COUNTRY OF ORIGIN Central Africa/England UTILIZATION Hunting dog, companion FCI-CLASSIFICATION Group 5, Spitz and primitive types

GENERAL APPEARANCE
Lightly built, finely boned aristocratic looking animal, high on legs compared with its length, always poised, alert and intelligent.  Wrinkled head, with pricked ears, proudly carried on a well arched neck.  Deep brisket runs up into a definite waist, tail tightly curled presenting a picture of a well balanced dog of gazelle-like grace.

IMPORTANT PROPORTION
Distance from top of head to stop slightly more than from stop to tip of nose.

BEHAVIOUR / TEMPERAMENT
Barkless but not mute, its own special noise a mixture of a chortle and a yodel.  Remarkable for its cleanliness in every way.  An intelligent, independent, but affectionate and alert breed.  Can be aloof with strangers.

HEAD
Fine and profuse wrinkles appearing on forehead when ears pricked; side wrinkles desirable but not exaggerated into dewlap; wrinkles more noticeable in puppies, but because of lack of shadowing, not as noticeable in tricolours.

CRANIAL REGION
Skull
Flat, well-chiselled and medium width, tapering towards the nose.  Side lines of skull taper gradually towards mouth, giving a clean-cheeked appearance.

Stop
Slight.

FACIAL REGION
Nose
Black nose desirable.

Jaws/Teeth
Jaws strong with a perfect, regular and complete scissor bite, i.e. the upper teeth closely overlapping the lower teeth and set square in the jaws.

Eyes
Dark, almond-shaped; obliquely set, far-seeing and rather inscrutable in expression.

Ears
Small, pointed, erect and slightly hooded, of fine texture, set well forward on top of head, tip of ear nearer centre of skull than outside base.

NECK
Strong and of good length, without thickness, well crested and slightly full at base of throat with a graceful curve accentuating crest.  Well set into shoulders giving head a « lofty » carriage. 

BODY
Balanced.

Back
Short, level.

Loin
Short-coupled.

Chest
Deep brisket. Ribs well sprung, deep and oval.

Underline
Running up into a definite waist.

TAIL
High set, with posterior curve of buttock extending beyond root of tail giving a reachy appearance to hindquarters.  Curls tightly over spine and lies closely to thigh with a single or double curl.

LIMBS
FOREQUARTERS
Forelegs straight with fine bone.  Legs in a straight line to ground giving a medium front.

Shoulders
Well laid back, muscular, not loaded.

Elbows
Tucked in against brisket.  When viewed from front, elbows in line with ribs.

Forearm
Very long.

Pasterns
Good length, straight and flexible.

HINDQUARTERS
Strong and muscular.

Stifle
Moderately bent.

Second thigh
Long.

Hock
Well let down, turned neither in nor out.

Feet
Small, narrow and compact, with deep pads, well arched toes and short nails.

GAIT / MOVEMENT
Legs carried straight forward with a swift, long, tireless, swinging stride.

SKIN
Very pliant.

COAT
HAIR
Short, sleek and close, very fine.

COLOUR
Pure black and white; red and white; black and tan, and white with melon pips and tan markings on muzzle and cheeks; black; tan and white; brindle : red background with black stripes, the more clearly defined the stripes the better.  The white should be on the feet, chest and tail tip.  White legs, blaze and white collar optional.

SIZE & WEIGHT
Idealheight

Weight