The Terrier
originates from England where it was used for hunting fox´s and badgers
underground. From that comes the name. Terrier * Terra, the Latin word
for ground. The terrier was mentioned of the Romans. In letters they told about
dogs, who were hunting underground.
|
|
|
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.
|
|
| Size,
Proportion, Substance *** According to present-day requirements,
a full-sized, well balanced dog should not exceed 151/2 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
71/4 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 71/4 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 71/2 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 31/2 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 3/4 to one inch on shoulders and neck, lengthening to 11/2
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.
|
|
| 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.
Note *** Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles fully descended into the scrotum.
|
|
|
Copyright © Dutch Kenstaff Staffordshire Bull Terrier ® All rights reserved |
|
Wire Fox Terrier 
The history of
the Wire Fox Terrier 
