
GENERAL APPEARANCE:
Symmetrically built, compact, strong, merry, active. Highest on leg
and raciest in build of all British land Spaniels.
CHARACTERISTICS:
Breed is of ancient and pure origins, oldest of sporting gundogs;
original purpose was finding and springing game for net, falcon or
greyhound. Now used to find, flush and retrieve game for gun.
TEMPERAMENT:
Friendly, happy disposition, biddable. Timidity or aggression highly
undesirable.
HEAD & SKULL:
Skull of medium length, fairly broad, slightly rounded, rising from
foreface, making a brow or stop, divided by fluting between eyes,
dying away along forehead towards occiputal bone which should not be
prominent. Cheeks flat. Floreface of proportionate length to skull,
fairly broad and deep, well chiselled below eyes, fairly deep and
square in flew. Nostrils well developed.
EYES:
Medium size, almond shaped, not prominent nor sunken, well set in (not
showing haw), alert, kind expression. Dark hazel. Light eyes
undesirable.
EARS:
Lobular, good length and width, fairly close to head, set in line
with eye. Nicely feathered.
MOUTH:
Jaws stong, with a perfect, regular and complete scissor bite, i.e.
Upper teeth closely overlapping lower teeth and set square to the
jaws.
NECK:
Good length, strong and muscular, free from throatiness, slightly
arched, tapering towards head.
FOREQUARTERS:
Forelegs straight and well boned. Elbows set well to body. Strong
flexible pasterns.
BODY:
Strong, neither too long nor too short. Chest deep, well developed.
Well sprung ribs. Loin muscular, strong with slight arch and well
coupled.
HINDQUARTERS:
Hindlegs well let down. Stifles and hocks moderately bent. Thighs
broad, muscular, well developed. Coarse hocks undesirable.
FEET:
Tight, compact, well rounded, with strong full pads.
GAIT/MOVEMENT:
Strictly his own. Forelegs swing straight forward from shoulder,
throwing feet well forward in an easy free manner. Hocks driving
well under body, following in line with forelegs. At slow moverment
may have a pacing stride typical of this breed.
TAIL:
Set low, never carried above level of back. Well feathered with
lively action. Customarily docked.
COAT:
Close, straight and weather resisting, never coarse. Moderate
feathering on ears, forelegs, body and hindquarters.
COLOUR:
Liver and white, black and white, or either of these colours with
tan markings.
SIZE:
Approximate height: 51 cms (20 ins).
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 ist degree.
NOTE:
Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles fully
descended into the scrotum.
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