FCI Standard 61

FCI-Standard N° 61 / 21. 01. 2004 (Dutch / Ned. standaard)

ST. BERNARD (St. Bernhardshund, Bernhardiner) Foto 1 and foto 2

TRANSLATION : Mrs.C.Seidler and Mrs. Pepper.

ORIGIN : Switzerland.

DATE OF PUBLICATION OF THE VALID ORIGINAL STANDARD : 29.10.2003.

UTILIZATION : Companion-, watch- and farmdog.

CLASSIFICATION F.C.I.: Group 2 Pinscher and Schnauzer type, Molossians, Swiss Mountain- and Cattledogs and other breeds.

Section 2.2 Molossian type, Mountain type.

Without working trial.

BRIEF HISTORICAL SURVEY : At the height of the Great St. Bernard Pass, 2469 metres above sea level, a hospice was founded by monks in the 11th century as a place of refuge for travellers and pilgrims. There, large mountain dogs have been kept since the middle of the 17th century for guarding and protection. The existence of such dogs has been documented pictorially since 1695 and in a written document at the hospice in the year 1707. The dogs were soon in use as companion dogs and specially as rescue dogs for travellers lost in snow and fog. The chronicles about the numerous human lives saved by these dogs from the « white death », published in many languages, and the verbal reports of the soldiers who crossed the pass with Bonaparte’s army in 1800, spread the fame of the St. Bernard, called Barry-dog at that time, throughout Europe during the 19th century. The legendary dog « Barry » became the epitome of the rescue dog. The direct ancestors of the St. Bernard were the large farm dogs common in that region. Within a few generations and aiming to a defined ideal type, these dogs were developed to the present day type of breed. Heinrich Schumacher from Holligen near Bern was the first who began to issue genealogical documents for his dogs in 1867.

In February 1884 the "Schweizerisches Hundestammbuch" (SHSB), the Swiss Dog Stud Book, was started. The very first entry was the St. Bernard "Leon", and the following 28 registrations also concerned St. Bernards. On the 15th March 1884, the Swiss St. Bernards-Club was founded in Basle. On the occasion of an international Canine Congress on June 2nd 1887, the St. Bernard dog was officially recognized as a Swiss breed and the breed standard was declared as binding. Since then, the St. Bernard has been regarded as the Swiss national dog.

GENERAL APPEARANCE :

There are two varieties of the St. Bernard :

· Short-haired variety (double coat, “Stockhaar”) (foto):

· Long-haired variety (foto).

Both varieties are of considerable size and of impressive general apperance. They have a balanced, powerful, sturdy, muscular body with impressive head and an alert facial expression.

IMPORTANT PROPORTIONS :

· Ideal relation of height at withers to length of body (measured from the point of the shoulder to the point of buttocks) = 9 : 10.

· Ideal relation of height at withers to depth of chest see sketch below.

· The total length of the head is slightly more than one third of the height at withers.

· The relation of depth of muzzle (measured at its root) to length of muzzle is almost 2:1.

· Length of muzzle slightly longer than one third of the total length of the head.

BEHAVIOUR/TEMPERAMENT:

Friendly by nature. Temperament calm to lively; watchful.

HEAD :

General : Powerful, imposing and very expressive.

CRANIAL REGION :

Skull : Strong, broad, seen in profile and from the front slightly rounded. When the dog is alert, the set-on of the ears and the top of the skull form a straight line which slopes at the sides in a gentle curve to the strongly developed high cheek bones. Forehead falling away steeply towards the muzzle. Occipital bone only moderately developed, superciliary ridges strongly developed. The frontal furrow, which starts at the base of the forehead, is distinctly developed and runs up right in the middle of the skull.

The skin of the forehead forms slight wrinkles above the eyes that converge towards the frontal furrow. When the dog is at attention, they are moderately visible; otherwise they are rather inconspicuous.

Stop : Dinstinctly pronounced.

FACIAL REGION :

Nose : Black, broad and square. Nostrils well opened.

Muzzle : Of even width. Nasal bridge straight, with slight groove.

Lips : Edge of lips black pigmented. Flews of upper jaw strongly developed, firm and not too pendulous, forming a wide curve towards the nose. Corners of mouth remain visible.

Jaws/Teeth : Upper and lower jaw strong, broad, equal in length. Well developed, regular and complete scissor or pincer bite. Close fitting undershot mouth without any space between the lower and the upper incisors acceptable. Absence of PM 1 (premolar 1) and M3 tolerated.

Eyes : Of medium size. Colour dark brown to nut-brown. Moderately deep set with a friendly expression. Natural tightness of lids desired. A small angular fold on the lower lids with the haws only slightly visible as well as a small fold on the upper lids are permitted. Eyerims completely pigmented.

Ears : Of medium size, set on high and wide. Strongly developed burrs. Flaps pliable, triangular with rounded tips. The rear edges slightly standing off, the front edges lying closely to the cheeks.

NECK : Strong and of sufficient length. Dewlap and loose skin on the neck moderately developed.

BODY :

General : General appearance imposing, balanced, impressive and well muscled.

Withers : Well defined.

Back : Broad, strong, firm. Topline straight and horizontal up to the loins.

Croup : Long, hardly sloping, merging gently with the root of the tail.

Chest : Brisket moderately deep with well sprung ribs, but not barrel-shaped. Not projecting below elbow level.

Belly and underline : Slight tuck up towards rear.

TAIL : Set-on broad and strong. Tail long and heavy. The last vertebra reaching at least to the hock joint. When in repose, the tail hangs straight down or slightly upturned in the lower third. When animated, it is carried higher.

LIMBS

FOREQUARTERS :

General : Forelegs straight and parallel seen from the front. Standing moderately broad.

Shoulders : Shoulder blades oblique, muscular and well attached to the chest wall.

Upper arm : Longer than the shoulder blade. Angle between shoulder blade and upper arm not too blunt.

Elbow : Close fitting.

Forearm : Straight, strong in bone, with lean musculature.

Pasterns : Seen from the front vertical in prolongation of the forearms; slightly oblique seen from the side.

Forefeet : Broad, with strong, tight, well arched toes.

HINDQUARTERS :

General : Muscular with moderate angulation. Seen from the back, hind legs are parallel, not standing closely together.

Upper thigh : Strong, muscular, broad.

Stifle : Well angulated, turning neither in nor out.

Lower thigh : Slanting and rather long.

Hock joints : Slightly angulated, firm.

Metatarsus : Straight and parallel when seen from behind.

Hind feet : Broad, with strong, tight, well arched toes. Dewclaws tolerated if they do not hinder the movement.

GAIT / MOVEMENT : Harmonious far reaching movement with good drive from the hindquarters, the back remaining stable and firm. Front and hind feet move forward in a straight line.

COAT

HAIR :

· Short-haired variety (Stockhaar, double coat) : Topcoat dense, smooth; close-lying and coarse. Plenty of undercoat. Thighs with slight breeches. Tail covered with dense hair.

· Long-haired variety : Topcoat plain, of medium length with plenty of undercoat. Short hair on face and ear; hair over the haunches and the croup usually somewhat wavy. Front legs feathered. Thighs with good breeches. Bushy tail.

COLOUR : Primary colour white with smaller or larger reddish-brown patches (splash-coated dogs) up to an unbroken reddish-brown mantle covering back and flanks (mantle dogs). A broken reddish-brown mantle is of equal value. A brindle reddish-brown colour permissible. Brownish-yellow tolerated. Dark shadings on head desirable. Slight touch of black on body tolerated.

Required white markings : Chest, feet, tip of tail, muzzle band, blaze and patch on neck.

Desirable markings : White collar. Symmetrical dark mask.

SIZE :

Height at withers : For dogs : minimum 70 cm,

for bitches : minimum 65 cm.

For dogs : maximum 90 cm,

for bitches : maximum 80 cm.

Dogs which exceed the maximum height will not be penalised, provided their general appearance is balanced and their movement is correct.

FAULTS : Any departure from the foregoing points should be considered a fault and the seriousness, with which the fault should be regarded, should be in exact proportion to its degree.

· Lack of sexual characteristics.

· Unbalanced general appearance.

· Too short legs in relation to size (short-legged).

· Heavy folds on head and neck.

· Muzzle too short or too long.

· Flews of the lower jaw turning outwards.

· Missing teeth other than PM 1 (premolar 1) and M3. Small teeth (especially incisors).

· Slightly undershot mouth.

· Light eyes.

· Eyelids too loose.

· Sway back or roach back.

· Croup higher than withers or falling away.

· Tail carried curled on the back.

· Absence of required markings.

· Crooked or severely turned out front legs.

· Poorly angulated, open-hocked or cow-hocked hindquarters.

· Faulty movement.

· Curly coat.

· Incomplete or totally absent pigmentation on nose leather, around the nose, on the lips or the eyelids.

· Faulty primary colour e.g. reddish-brown dots or ticks in the white.

ELIMINATING FAULTS

· Weak temperament, aggressiveness.

· Overshot mouth, distinctly undershot mouth.

· Wall eye.

· Ectropion, entropion.

· Solid white or solid reddish-brown coat (absence of the primary colour).

· Coat of any other colour.

· Height at withers below minimum size.

Any dog clearly showing physical or behavioural abnormalities shall be disqualified.

N.B. : Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles fully descended into the scrotum.

FCI-Standard N° 62 / 18. 06. 1996 (Dutch / Ned. standaard)

COARSE-HAIRED STYRIAN HOUND (Steirische Rauhhaarbracke) Foto

UTILIZATION : The breed's work does not only consist in hunting with giving tongue but very often in purely tracking wounded game in difficult mountain territory.

BRIEF HISTORICAL SUMMARY : Carl Peintinger, industrialist in Styria, began breeding in 1870 by crossing the Hanoverian Scent Hound bitch "Hela 1" with a coarse-haired male Istrian Hound, which excelled in hunting qualities and appearance. The best puppies from this litter were reared and selective breeding from them was continued. Their rough coats made the dogs resistant to the inclemencies of the weather.

GENERAL APPEARANCE : Medium size, strong muscles. Expression serious but not vicious.

BEHAVIOUR / TEMPERAMENT : A passionate, tough hunting dog which unceasingly giving tongue; a firm and determined tracker.

Jaws/Teeth : Strong scissor bite. A complete set with 42 teeth is sought after; the absence of totally two PM1 or PM2 (premolar 1 or 2) is tolerated; the M3 (molar 3) are not taken into account.

TAIL : Medium length, strong at root, well coated, never curled but carried upwards in slight sickle shape. Brush, with no plume, on underside.

HINQUARTERS : Muscular, strong, well angulated. Straight position when seen from rear.

FEET : Not too large. Toes well arched, close together. Pads hard, not too large.

HAIR : Rough coat, not shaggy, without gloss, harsh and coarse. Coat on head is shorter than on body, forms a moustache.

FAULTS : Any departure from the foregoing points should be considered a fault and the seriousness with which the fault should be regarded should be in exact proportion to its degree.

N.B. : Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles fully descended into the scrotum.

FCI-Standard N° 63 / 18. 06. 1996 (Dutch / Ned. standaard)

AUSTRIAN BLACK AND TAN HOUND (Brandlbracke, Vieräugl) Foto

UTILIZATION : The Black and Tan Austrian Hound is an universally popular hunting dog on account of its special suitability for heavy work on high mountains as well as on flat country for hunting by giving tongue and for the tracking of wounded game.

BRIEF HISTORICAL SUMHARY : The Black and Tan Austrian Hound (Brandlbracke) counts as a true descendant of the "Keltenb racke" (Celtic Hound). As with all breeds of older origin, there is no definite authentic history for the "Brandlbracke" until the middle of the 19th century. The reason for this is that until that date nocontrolled breeding took place.

BEHAVIOUR / TEMPERAMENT : Sensitive nose; giving tongue, above all, for hare; tracking firmly and willingly with agreeable temperament.

Jaws/Teeth : Strong scissor bite. A complete set with 42 teeth is sought after; the absence of totally two PM1 or PM2 (premolar 1 or 2) is tolerated; the M3 (molar 3) are not taken into account.

Leathers : Of medium length, not too broad, set on high, rounded at tips, hanging flatly.

TAIL : Long, tapering gradually, slightly bent. Pendant in repose. Coarse hair on underside, but without an obvious brush.

FEET : Strong, round, arched; toes fitting close together. Nails strong and black. Pads large and strong.

HAIR : Smooth hair, close fitting, dense, full, resilient with silky sheen. Length approximately 2 cm.

COLOUR : Black with small, clearly defined light to dark fawn markings. The two fawn markings above the eyes (Vieräugl) must be present.

FAULTS : Any departure from the foregoing points should be considered a fault and the seriousness with which the fault should be regarded should be in exact proportion to its degree.

· Tail too short, too thick. Tail carriage bent too far upwards, lack of coarse hair on underside.

N.B.: Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles fully descended into the scrotum.

FCI-Standard N° 64 / 05. 03. 2003 (Dutch / Ned. standaard)

AUSTRIAN PINSCHER (Österreichischer Pinscher) Foto

CLASSIFICATION F.C.I. : Group 2 Pinscher and Schnauzer - Molossoid breeds - Swiss Mountain- and Cattle Dogs and other breeds.

BRIEF HISTORICAL SUMMARY : The Austrian Pinscher descends from the ancient Austrian country pinschers that were widespread still in the second half of the 19^th century, being modest, versatile farm dogs. In 1921 the systematic pure breeding of this breed began. On Oct. 16^th, 1928, the breed was recognized by the Austrian Kennel Club (Österreichischer Kynologenverband) as Österreichischer kurzhaariger Pinscher (Austrian Shorthaired Pinscher). In the year 2000 the breed was renamed Österreichischer Pinscher (Austrian Pinscher).

GENERAL APPEARANCE : Stocky dog of medium size with lively and bright expression.

BEHAVIOUR / CHARACTER : Assertive, lively, alert, playful and especially devoted and friendly dealing with people familiar to him. Towards strangers he is suspicious and an incorruptible guard. His hunting instinct is only slightly developed.

Eyes : Large eyeball in round palpebral aperture, eyerims close-fitting with dark pigmentation.

Chest : Long, deep, broad, barrel-shaped; well developed forechest. The muscles of the chest are strong and tight.

HAIR : Thick double coat. The outer coat is short to medium-long, thick, smooth and close-lying. The undercoat is thick and short, buttocks slightly trousered.

COLOUR : Russet gold (semmelgelb), brownish yellow, stag-red, black with tan-coloured markings. White markings: chest patch, muzzle, neck, throat, nape, feet and tip of tail. Lack of white markings is not a fault.

Height at the withers : 42 – 50 cm. (Males: 44 – 50 cm, Bitches: 42 – 48 cm).

FAULTS : Any departure from the foregoing points should be considered a fault and the seriousness with which the fault should be regarded should be in exact proportion to its degree.

Any dog clearly showing physical or behavioural abnormalities shall be disqualified.

N.B. : Male animals should have two apparently normally developed testicles fully descended into the scrotum.

FCI-Standard N° 65 / 06. 04. 1998 (Dutch / Ned. standaard)

MALTESE Foto

BRIEF HISTORICAL SUMMARY : His name does not signify that he originates from the island of Malta, because the adjective « Maltese » comes from the Semitic word « màlat » which means refuge or harbour; this Semitic root comes up again in a whole series of names of maritime places; i.e. in the name Adriatic island of Méléda, the Sicilian town of Melita and also in that of the island Malta. The ancestors of this little dog lived in the ports and maritime cities of central Mediterranean, where they hunted mice and rats which were found in profusion in the harbour warehouses and in the hold of ships. In his list of dogs existing at the time of Aristote (384 322 B.C.) he mentions a breed of little dogs to which he attributes the Latin name « canes melitenses ». That dog was known in Ancient Rome: favourite companion of the matrons, has been praised by Strabon, Latin poet of the first century A.D. Representations of the Maltese by numerous Renaissance painters show this little dog in the salons of the period at the side of beautiful ladies of the time.

GENERAL APPEARANCE : Of small size, longish body. Covered by a very long white coat, very elegant with a proud and distinguished head carriage.

IMPORTANT PROPORTIONS : Length of body exceeds by about 38% the height at the withers. The length of the head is equal to 6/11 of the height at withers.

BEHAVIOUR / TEMPERAMENT : Lively, affectionate, very docile and very intelligent.

HEAD : Its length is equal to 6/11 of the height at the withers. It is rather wide exceeding slightly half of the length.

Skull : The skull is slightly longer than the muzzle; the bizygomatic width is equal to its length and consequently superior to the half of the length of the head. In the sagittal direction, it is very slightly egg-shaped (ovoid); the upper part of the skull is flat, with an occipital crest very slightly marked; the protuberance of the frontal bones and the supraorbital ridges are well developed; the frontal indentation of the furrow is so lightly marked, that is invisible; the lateral faces of the parietal bones are somewhat convex.

Nose : In the prolongation of the nasal bridge; seen in profile, its forepart is vertical. Voluminous with open nostrils, rounded and absolutely black.

Muzzle : Length of muzzle is equal to 4/11 of the length of the head; it is therefore slightly less than its half. The suborbital region is well chiselled. Its depth is a good 20% less than its length. The sides of the muzzle are parallel, but the muzzle seen from the front, must not appear square, since its anterior face joins onto the lateral sides by curves. The muzzle is rectilinear with a well marked furrow in its central part.

Lips : Viewed from the front, the upper lips, at their junction, have the shape of a very open arch. They are little developed in depth and the labial commissure is not visible. The upper lips adapt perfectly to the lower lips, in such a way that the bottom profile of the muzzle is defined by the lower jaw. The edges of the lips must be absolutely black.

Jaws : Normally developed and light in appearance, perfectly adapted. The lower jaw, with its branches being straight, is neither prominent nor receeding in its anterior part.

Teeth : The dental arches are perfectly adapted and the incisors in scissor articulation. Teeth are white; the dentition is well developed and complete.

Eyes : Open, with lively and attentive expression, larger than would be expected; the shape tends to be round. The eyelids are in close contact with the eyeball, which is never deep-set, but rather level with the head, just slightly protruding. The eyes are set on a same almost frontal plan. Seen from the front, they must not show sclera (white of the eyes); they are of a dark ochre colour; eye rims are black.

Ears : Of almost triangular shape, their width is about 1/3 of their length. They are set high above the zygomatic arch, hanging close to the sides of the skull; with little erection.

NECK : Although covered with an abundant coat, the demarcation of the nape of the neck is obvious. The upper profile is arched. Its length is about half of the height at the withers. It is carried erect and does not show any loose skin.

BODY : The length from the point of the shoulder to the point of the buttock is 38% more than the height of the withers.

Croup : In the prolongation of the lumbar-dorsal line, the croup is very wide and long; its obliqueness is 10° below the horizontal.

Chest : Ample; let down lower than the level of the elbows, with ribs not too well sprung. The circumference of the chest is 2/3 more than the height at the withers. Sternal region very long.

TAIL : Set on level with the croup, thick at the root and fine at the tip. Its length corresponds to about 60% of the height at the withers. Forms a single big curve, the tip of which falls between the haunches touching the croup. A tail curved to one side of the body is tolerated.

FOREQUARTERS : On the whole they are close to the body, the legs standing straight and parallel.

Shoulder : Its length represents 1/3 of the height of the withers and its obliqueness below the horizontal is of 60° to 65°.

Upper arm : Longer than the shoulder, measures 40 to 45% of the height at the withers, the obliqueness below the horizontal is of 70°. Well joined to the body in its top 2/3, and its longitudinal direction is almost parallel to the median plane of the body.

Forearm : Lean with few visible muscles, but with a rather sturdy bone structure in relation to the size of the breed.

Pastern joint : In the vertical line of the forearm, mobile; should not be knotty; covered with a fine skin.

Pastern : Has the same characteristics as the carpus and, because of its short length, is vertical.

Forefeet : Round, toes closed and arched; communal and digital pads should be black, the nails should be also black or at least of a dark colour.

HINDQUARTERS : On the whole, of sturdy bone structure; parallel and, seen from behind, vertical from the point of the buttock to the ground.

Upper thigh : Hard muscled, hind edge is convex. Parallel to the median plane of the body, its downward and forward direction is somewhat oblique in relation to the vertical. Its length is nearly 40% of the height at the withers and its width is a little less than its length.

Lower thigh : With a groove between the tendon and the bone hardly noticeable; its obliqueness below the horizontal is 55°. It is slightly longer than the thigh.

Hock : The distance from the ground to the point of the hock is slightly more than 1/3 of the height at the withers. Its length corresponds to the height of the hock. It is perfectly upright.

GAIT/MOVEMENT : Even, skimming the ground, free, with short and very quick steps at the trot.

SKIN : Really tight to all parts of the body, pigmented with dark patches and patches of a reddish wine colour, especially on the back. The rim of the eyelids, third eyelids and lips are black.

HAIR : Dense, shiny, glossy - falling heavily and of a silky texture, very long on the whole of the body and straight throughout its length without traces of waves or curls. On the trunk it should be longer than the height at the withers and fall heavily back to the ground like a cape fitting close to the trunk without opening or forming tufts or flocks. Tufts or flocks are acceptable on the forequarters from the elbow to the foot, and on the hindquarters, from the stifle to the foot. There is no undercoat. On the head the coat is very long, as much on the foreface, where it mingles with the beard, also on the skull where it falls eventually mingling with the hair covering the ears. On the tail, the hairs fall back to one side of the body, i.e. on the flank and on the thigh, of such length as to reach the hock.

COLOUR : Pure white; a pale ivory tinge is permitted. Traces of pale orange shades are tolerated but not desirable and constitute an imperfection.

FAULTS : Any departure from the foregoing points should be considered a fault and the seriousness with which the fault should be regarded should be in exact proportion to its degree.

· Accentuated undershot mouth, if it spoils the outer appearance of the muzzle.