but black or white phase animals. Preferred markings are the English saddle and the supra-caudal spot (scent gland) on the tail (which may appear as coarse hairs on solid color animals).

CLASS 1: sharp color markings, open faced masks (huskies and malamutes); lack of saddle-back markings;   large, prominent chest ‘splash’ ( large white coloring on an otherwise colored coat).

CLASS 2: lack of supra-caudal mark (may not be evident or faulted on solid colored animals).

CLASS 3: animals with side body spots, pinto, or brindle markings.

              A large breed in SIZE with a height minimum (adults): 24 inches forfemales, 26 inches for males (measured from ground to highest point of withers). Weight: 50-150 pounds. Great proportionate size is desirable, however, proper condition, requisite symmetry, and balance must always take precedence. Body length should be slightly longer than the height.

CLASS 1: under minimum height; or above maximum weight in adults

CLASS 2: more than 2 inches below minimum height, short or extremely long body in proportion to height, under minimum weight.

CLASS 3: dwarfism, giantism or any other size abnormality.