FCI Standard 201

FCI-Standard N° 201 (Dutch / Ned. standaard)

MAREMMA AND ABRUZZES SHEEPDOG Foto

ORIGIN : Italy.

DATE OF PUBLICATION OF THE ORIGINAL VALID STANDARD : 27.11.1989.

UTILIZATION : Shepherd dog used minly for the protection of flocks and guarding of properties.

CLASSIFICATION F.C.I. : Group 1 Sheepdogs and Cattledogs – except Swiss Cattledogs.

Section 1 Sheepdogs.

Without working trial.

BRIEF HISTORICAL SUMMARY :

This dog belongs to the stock of the large White Dogs of central Europe, an ancient stock of sheep dogs, with a mistrusting and bellicose character. It arrived here from the Middle East. In central Italy it evolved as a breed in and of itself, described by Columella (1st century AD) as the defender of the flock from wolves. This explains why the shepherds like its white coat: because it enables them to distinguish it from the wolves when they attack at twilight and thus avoid killing a friend instead of an enemy. Maremma as well as Abruzzo have been the home of these dogs since time immemorial. Therefore, in 1958 the ENCI decided to give it its current name. These animals are selected to work even in situations where man is not present, so they are endowed with a marked sense of responsibility toward the animals or things they are entrusted with. They are proud, watchful, intuitive and have a strong sense of territory; with strangers they are unsociable and reserved, they love their master but are not submissive and maintain a certain independence. Rustic, robust, indifferent to harsh weather, accustomed to getting along by themselves, the Maremmano-Abruzzese Shepherds are destructive to intruders. The male is the larger and more majestic, assertive, courageous and aggressive. The female is more long-limbed and elegant, more shy and mistrusling. In either case, their general appearance is quite impressive: harmonious, though large; their head resembles that of the white bear. This ancient breed of dogs who guard flocks comes from shepherd dogs actually still used in the Abruzzes where the breeding of sheep is still thriving even in these days, and sheepdogs which existed yesteryear in the region of the Tuscan Maremma and in that of Latium. Most especially since 1860, the seasonal moving of livestock from one region to another has favoured the developing of a natural crossing of those two primitive breeds.

GENERAL APPEARANCE :
The Maremma and Abruzzes shepherd dog is a big dog, strongly built of a rustic appearance, at the same time majestic and really typical. On the whole his shape, of average proportions, is that of a heavy dog, whose body is longer than the height at the withers; is balanced as much in size (heterometry = normal proportions between the size and different parts of the body) as to the profiles (alloidism = concordance between the profiles of the head and the body).

IMPORTANT PROPORTIONS :
The length of the head reaches the 4/10 of the height at the withers; the length of the muzzle is 1/10th less than that of the skull: the body length is more by 1/18th than the height at the withers. Depth of thorax is slightly less than half the height at the withers, (for instance; for a dog of 68 cm the depth is about 32 cm).

BEHAVIOUR AND TEMPERAMENT :
His principal function as a guard and defense dog of flocks and property in general, asserts itself in the manner he accomplishes these tasks, with perception, courage and decision. Although proud and not inclined to submission, he can also show a devoted attachment to his master and all his entourage.

HEAD :
On the whole, the head is large and flat, of conical shape, reminiscing of that of a polar bear.

Skull : Is of great width with lateral sides slightly bulging. In profile, is also convex. The upper longitudinal axes of the skull and muzzle are slightly divergent, which makes the profile of the head slightly convex. The superciliary arches are moderately marked. The medio-frontal furrow line is slightly marked. The occipital crest is only just visible.

Stop : The frontal-nasal depression only just accentuated and the frontal-nasal angle is always very open.

Nose : Rather big, in line of the muzzle, with large well-opened nostrils, moist and cool, coloured black. In profile must not protrude beyond the front marginal of the lips. Muzzle : Its length is by 1/10th less than that of the skull. Its depth, measured at the level of the corner of the lips, must reach half its length. Its width decreases progressively according to the convergence of the lateral sides of the muzzle towards the front, but nevertheless keeping a flat fore surface. The suborbital region is slightly chiselled.

Lips : Seen from the front, the upper lips, at their junction point, determine by their lower edge a semicircle of very short radius. Slightly developed, they barely cover the teeth of the jaw, and, therefore, the corner of the lips is only lightly accentuated. Consequently the lower lateral profile is only defined by the lips in its fore part, in its rear part it is defined by the lower jaw and the corner of the lips. The rims of the lips are black.

Jaws : Look strong, normally developed, with incisors set straight, well aligned of good size and complete in number.

Cheeks : moderately visible.

Teeth : White, strong-scissor bite.

Eyes : Not large in relation to the size of the dog; the iris is of an ocre colour or chestnut brown. The eye, in lateral position, is neither deep set nor protruding. Lively and attentive expression. Eyelid opening is almond shaped, with black eyelid rims.

Ears : Set very high over the zygomatic arches, they are hanging but very mobile. Triangular shape (in V), their extremities forming a narrow point never rounded; they are small in relation to the size of the dog. For a medium size dog their length must not go beyond 12 cm. The ear attachment is of medium width. Cropped ears tolerated only in dogs really used as herd dogs.

NECK :
Upper profile moderately arched. Its length does not go beyond the 8/10 of the length of the head, which means that the neck is always shorter than the head. It is thick, very strong, muscular and always without dewlap; covered with long and dense hair forming a collar particularly obvious in males.

BODY :
Solidly constructed, its length is more by 1/18 than the height at the withers.

Top Line : Straight from withers to rump where it becomes somewhat sloping.

Withers : Slightly above from the topline; wide because of the distance separating the shoulder blades.

Back : Straight in profile, length reaches about 32% of the height at the withers. The loin which merges perfectly with the topline has a slightly curved profile with well developed muscles in width. The loin reaches in length 1/5 of the height at the withers and its width is nearly equal.

Rump : Wide, strong and well muscled. Its inclination from the hip to the tail set is of 20º increasing to 30º and more if we refer to the ileum-ischium line; that is why the rump of the Maremma and Abruzzes shepherd dog must be qualified as sloping.

Chest : Ample, descending to level of elbows, deep and well-rounded at mid-height. Its circumference must be more than 1/4 of the height at the withers; its maximum width at mid-height must reach at least the 32% of the height at the withers, then decreases progressively downwards while retaining a good width in the sternal region. Its depth must reach half the height at the withers. The ribs are well sprung and oblique with inter-costal spaces of good width; the last false ribs are long, oblique and well opened.

Under line : The sternum-ventral profile is characterized by a long sternal line in the shape of an arc of a circle of very big radius rising slightly towards the belly.

Tail : Low set due to the sloping rump, in normal stand reaching below the level of the hock. Hanging when dog is stationary; carried level with back line with a rather strongly hooked extremity when the dog is in action. Well furnished with dense hairs without fringes.

QUARTERS :

FOREQUARTERS :
Straight limbs from the front and in profile; forequarters well balanced in relation to the body, and the various parts of the forequarters are well proportioned between them.

Shoulder : Long, oblique with powerful muscles. Must be really free in movement. In length measures about 1/4 of the height at the withers. Its obliqueness below the horizontal is of 50º to 60º.

Upperarm : Set close to the body in its upper two thirds, with powerful muscles. Its obliqueness below the horizontal varies between 55º and 60º; its length measures about the 30% of the height at the withers. Its position is more or less parallel with the median plane of the body. The scapula-humeral angle varies between 105º and 120º.

Elbows : Normally close to the chest, they are covered with a soft loose skin. Their position must be parallel to the median plane of the body; the point of the elbow must be on an imaginary vertical line starting at the rear angle of the shoulder blade. The opening of the humeral-radial angle varies between 145º and 150º.

Forearm : Straight, and vertical, heavily boned. Its length is slightly more than the length of the upperarm, while being a little less of a third of the height at the withers. The front leg from ground to elbow measures 52,8% of the height at the withers.

Pastern joint (Carpus) : In extension of the vertical of the forearm. Strong, clean, smooth and of good thickness; the pisiform bone is clearly protruding.

Pastern (Metacarpus) : Its length must never be less to 1/6 of the foreleg measured from ground to elbow. It is lean with a minimum of sub-coutaneous tissue. Seen in profile is slightly oblique towards the front.

Feet : Large, of roundish shape, well closed toes, covered with short thick hair, nails preferably black. Chestnut colour is tolerated.

HINDQUARTERS :
Seen as a whole: limbs straight when seen from the behind and in profile. The general aspect is in proportion with the body, and the various parts of the hindquarters are harmonious.

Thigh : Long, wide with protruding muscles and a rear edge slightly convex. Its width, measured from edge to edge, reaches 3/4 of its length. Is a little oblique from top to bottom and rear to front; the coxal-femoral (hip bone) angle is about 100º.

Second thigh : Its length, a little shorter than the thigh, corresponds to 32,5% of the height at the withers. Its obliqueness below the horizontal is about 60º. Strong bone, muscles lean and the groove in the leg well marked.

Knee : Perfectly in the vertical of the limb, without internal or external rotation. The femoral-tibial angle rather well opened, varies between 135º and 140º.

Hock joint : Quite thick, with broad lateral faces. The angle opening varies between 140º and 150º.

Metatersal : Strong, lean and broad. Its length reaches 30,9% of the height at the withers. Eventual dewclaws must be eliminated.

Feet : Like the front but more oval.

GAIT AND MOVEMENT : Walk and extended trot.

SKIN : Tight to all parts of the body; rather thick. Black pigmentation of the mucous membranes, third eyelids as well as the central and toe pads.

COAT :

Nature of coat : Very well furnished. Hair long, rather harsh to the touch, closer to straight horse hair, flat to the body; slight wave is tolerated. The hairs form an important collar around the neck and fringes of limited length on the edge of the hindquarters. But the hair is short on the muzzle, on the skull, the ears and front edge of the limbs. On the body the length of the hair reaches 8 cm. The undercoat is only in winter abundant.

Colour of coat : Solid white. Shades of ivory, pale orange or lemon are tolerated but only in certain limits.

TECHNICAL NOTES - TYPICAL FEATURES :

The Maremma and Abruzzes sheepdog is a heavy mesomorphic, with a remarkable size, rustic and imposing look, strong bone structure and very clear sexual dimorphism. The coat must be very thick, milk-white straight or lightly waved, with a half-vitreous texture. It is important to look for a distinct masculine expression in male dogs and femininity in female dogs.

THE HEAD must be large and conshaped. The skull and face axes are slightly divergent. The skull is large (the lenght and the width must be roughly the same). The eyes must be well distanced (thanks to the large skull and the large nose bone) dark, in side position, with almond-shaped eyelids and a watchful, smiling expression. The ears must be small, triangular, fit upwards, so that they are hidden with the hair collar when you watch the dog facing it.

THE STOP must not be very marked.

THE MUZZLE is a little shorter than the skull, but it is quite large and has its side faces lightly convex on top. It is conshaped, but the foreface has a wide surface. It is well developed in its height.

THE UNDERORBITAL AREA must not be worked too finely.

THE TRUNK must be quite heavy, with well developed side diameters.

THE PACE: loose, soft trot, with a good backward drive. When trotting, the neck must be almost lined up with the back.

ON THE WHOLE, the dog should suggest an idea of strenght, solidity and rusticity, but not of coarseness. Dogs with the following features must not be considered “typical”:

- light, long, narrow, not conshaped head.
- narrow skull.
- very finely worked underorbital area.
- long, narrow, not fitted upwards muzzle with too convex side faces on top (Pointed muzzle).
- not sufficiently heavy trunk with not well developed side diameters.
- insufficiently developed bones and muscles.
- heavy, not conshaped head with a parallel or highly divergent profile.
- skull with too developed frontal sinuses.
- front, round, light eyes with the palpebral fissures not well adherent to the eyeball.
- heavy, downwards fit ears.
- too marked or missing stop.
- short muzzle with parallel side faces (like a mastiff).
- thick lips with a very marked labial commissure.
- too rich and loose skin.

Tall , long, light dogs with long, thin upwards paws are not typical. Heavy dogs with rich skin, non-typical pace (not a loose trot), mastiff-type head (marked stpo, heavy ears, short, not conshaped muzzle, quite a large mouth, wide-open and round eyes). Breeders must absolutely take care of the dog’s character which has to be really well-balanced; shy, fearful or too aggressive dogs, with clear signs of a nervous personality must be excluded from the reproduction. Judges have been strongly advised to take into account the balance, especially of adult dogs, when they are shown in exhibitions or meetings. To safeguard the quality of the breed it is strongly advisable to ask for the official readings of the hip x-ray photography, at least for the male dogs which are used for the reproduction.

NOTES ON THE MORPHOLOGY AND ON THE TYPICALITY OF MAREMMA AND ABRUZZES SHEEPDOGS,

THE SHAPE OF MAREMMA AND ABRUZZES SHEEPDOG :

The morpholgy of a Maremma and Abruzzes sheepdog is strictly connected to its function of sheep guardian which it should perform, and to the environment where it works, which can sometimes be very hard. Its frame can never be light or slim because such a dog could never perform its task effectively, nor stand hard weather conditions. Being a heavy mesomorphic, it must be a big-sized and powerful dog, but it should not be ponderous, as it would loose its agility and speed in the fight against predators and would easily get tired either in the fight with wolves or when the flock move from pasture to pasture. It must not be thick-skinned, nor have a remarkable labial development, which are usually signs of a lymphatic and weak constitution. The dog’s size is a high priority for the typicality of the breed, therefore every single dog must be big-sized, with a proper balance between its height and its body-mass (weight-volume ratio). To sum up, a Maremma and Abruzzes sheepdog must be quite tall, have a good body-mass with well developed size diameters (breast, chest, back, loins, rump) and a well developed chest measurement. The backbone is strong, as well as the muscles, which are tonic and well developed.

THE COAT :
The coat is relevant for the typicality of the breed. It is milk-white with long, rough, straight or lightly waved hair and rich winter undercoat, The most appreciated coat seems to be made of not perfectly straight hairs, but hairs with very light, opposite waves. The coat and the winter undercoat must create a tall, thick layer which hides the animal’s shape. In male dogs it takes the shape of a thick collar around the neck, which is a very typical feature of the breed. If this collar is thin or missing, this provokes a less compact headneck profile and makes the ears more visible, which, on the contrary, must be hidden with the collar when you watch the dog facing it. The lenght, the texture and the direction of the hair must be such, as to make the coat fit to the weather conditions the dog has to meet in its life as a guardian.

THE PACE :
The Maremma and Abruzzes sheepdog is a trotter: actually, it is built in a rectangular, has well developed side diameters (breast, chest, etc..), has sufficiently angled back and front (quite closed angles). The rump is quite long and slanted, as well as the arm and the metacarpus. Even though the morphology of the Maremma and Abruzzes Sheepdog suggests a trotter, the standard specimen looks like quite a compact, well gathered dog, since the trunk lenght is only 1/18 larger than the height at withers.
The angles are not particularly “closed”. Although the Maremma and Abruzzes sheepdog is classified as a trotter, it is certainly different, for example, from the German Sheperd, which has a longer trunk and more closed angles and, consequently, a wider stride. TO SUM UP, the Maremma and Abruzzes sheepdog has a loose, soft trot, with a good back drive, but it is certainly not very fast, nor has it a wide stride. When you see the dogs moving on the ring, some of them are likely to trot and hold their head up: this is not a typical, natural attitude for a dog which usually moves for long periods of time in its work. On the contrary, when trotting, the neck must be lined up with the back.

THE TYPE :
There are several different ideas in defining the “type” in canine breeds. In general we can say that the “type” includes “all the distinctive features which are common to all the specimens belonging to a breed” or “the anatomic, physiologic, behavioural and functional features which show that a specimen belongs to a certain breed”. From a morphological point of view the “type” features can be distinguished in “fundamental” and “particular”. The formers are the essential features which have to be possessed, have to be present in every single specimen belonging to the breed. The latters are also very important, but can vary within the breed; when they are possessed in a high degree on a single specimen, they characterize it in its typicality. In a Maremma and Abruzzes sheepdog the “type” features can be distinguished into:

“TYPE” FUNDAMENTAL FEATURES (which must always be present) :

1. Not a very marked distance between the skull and the face axes.
2. Not a very marked distance between forehead and nose.
3. Big size, with a good height-body-mass ratio (weight-volume).
The dog must be tall enough and, at the same time, have a large trunk with well developed side diameters (breast, chest, back, loins, rump). The Maremma and Abruzzes sheepdog must have a good chest measurement, a strong backbone and well developed muscles. The head must be quite big, in relation with the body mass.

4. Breed Pace: loose, soft trot with a good, quick back drive. When trotting, the neck must be lined up with the back.

“TYPE” PARTICULAR FEATURES :

1. Conshaped head wuth the muzzle lightly shorter than the skull.
2. Large skull with a lightly convex profile, with not well marked frontal sinuses.
3. Conshaped, lightly extended muzzle, with a large base and well developed in height.
4. Not too finely worked underorbital area.
5. Reduced labial development.
6. Small triangular upwards ear.
7. Eyes in side or half-side position with almond-shaped eyelids, quite dark and well distanced.
8. Thick rough milk-white coat with rich winter undercoat. In male dogs the coat takes the shape of a collar around the neck. From a morphological point of view, a dog is called “in-type” when it fully represents the breed since, not only does it possess the fundamental features, but also the particular ones in large amount. Vice-versa, a dog is called “out-of- type” when it does not have sufficient typical features, so that it does no longer look like the other specimens of that breed. It misses not only the particular, but also the fundamental “type” features. The “hyper-type” presents exaggerated typical features (for example, instead of the typical noseforeface distance, you have an almost missing stop). When we deal with typicality, however, we have always to keep in mind not only the morphology, but also the behavioural and functional features. In a Maremma and Abruzzes sheepdog, for example, a nervous character is not typical and must therefore be penalized. On the other hand, if a sheepdog joins the flock in the proper way and at the right age and it does not show any propensity to its work, it does miss typicality. In conclusion, to safe guard the propensity to its work means to defend the breed typicality.

FCI-Standard N° 202 / 07. 08. 1998 (Dutch / Ned. standaard)

ITALIAN POINTING DOG (Bracco Italiano) Foto

BRIEF HISTORICAL SUMMARY : This dog of ancient Italian origin used for bird hunting has modelled itself and developed over the ages; from the hunting of yesteryear by means of nets, he has adapted himself to the present hunting and shooting. Frescoes from the 14th century are proof of the indisputable timelessness of the Italian pointer over the centuries, whether either regarding his morphology or his aptitudes at hunting as a pointing dog.

GENERAL APPEARANCE : Of strong and harmonious construction, powerful appearance. The preferred subjects are those with lean limbs, well developed muscles, well defined lines with a markedly sculpted head and a very obvious lower orbital chiselling, elements which all contribute to give distinction to this breed.

IMPORTANT PROPORTIONS : Length of the body is the same or a little more than the height at the withers. Length of head is equal to 4/10 of the height at the withers; its width, measured at the level of the zygomatic arches, is less than half its length. Skull and muzzle are of equal length.

BEHAVIOUR / TEMPERAMENT : Tough and adapted to all types of hunting, reliable, endowed with an excellent ability to understand, docile and easy to train.

HEAD : Angular and narrow at the level of the zygomatic arches; its length corresponds to 4/10 of the height at the withers; the middle of its length is at the level of a line which unite the inner angles of both eyes. The upper longitudinal axes of the skull and muzzle are divergent, i.e. if extending the top line of the muzzle, this one must emerge in front of the occipital protuberance, ideally at mid-length of the skull.

Skull : Seen in profile, the skull is in the shape of a very open arch. Seen from the top, it forms lengthwise an elongated ellipse. The width of the skull, measured at the level of the zygomatic arches, should not exceed half of the length of the head. The bulge of the forehead and the supraorbital ridges are perceptible. The frontal groove is visible and ends at mid-length of the skull. The interparietal crest is short and not very prominent. The occipital protuberance is pronounced.

Nose : Voluminous, with large well opened nostrils, protrudes slightly over the lips with which it forms an angle. Colour: More or less pink to flesh-colour or brown, depending on the colour of the coat.

Muzzle : Foreface either slightly arched or straight. Its length is equal to half of the length of the head and its depth measures 4/5 of its length. Seen from the front, the lateral sides of the muzzle converge slightly, still presenting a foreface of good width. The chin not very apparent.

Lips : Upper lips well developed, thin and floppy without being flaccid, covering the jaw; seen in profile, they overlap the lower jaw slightly. Seen from the front, they form an inverted « V » below the nose; the corner of the lips must be marked without being droopy.

Jaws/Teeth : Dental arches well adapted, with the teeth square to the jaw; scissor bite - pincer bite is also acceptable.

Eyes : Semi-lateral position with a soft and submissive expression, neither deep set nor prominent. Eyes fairly large, eyelids oval-shaped and close fitting (no entropion or ectropion). The iris is of a more or less dark ochre or brown colour depending on the coat colour.

Leathers : Well developed, in length they should, without being stretched, reach the tip of the nose. Their width is at least equal to half their length; raised only very slightly; base rather narrow, set rather backwards at level of zygomatic arches; a supple ear with a front rim well turned inwards and really close to the cheek is appreciated; the lower extremity of the ear ends in a slightly rounded tip.

NECK : Powerful, in truncated cone shape, length not less than 2/3 of the length of the head, well detached from the nape. The throat shows a soft double dewlap.

Topline : The upper profile of the back is made up of two lines: one, almost straight, slopes from the withers to the 11th dorsal vertebra; the other is slightly arched, joining with the line of the rump.

Croup : Long (about 1/3 of the height at the withers), broad and well muscled; the ideal pelvic angulation (angle formed by the pelvic girdle with a horizontal line) is 30°. Pelvis wide.

Chest : Broad, deep and well let down to level of elbows, without forming a keel, with well sprung ribs, particularly in their lower part, and sloping.

Underline : Lower profile almost horizontal in its ribcage part, rising slightly in its abdominal part.

TAIL : Thick at the base, straight, with a slight tendency to taper; hair short. When the dog is in action and especially when questing, is carried horizontally or nearly like that. Should be docked at 15-25 cm from the root.

Shoulders : Strong, well muscled, long and sloping, very free in their movement.

Elbow : The point of the elbow should be on perpendicular line from the rear point of the shoulder-blade to the ground.

Front feet : Strong, slightly oval shaped; well arched and tight toes, with strong nails well curved towards the ground. Colour of nails is white, yellow or brown, of a more or less dark shade depending on the colour of the coat; pads elastic and lean.

Hind feet : With all the characteristics of the front feet; they have dewclaws, the absence of which is not a fault. Double dewclaw is tolerated.

GAIT / MOVEMENT : Extended and fast trot, with powerful impulsion from the hindquarters; head raised, nose held high in such a way that, when hunting, the nose is higher than the topline.

SKIN : Tough but elastic; finer on the head, the throat, the armpits and on the lower parts of the body. The visible mucous membranes must be of a corresponding colour with the coat, but never show black spots. The mucous membranes of the mouth are pink; in the roans or white and chestnut coloured dogs they sometimes show brown or pale chestnut spotting.

HAIR : Short, dense and glossy, finer and shorter on the head, the ears, front part of the legs and feet.

· White with patches of varied size of an orange or more or less dark amber colour.

· White speckled with chestnut (roano-marrone). In this last combination, a metallic sheen is appreciated, and a warm shade of chestnut is preferred, recalling the colour of a monk’s frock.

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.

· Coat black, white and black, tricolour, fawn, hazel, unicolor, with tan markings.

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.

GENERAL APPEARANCE : Medium sized, distinctly rectangular, powerfully built, but should not appear heavy. Should convey the impression of endurance.

IMPORTANT PROPORTIONS : Depth of brisket approximately half the height at withers.

HEAD : Head not to be carried highly. Clean and noble with good length and parallel lines, not wedge-shaped.

Skull : Slightly domed, prominent occiput. Provided the muzzle is long and well developed, a somewhat powerful skull is permissible, in males in particular, if the head does not lose its parallel planes.

Muzzle : Rather long than short, squarely cut. Straight and evenly broad nasal bridge.

Eyes : Dark. Round in appearance. Rather large, but not protruding. Bright and expressive with a calm and earnest expression. Eyelids close fitting. Wall eyes are permitted in blue marbled (dappeld) dogs.

Ears : Medium high set, rather low than high. Smooth, moderately wide, tapering, rounded at the end. Flat without folds. Hanging close to head. Long enough to extend half-way along the muzzle when pulled forward.

Chest : Capacious chest with well sprung ribs; the back ribs should be particularly well developed, making the brisket appear long.

TAIL : Set on level with the topline. Thick at the root, tapering towards the end. The tail should be straight and carried in a slight upward curve, reaching to the hock or slightly below.

Shoulders : Muscular, long and sloping shoulder blades, lying close to the chest, closely set together at the top. Well angulated shoulder and elbow joints.

Feet : Arched and well-knit feet, well covered with hair between the toes. Firm pads. The feet should point straight forward.

General appearance : Well angulated. Stand parallel, not crouched nor cow-hocked. Dewclaws should be removed.

Feet : Arched and well-knit, well covered with hair between the toes. Firm pads. The feet should point straight forward.

GAIT : Free movement, covering ground. Parallel from behind, not crouched nor cow-hocked.

HAIR : Straight, hard, dense and not too short coat. The back of the thighs and the tail may be somewhat more heavily coated, provided the coat is otherwise particularly good.

COLOUR : Black or blue marbled (dappled) with pale fawn and white markings. Warm brown or predominant black reaching from the muzzle and beyond the hock joint with so called black mask is less desirable. Overmarked white where the white colour reaches out on the shoulders, on the underside of the belly and on legs (socks) is accepted as correct marking.

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.

· Colour: Should the white colour reach the saddle on black/pale fawns, or white spots in the dappled colour, the prize must be lower according to the amount of white.

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° 204 / 24. 07. 2000 (Dutch / Ned. standaard)

SPANISH HOUND (Sabueso Español) Foto

UTILIZATION : Hunting hound for small game, although he is not averse to big game hunting, be it boar, stag, deer, fox, wolf or the bear. The hunter, instructed by the dog’s voice and its modulations, will recognize the sequence of events of the hunting and its incidents such as: Cold or fresh line of scent, double scent lines, firmness on line or « halali » (kill). The Sabueso español (hound) is a great specialist in hunting the hare with his doubling habit and he is most efficient in blood tracking (searching of wounded big game).

BRIEF HISTORICAL SUMMARY : Already known in the late Middle Ages, he is brilliantly described by the venery book by King Alphonse XI (XIVth century) as well as by Argote de Molina (1582) and by numerous classic authors.

GENERAL APPEARANCE : Medium sized dog, balanced, with rather long proportions, with a lovely head and long leathers. The development of his thoracic perimeter and the length of his body which exceeds greatly the height at the withers, are remarkable. Compact bone structure and solid legs; fine hair, smooth and flat. The gaze is soft, sad and noble.

· Length of the body is widely superior, from 7 to 10 cm, to the height at the withers.

BEHAVIOUR / TEMPERAMENT : He is an affectionate and calm dog which, when out hunting big game, shows extraordinary courage and bravery.

HEAD : Harmonious, long and in proportion with the rest of the body. Cranial-facial lines divergent. Seen from above, the ensemble skull and muzzle must appear elongated and very uniform. No impression of pointed muzzle.

Skull : Medium width, broader in the males. Convex profile. The width of the skull should be equal to its length; seen from the front, it must be domed. Occipital crest simply marked.

Nose : Large, moist with open and well developed nostrils. Its colour varies from light to intense black, always in relation with the colour of the mucous membranes.

Muzzle : Straight profile, a very slight sub-convexity only at its end portion admissible. Seen from above, it appears moderately rectangular, decreasing in width as it gets nearer the nose.

Lips : The upper lip must clearly cover the lower lip; it is loose and moderately abundant. The lower lip forms a well marked labial corner. The mucous membranes must be of the same colour as the nose. Palate of the same colour as the mucous membranes, with marked ridges.

Jaws/Teeth : Scissor bite. Teeth white and sound. Canines well developed, all premolars present.

Eyes : Medium, almond shape, hazel colour, dark; with a sad, noble and intelligent expression. Eyelids pigmented like the nose and the mucous membranes, close to the eyeball. Slight relaxing at rest is permitted.

Leathers : Large, long and hanging. Of soft texture, rectangular shape and rounded tip. Set below eye level and hang freely twisted in corkscrew. Without being stretched, they must reach well beyond the nose. The venous system is very visible and just under the skin.

NECK : Truncated cone, broad and strong, muscled and supple; skin thick and very loose, which forms, without exaggeration, a marked and loose dewlap.

BODY : Clearly rectangular, very strong and robust, with an important thoracic perimeter which must be more, by 1/3, than the height at the withers: height at the withers 3, thoracic perimeter 4.

Topline : Straight, with a slight dip of the back and convexity of the loin, characteristics of the breed, but not a saddle back.

Croup : Powerful, broad, rather horizontal. The height at the rump must be the same or below the height at the withers. Taking into account the tendency of the breed to increase in size, it will be permitted that the rump will be slightly higher.

Chest : Very developed, broad, deep and high, well let down to the elbow. Point of sternum marked. Rounded ribs, with very wide intercostal spaces, forming a large thoracic cage.

Belly and flanks : Belly not very tucked up; the flanks are deep, very visible, and full.

TAIL : Thick at the root and set at medium height. Strong and covered with very short hair forming a small paint brush at the tip. At rest carried slightly curved and hanging down below the point of the hock; at work and in action, it raises sabre fashion, without excess, with a continual lateral movement. Never straight, directed upwards or resting on the rump.

FOREQUARTERS : Perfectly vertical, straight, parallel. Give the impression of being short and muscles and tendons are clearly visible. The length of the forearm must be equal to that of the shoulder. Of strong bone structure, with powerful pasterns; elbows really close to the body.

Shoulders : Shoulder-blade oblique, rounded, muscled and of equal length to that of the upper arm. Scapulo-humeral angle: close to 100°.

Pastern : Strong and powerful bone structure. Seen in profile, only slightly oblique.

Forefeet : Catfeet, toes tight, phalanges strong and high. Nails strong and solid, pads large and tough. Interdigital membranes moderate and covered with fine hair.

HINDQUARTERS : Powerful, muscled and with excellent angulation. Legs correct, hocks without deviations, metatarsal long and feet solid. They give the dog the necessary strength, agility and impulsion to follow the trail on very bumpy terrains and with significant uneveness.

Hock : Well marked with the tendon clearly visible. Angle of the hock open; getting close to 120°.

Hind feet : Catfeet, slightly oval. More elongated than the front feet. Present, or not, dewclaws are usually single, rarely double; their removal is allowed.

GAIT / MOVEMENT : The preferred gait is the trot, which is long, sustained and economical without tendency to lateralisation or ambling. Particular attention should be paid to the elbows and the hocks whilst moving. There is, in the walk, a natural tendency of the breed to walk with the head low while sniffing.

SKIN : Very elastic, thick and pink in colour, loose all over the body; on some occasions it forms wrinkles on the forehead when the head is lowered.

HAIR : Dense, short, fine and smooth (flat). Covering the whole of the body down to the interdigital spaces.

COLOUR : White and orange, with dominance of one or the other colour and distributed in irregular markings, well defined and without ticking. The orange colour may vary from a lighter shade (lemon) to an intense russet-brown.

SIZE : This breed presents a pronounced sexual dimorphism which reveals itself in the difference in size between the males and the females; these last are noticeably smaller and finer.

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.

· Moderately overshot mouth; absence of canines or premolars not due to traumatisms.

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° 205 / 09. 06. 1999 (Dutch / Ned. standaard)

CHOW CHOW Foto 1 and foto 2

GENERAL APPEARANCE : Active, compact, short-coupled and essentially well balanced, leonine in appearance, proud, dignified bearing; well knit frame; tail carried well over back.

BEHAVIOUR / TEMPERAMENT : Quiet dog, good guard, bluish-black tongue; unique in its stilted gait. Independant, loyal, yet aloof.

Nose : Large and wide in all cases black (with exception of cream and near white in which case a light-coloured nose is permissible, and in blues and fawns a self-coloured nose).

Muzzle : Moderate in length, broad from eyes to end (not pointed at end like a fox).