Breed Standard - Smooth
Fox
Terrier (Smooth)
Terrier Group
Breed Standard
General Appearance
The dog must present a generally gay, lively and active appearance; bone
and strength in a small compass are essentials; but this must not be taken
to mean that a Fox Terrier should be cloddy, or in any way coarse--speed
and endurance must be looked to as well as power, and the symmetry of the
Foxhound taken as a model. The Terrier, like the Hound, must on no account
be leggy, nor must he be too short in the leg. He should stand like a
cleverly made hunter, covering a lot of ground, yet with a short back, as
stated below. He will then attain the highest degree of propelling power,
together with the greatest length of stride that is compatible with the
length of his body. Weight is not a certain criterion of a Terrier's
fitness for his work-general shape, size and contour are the main points;
and if a dog can gallop and stay, and follow his fox up a drain, it
matters little what his weight is to a pound or so.
N.B. Old scars or injuries, the result of work or accident, should
not be allowed to prejudice a Terrier's chance in the show ring, unless
they interfere with its movement or with its utility for work or stud.
Size, Proportion, Substance
According to present-day requirements, a full-sized, well balanced dog
should not exceed 15½ inches at the withers--the bitch being
proportionately lower--nor should the length of back from withers to root
of tail exceed 12 inches, while to maintain the relative proportions, the
head should not exceed 7¼ inches or be less than 7 inches. A dog with
these measurements should scale 18 pounds in show condition--a bitch
weighing some two pounds less-with a margin of one pound either way.
Balance This may be defined as the correct proportions of a certain
point, or points, when considered in relation to a certain other point or
points. It is the keystone of the Terrier's anatomy. The chief points for
consideration are the relative proportions of skull and foreface; head and
back; height at withers and length of body from shoulder point to
buttock-the ideal of proportion being reached when the last two
measurements are the same. It should be added that, although the head
measurements can be taken with absolute accuracy, the height at withers
and length of back and coat are approximate, and are inserted for the
information of breeders and exhibitors rather than as a hard-and-fast
rule.
Head
Eyes and rims should be dark in color, moderately small and
rather deep set, full of fire, life and intelligence and as nearly
possible circular in shape. Anything approaching a yellow eye is most
objectionable. Ears should be V-shaped and small, of moderate
thickness, and dropping forward close to the cheek, not hanging by the
side of the head like a Foxhound. The topline of the folded ear should be
well above the level of the skull. Disqualifications Ears prick,
tulip or rose.
The skull should be flat and moderately narrow, gradually
decreasing in width to the eyes. Not much "stop" should be
apparent, but there should be more dip in the profile between the forehead
and the top jaw than is seen in the case of a Greyhound. It should be
noticed that although the foreface should gradually taper from eye to
muzzle and should tip slightly at its junction with the forehead, it
should not "dish" or fall away quickly below the eyes, where it
should be full and well made up, but relieved from "wedginess"
by a little delicate chiseling. There should be apparent little difference
in length between the skull and foreface of a well balanced head. Cheeks
must not be full.
Jaws, upper and lower, should be strong and muscular and of fair
punishing strength, but not so as in any way to resemble the Greyhound or
modern English Terrier. There should not be much falling away below the
eyes. This part of the head should, however, be moderately chiseled out,
so as not to go down in a straight slope like a wedge. The nose,
toward which the muzzle must gradually taper, should be black. Disqualifications
Nose white, cherry or spotted to a considerable extent with either of
these colors.
The teeth should be as nearly as possible together, i.e., the
points of the upper (incisors) teeth on the outside of or slightly
overlapping the lower teeth. Disqualifications-Much undershot, or
much overshot.
Neck, Topline, Body
Neck should be clean and muscular, without throatiness, of fair
length, and gradually widening to the shoulders. Back should be
short, straight (i.e., level), and strong, with no appearance of
slackness. Chest deep and not broad. Brisket should be deep, yet not
exaggerated. The foreribs should be moderately arched, the back ribs deep
and well sprung, and the dog should be well ribbed up. Loin should be very
powerful, muscular and very slightly arched. Stern should be set on
rather high, and carried gaily, but not over the back or curled. It should
be of good strength, anything approaching a "Pipestopper" tail
being especially objectionable.
Forequarters
Shoulders should be long and sloping, well laid back, fine at the
points, and clearly cut at the withers. The elbows should hang
perpendicular to the body, working free of the sides. The forelegs viewed
from any direction must be straight with bone strong right down to the
feet, showing little or no appearance of ankle in front, and being short
and straight in pastern. Both fore and hind legs should be carried
straight forward in traveling.
Feet should be round, compact, and not large; the soles hard and
tough; the toes moderately arched, and turned neither in nor out.
Hindquarters
Should be strong and muscular, quite free from droop or crouch; the thighs
long and powerful, stifles well curved and turned neither in nor out;
hocks well bent and near the ground should be perfectly upright and
parallel each with the other when viewed from behind, the dog standing
well up on them like a Foxhound, and not straight in the stifle. The worst
possible form of hindquarters consists of a short second thigh and a
straight stifle. Both fore and hind legs should be carried straight
forward in traveling, the stifles not turning outward. Feet as in front.
Coat
Should be smooth, flat, but hard, dense and abundant. The belly and
underside of the thighs should not be bare.
Color
White should predominate; brindle, red or liver markings are
objectionable. Otherwise this point is of little or no importance.
Gait
Movement, or action, is the crucial test of conformation. The Terrier's
legs should be carried straight forward while traveling, the forelegs
hanging perpendicular and swinging parallel with the sides, like the
pendulum of a clock. The principal propulsive power is furnished by the
hind legs, perfection of action being found in the Terrier possessing long
thighs and muscular second thighs well bent at the stifles, which admit of
a strong forward thrust or "snatch" of the hocks. When
approaching, the forelegs should form a continuation of the straight line
of the front, the feet being the same distance apart as the elbows. When
stationary it is often difficult to determine whether a dog is slightly
out at shoulder, but, directly he moves, the defect--if it exists--becomes
more apparent, the forefeet having a tendency to cross, "weave,"
or "dish." When, on the contrary, the dog is tied at the
shoulder, the tendency of the feet is to move wider apart, with a sort of
paddling action. When the hocks are turned in-cow-hocks-the stifles and
feet are turned outwards, resulting in a serious loss of propulsive power.
When the hocks are turned outward the tendency of the hind feet is to
cross, resulting in an ungainly waddle.
Temperament
The dog must present a generally gay, lively and active appearance.
Disqualifications
Ears prick, tulip or rose.
Nose white, cherry or spotted to a considerable extent with either of
these colors.
Mouth much undershot, or much overshot.
Approved February 9, 1991
Effective March 27, 1991
Breed Standard - Wire
Fox
Terrier (Wire)
Terrier Group
Breed Standard
General Appearance
The
Terrier should be alert, quick of movement, keen of expression, on the tip-toe
of expectation at the slightest provocation. Character is imparted by the
expression of the eyes and by the carriage of ears and tail. Bone and strength
in a small compass are essential, but this must not be taken to mean that a
Terrier should be "cloddy," or in any way coarse--speed and endurance
being requisite as well as power. The Terrier must on no account be leggy, nor
must he be too short on the leg. He should stand like a cleverly made,
short-backed hunter, covering a lot of ground.
N.B. Old scars or injuries, the result of work or accident, should not be
allowed to prejudice a Terrier's chance in the show ring, unless they interfere
with its movement or with its utility for work or stud.
Size, Proportion, Substance
According to present-day requirements, a full-sized, well balanced dog should
not exceed 15½ inches at the withers--the bitch being proportionately
lower--nor should the length of back from withers to root of tail exceed 12
inches, while to maintain the relative proportions, the head-as mentioned
below-should not exceed 7¼ inches or be less than 7 inches. A dog with these
measurements should scale 18 pounds in show condition--a bitch weighing some two
pounds less--with a margin of one pound either way.
The dog should be balanced and this may be defined as the correct proportions of
a certain point or points, when considered in relation to a certain other point
or points. It is the keystone of the Terrier's anatomy. The chief points for
consideration are the relative proportions of skull and foreface; head and back;
height at withers; and length of body from shoulder point to buttock--the ideal
of proportion being reached when the last two measurements are the same. It
should be added that, although the head measurements can be taken with absolute
accuracy, the height at withers and length of back are approximate, and are
inserted for the information of breeders and exhibitors rather than as a
hard-and-fast rule.
Head
The length of the head of a full-grown well developed dog of correct
size--measured with calipers--from the back of the occipital bone to the
nostrils-should be from 7 to 7¼ inches, the bitch's head being proportionately
shorter. Any measurement in excess of this usually indicates an oversized or
long-backed specimen, although occasionally--so rarely as to partake of the
nature of a freak--a Terrier of correct size may boast a head 7½ inches in
length. In a well balanced head there should be little apparent difference in
length between skull and foreface. If, however, the foreface is noticeably
shorter, it amounts to a fault, the head looking weak and
"unfinished." On the other hand, when the eyes are set too high up in
the skull and too near the ears, it also amounts to a fault, the head being said
to have a "foreign appearance." Keen of expression. Eyes should
be dark in color, moderately small, rather deep-set, not prominent, and full of
fire, life, and intelligence; as nearly as possible circular in shape, and not
too far apart. Anything approaching a yellow eye is most objectionable. Ears
should be small and V-shaped and of moderate thickness, the flaps neatly folded
over and dropping forward close to the cheeks. The topline of the folded ear
should be well above the level of the skull. A pendulous ear, hanging dead by
the side of the head like a Hound's, is uncharacteristic of the Terrier, while
an ear which is semierect is still more undesirable. Disqualifications
Ears prick, tulip or rose.
The topline of the skull should be almost flat, sloping slightly and
gradually decreasing in width toward the eyes, and should not exceed 3½ inches
in diameter at the widest part--measuring with the calipers--in the full-grown
dog of correct size, the bitch's skull being proportionately narrower. If this
measurement is exceeded, the skull is termed "coarse," while a
full-grown dog with a much narrower skull is termed "bitchy" in head.
Although the foreface should gradually taper from eye to muzzle and
should dip slightly at its juncture with the forehead, it should not
"dish" or fall away quickly below the eyes, where it should be full
and well made up, but relieved from "wedginess" by a little delicate
chiseling. While well developed jaw bones, armed with a set of strong,
white teeth, impart that appearance of strength to the foreface which is so
desirable, an excessive bony or muscular development of the jaws is both
unnecessary and unsightly, as it is partly responsible for the full and rounded
contour of the cheeks to which the term "cheeky" is applied.
Nose should be black. Disqualifications Nose white, cherry or
spotted to a considerable extent with either of these colors. Mouth Both
upper and lower jaws should be strong and muscular, the teeth as nearly
as possible level and capable of closing together like a vise the lower canines
locking in front of the upper and the points of the upper incisors slightly
overlapping the lower.
Disqualifications Much undershot, or much overshot.
Neck, Topline, Body
Neck should be clean, muscular, of fair length, free from throatiness and
presenting a graceful curve when viewed from the side. The back should be
short and level with no appearance of slackness--the loins muscular and very
slightly arched. The term "slackness" is applied both to the portion
of the back immediately behind the withers when it shows any tendency to dip,
and also the flanks when there is too much space between the back ribs and
hipbone. When there is little space between the ribs and hips, the dog is said
to be "short in couplings," "short-coupled," or "well
ribbed up." A Terrier can scarcely be too short in back, provided he has
sufficient length of neck and liberty of movement. The bitch may be slightly
longer in couplings than the dog.
Chest deep and not broad, a too narrow chest being almost as undesirable
as a very broad one. Excessive depth of chest and brisket is an impediment to a
Terrier when going to ground. The brisket should be deep, the front ribs
moderately arched, and the back ribs deep and well sprung. Tail should be
set on rather high and carried gaily but not curled. It should be of good
strength and substance and of fair length-a three-quarters dock is about
right--since it affords the only safe grip when handling working Terriers. A
very short tail is suitable neither for work nor show.
Forequarters
Shoulders when viewed from the front should slope steeply downwards from
their juncture, with the neck towards the points, which should be fine. When
viewed from the side they should be long, well laid back, and should slope
obliquely backwards from points to withers, which should always be clean-cut. A
shoulder well laid back gives the long forehand which, in combination with a
short back, is so desirable in Terrier or Hunter. The elbows should hang
perpendicular to the body, working free of the sides, carried straight through
in traveling. Viewed from any direction the legs should be straight, the bone of
the forelegs strong right down to the feet.
Feet should be round, compact, and not large--the pads tough and well
cushioned, and the toes moderately arched and turned neither in nor out. A
Terrier with good-shaped forelegs and feet will wear his nails down short by
contact with the road surface, the weight of the body being evenly distributed
between the toe pads and the heels.
Hindquarters
Should be strong and muscular, quite free from droop or crouch; the thighs long
and powerful; the stifles well curved and turned neither in nor out; the hock
joints well bent and near the ground; the hocks perfectly upright and parallel
with each other when viewed from behind. The worst possible form of hindquarters
consists of a short second thigh and a straight stifle, a combination which
causes the hind legs to act as props rather than instruments of propulsion. The
hind legs should be carried straight through in traveling. Feet as in front.
Coat
The best coats appear to be broken, the hairs having a tendency to twist, and
are of dense, wiry texture--like coconut matting--the hairs growing so closely
and strongly together that, when parted with the fingers, the skin cannot be
seen. At the base of these stiff hairs is a shorter growth of finer and softer
hair--termed the undercoat. The coat on the sides is never quite so hard as that
on the back and quarters. Some of the hardest coats are "crinkly" or
slightly waved, but a curly coat is very objectionable. The hair on the upper
and lower jaws should be crisp and only sufficiently long to impart an
appearance of strength to the foreface. The hair on the forelegs should also be
dense and crisp. The coat should average in length from ¾ to one inch on
shoulders and neck, lengthening to 1½ inches on withers, back, ribs, and
quarters. These measurements are given rather as a guide to exhibitors than as
an infallible rule, since the length of coat depends on the climate, seasons,
and individual animal. The judge must form his own opinion as to what
constitutes a "sufficient" coat on the day.
Color
White should predominate; brindle, red, liver or slaty blue are objectionable.
Otherwise, color is of little or no importance.
Gait
The movement or action is the crucial test of conformation. The Terrier's legs
should be carried straight forward while traveling, the forelegs hanging
perpendicular and swinging parallel to the sides, like the pendulum of a clock.
The principal propulsive power is furnished by the hind legs, perfection of
action being found in the Terrier possessing long thighs and muscular second
thighs well bent at the stifles, which admit of a strong forward thrust or
"snatch" of the hocks. When approaching, the forelegs should form a
continuation of the straight of the front, the feet being the same distance
apart as the elbows. When stationary it is often difficult to determine whether
a dog is slightly out at shoulder but, directly he moves, the defect--if it
exists--becomes more apparent, the forefeet having a tendency to cross,
"weave," or "dish." When, on the contrary, the dog is tied
at the shoulder, the tendency of the feet is to move wider apart, with a sort of
paddling action. When the hocks are turned in-cow-hocks-the stifles and feet are
turned outwards, resulting in a serious loss of propulsive power. When the hocks
are turned outwards the tendency of the hind feet is to cross, resulting in an
ungainly waddle.
Temperament
The Terrier should be alert, quick of movement, keen of expression, on the
tip-toe of expectation at the slightest provocation.
Disqualifications
Ears prick, tulip or rose.
Nose white, cherry or spotted to a considerable extent with either of these
colors.
Mouth much undershot, or much overshot.
Approved February 9, 1991
Effective March 27, 1991
For More Information Contact:
Fox Terrier Fanciers of Puget Sound
P.O. Box 1471,Woodinville, WA 98072
Internet:
smoothfox@juno.com
