A graceful, alert, swift-moving little dog with saucy expression. Compact, and with terrier-like qualities.
Temperment:
Saucy, superior intelligence, generally reserved towards strangers.
Size:
A well-balanced little dog not to exceede 6 lb (2.7 kg). 2-4 lb (1-2 kg) preferable.
Coat and Colour:
In the smooth, the coat should be soft in texture, close and glossy. (Heavier coats with undercoats permissable.) Coat placed well over body with ruff on neck, and more scanty on head and ears.
In the long coats the coat should be of a soft texture, either flat or slightly wavy, with undercoat preferred. Ears fringed (heavily fringed ears may be tipped slightly, never down). Feathering on feet and legs, and pants on hindlegs. Large ruff on neck desired and preferred. Tail full and long (as a plume).
Colour: Any solid colour. Marked (a solid colour with markings of another solid colour or colours) or Splashed (irregular shaped patches of solid colour on white or white on a solid colour). Merle shall disqualify.
Head:
Skull: Well-rounded apple-dome skull, with or without molera. Cheeks and jaws lean. Muzzle moderatly short, slightly pointed. Nose self-coloured in blond types, or black. In moles, blues, and chocolate, they are self-coloured. In blond types, pink nose permissable. Mouth: Teeth level or sicssors bite. Eyes full, but not protruding, balanced, set well apart - dark ruby or luminous. (Light eyes in blond types permissable.) Ears large, held erect when alert, but flareing at the sides at about an angle of 45 degrees when in repose. This gives breadth between the ears.
Neck:
Slightly arched, gracefully sloping into lean shoulders, may be smooth in the very short types, or with ruff about neck preferred.
Forequarters:
Shoulders lean, sloping into a slightly broadening support, well up, giving balance and soundness. Upper arm set on to give chestiness and strength of forequarters, yet not of the bulldog chest. Lower arm - forelegs straight, set well under, giving free play at the elbow. Pasterns fine. Feet - a dainty small foot with toes well slip up, but never spread, pads cushioned, with nails moderatly long. (Neither hare nor the cat-foot.)
Body:
Topline - level back (never down or low), slightly longer than height. Chest- plenty of brisket. Ribs rounded (but not too barrel-shaped). Loin well muscled. Croup in balance with rear assemlby. Abdomen - slight tuck up.
Hindquarters:
Hipbone well covered. Upper thigh muscular, in balance with front assembly. Hocks well apart, turning neither in nor out, well let down, with firm sturdy action. Stifle bend - well bent and strong. Feet - a dainty small foot with toes well split up, but not spread, pads cushioned, with nails moderatly long. (Neither the hare nor the cat-foot.)
Tail:
Moderatly long, carried sickle either up or out, or in a loop over the back with tip just touching the back. (Never tucked under.) Hair on tail in harmony with the coat of the body, preferred furry.
Gait:
A graceful, swift and flowing straight forward movement with good reach and strong drive.
Serious Faults:
Undershot, overshot, weighing more than 6 lb. (2.7 kg); bobtail.
Disqualifications:
Cropped tail, broken down or cropped ears. In long coat, too thin a coat that resembles bareness. Merle colour.