WELSH TERRIER

WELSH TERRIER

FCI-Standard N°78/ 28. 11. 2003 / GB

ORIGIN : Great Britain.

DATE OF PUBLICATION OF THE ORIGINAL VALID STANDARD : 29.10.2003.

UTILIZATION : Terrier.

CLASSIFICATION F.C.I. : Group 3 Terriers.
Section 1 Large- and medium sized Terriers.
Without working trial.

GENERAL APPEARANCE : Smart, workmanlike, well-balanced and compact.

BEHAVIOUR AND TEMPERAMENT : Affectionate, obedient and easily controlled. Happy and volatile, rarely of shy nature. Game and fearless but definitely not aggressive although at all times able to hold his own when necessary

HEAD CRANIAL REGION :
Skull : Flat, of moderate width between ears.
Stop : Not too defined.

FACIAL REGION :
Nose : Black.
Muzzle : Medium length from stop to end of nose.
Jaws/Teeth : Jaws powerful, clean cut, rather deep and punishing ; strong with perfect, regular scissor bite, i. e. upper teeth closely overlapping the lower teeth and set square to the jaws.
Eyes : Small, well set in, dark, expression indicative of temperament. A round, full eye undesirable.
Ears : V-shaped, small, leathers not too thin, set on fairly high, carried forward and close to cheek.

NECK : Moderate length and thickness, slightly arched and sloping gracefully into shoulders.

BODY :
Back : Short.
Loin : Strong.
Chest : Good depth and moderate width. Well ribbed up.

TAIL : Customarily docked.
Docked : Well set on. Carried erect but not curved over the back.
Undocked : Well set on. Carried erect but not curved over the back. In overall balance with the rest of dog.

LIMBS FOREQUARTERS : legs straight and muscular, possessing ample bone.
Shoulders : Long, sloping and well set back.
Pasterns : Upright and powerful.
HINDQUARTERS : Strong.
Thighs : Muscular, of good length.
Hocks : Well bent, well let down and with ample bone.

FEET : Small, round and cat-like.

GAIT / MOVEMENT : Fore-and hindlegs carried straight forward and parallel. Elbows move perpendicular to body, working free of sides, stifles turning neither in nor out.

COAT HAIR : Wiry, hard, very close and abundant. Single coat undesirable.

COLOUR : Black and tan for preference, or black grizzle and tan, free from black pencilling on toes. Black below hocks most undesirable.

SIZE : Height at shoulders not exceeding 39 cm (15 ½ ins.).
Weight : 9-9,5 kg (20-21 lbs).

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 and its effect upon the health and welfare of the dog.

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.

This amended breed standard will become effective from April 2004.