Breed Standard
GENERAL APPEARANCE: Medium Size working Sled Dog, quick and light on feet, free and graceful in action with well furred body, erect ears and brush tail. Proportions reflect a basic balance of power, speed and endurance, never appearing so heavy as to suggest a freighting animal, nor so light and fragile as to suggest a sprint racing animal. Males are masculine but never coarse, Bitches feminine but without weakness of structure. Muscle firm and well developed, no excess weight.
CHARACTERISTICS: Medium Size, moderate bone, well balanced proportions, ease and freedom of movement and good disposition
TEMPERAMENT: Friendly and gentle, alert and out going, does not display traits of the guard dog. Not suspicious with strangers or aggressive with dogs but some measure of reserve expected in mature dogs. Intelligent, tractable and eager disposition. An agreeable companion and willing worker.
HEAD AND SKULL: Medium size in proportion to the body, presents a finely chiseled fox like appearance, slightly rounded on top, tapering gradually from widest point to eyes. Muzzle medium length and width, neither snippy nor coarse, tapering gradually to rounded nose. Tip of nose to stop equidistant from stop to occiput. Stop clearly defined, but not excessive. Line of the nose straight from the stop to tip. Nose Black in Gray, Tan or Black dogs, liver in copper dogs and may be flesh coloured in pure white. In Winter pink streaked or 'snow nose' is acceptable
EYES: Almond shaped, moderately spaced and set obliquely, any shade of Blue or Brown, one of each colour or parti-colours equally acceptable. Expression keen but friendly, interested, even mischievous
Breed Standard EARS: Medium size, relatively close together, triangular in shape, the height slightly greater than the width at the base. Set high on head, strongly erect, the inner edges being quite close together at the base, when the dog is at attention carried practically parallel. Slightly arched at the back. Thick, well furred outside and inside, tips slightly rounded
MOUTH: Lips well pigmented, close fitting. Jaws strong with a perfect, regular and complete scissor bite, i.e. upper teeth closely overlapping lower teeth and set close to the jaw
NECK: Medium length and thickness, arched and carried proudly erect when standing. When moving at a trot extended so that the head is carried slightly forward
FOREQUARTERS: Shoulder blade well laid back, upper arm angles slightly backward from the point of shoulder to elbow, never perpendicular to the ground. Muscle holding shoulder to rib cage firm and well developed. Straight or loose shoulders highly undesirable. Viewed from the front forelegs moderately spaced, parallel and straight with elbows close to the body, turning neither in nor out. Viewed from the side, pasterns slightly sloping, wrist strong but flexible. Length from elbow to ground slightly more than distance from elbows to top of withers. Bone proportionate, never heavy. Dew claws may be removed.
BODY: Straight and strong with level top line from withers to croup. Medium length, not cobby nor slack from excessive length. In profile body from point of shoulder to rear point of croup slightly longer than height from ground to top of withers. Chest deep and strong but not too broad, deepest point being just behind and level with elbows. Ribs well sprung from spine but flattened on sides to allow for freedom of action. Loins slightly arched, well muscled, taught and lean, narrower than rib cage with a slight tuck up. Croup slopes away from spine at an angle but never so steeply as to restrict the rearward thrust of hind legs.
Breed Standard HINDQUARTERS: Viewed from rear, hind legs moderately spaced and parallel. Upper thighs well muscled and powerful, stifles well bent, hock joint well defined and set low to ground.
FEET: Oval, not long, turning neither in nor out in natural stance. Medium size, compact, well furred and slightly webbed between toes. Pads tough and thickly cushioned. Trimming of fur between toes and around feet permissible
TAIL: Well furred, of round fox brush shape, set on just below level of top line and usually carried over back in graceful sickle curve when dog at attention. When carried up tail should curl too tightly, nor should it curl to either side of body, or snap flat against back. Hair on tail of medium length and approximately same length all 'round. A trailing tail is normal dog when working or in repose
GAIT/MOVEMENT: Smooth and seemingly effortless. Quick and light on feet, gaited on a loose lead at a moderately fast trot, exhibiting good reach in forequarters and good drive in hindquarters. When walking, legs move in parallel, but as speed increases gradually angling inwards to single track. As pad marks converge, forelegs and hind legs carried straight with neither elbows or stifles turning in nor out, each hind leg moving in path of foreleg on same side. Topline of back remaining firm and level during gaiting
COAT: Double and medium in length, giving a full furred appearance. Never so long as to obscure clean cut outline of dog, undercoat soft and dense, of sufficient length to support outer coat. Guard hairs of outer coat straight and somewhat smooth lying, never harsh, rough or shaggy to silky nor standing straight off from body. Absence of undercoat during shedding is normal. No trimming of dog on any part of body except feet acceptable
COLOUR: All colours and markings including white allowed. Variety of markings on head is common, including many striking patterns not found in other Breeds
Breed Standard SIZE: Height: Dogs: 53 -60 cms (21-23 1/2 inches) at Withers Bitches: 51 - 56 cms (20 - 22 inches) at Withers
Weight: Dogs: 20 - 27 kgs (45 -60 lbs) Bitches: 16 - 23 kgs (35 -50 lbs) Weight should be in proportion to height, these measurements represent the extremes in height and weight with no preference given to either extreme. A Dog should not exceed 60 cms and a Bitch 56 cms
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 it's degree and it's effect upon the health and welfare of the Dog
NOTE: Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles fully descended
GENERAL APPEARANCE: Medium Size working Sled Dog, quick and light on feet, free and graceful in action with well furred body, erect ears and brush tail. Proportions reflect a basic balance of power, speed and endurance, never appearing so heavy as to suggest a freighting animal, nor so light and fragile as to suggest a sprint racing animal. Males are masculine but never coarse, Bitches feminine but without weakness of structure. Muscle firm and well developed, no excess weight.
CHARACTERISTICS: Medium Size, moderate bone, well balanced proportions, ease and freedom of movement and good disposition
TEMPERAMENT: Friendly and gentle, alert and out going, does not display traits of the guard dog. Not suspicious with strangers or aggressive with dogs but some measure of reserve expected in mature dogs. Intelligent, tractable and eager disposition. An agreeable companion and willing worker.
HEAD AND SKULL: Medium size in proportion to the body, presents a finely chiseled fox like appearance, slightly rounded on top, tapering gradually from widest point to eyes. Muzzle medium length and width, neither snippy nor coarse, tapering gradually to rounded nose. Tip of nose to stop equidistant from stop to occiput. Stop clearly defined, but not excessive. Line of the nose straight from the stop to tip. Nose Black in Gray, Tan or Black dogs, liver in copper dogs and may be flesh coloured in pure white. In Winter pink streaked or 'snow nose' is acceptable
EYES: Almond shaped, moderately spaced and set obliquely, any shade of Blue or Brown, one of each colour or parti-colours equally acceptable. Expression keen but friendly, interested, even mischievous
Breed Standard EARS: Medium size, relatively close together, triangular in shape, the height slightly greater than the width at the base. Set high on head, strongly erect, the inner edges being quite close together at the base, when the dog is at attention carried practically parallel. Slightly arched at the back. Thick, well furred outside and inside, tips slightly rounded
MOUTH: Lips well pigmented, close fitting. Jaws strong with a perfect, regular and complete scissor bite, i.e. upper teeth closely overlapping lower teeth and set close to the jaw
NECK: Medium length and thickness, arched and carried proudly erect when standing. When moving at a trot extended so that the head is carried slightly forward
FOREQUARTERS: Shoulder blade well laid back, upper arm angles slightly backward from the point of shoulder to elbow, never perpendicular to the ground. Muscle holding shoulder to rib cage firm and well developed. Straight or loose shoulders highly undesirable. Viewed from the front forelegs moderately spaced, parallel and straight with elbows close to the body, turning neither in nor out. Viewed from the side, pasterns slightly sloping, wrist strong but flexible. Length from elbow to ground slightly more than distance from elbows to top of withers. Bone proportionate, never heavy. Dew claws may be removed.
BODY: Straight and strong with level top line from withers to croup. Medium length, not cobby nor slack from excessive length. In profile body from point of shoulder to rear point of croup slightly longer than height from ground to top of withers. Chest deep and strong but not too broad, deepest point being just behind and level with elbows. Ribs well sprung from spine but flattened on sides to allow for freedom of action. Loins slightly arched, well muscled, taught and lean, narrower than rib cage with a slight tuck up. Croup slopes away from spine at an angle but never so steeply as to restrict the rearward thrust of hind legs.
Breed Standard HINDQUARTERS: Viewed from rear, hind legs moderately spaced and parallel. Upper thighs well muscled and powerful, stifles well bent, hock joint well defined and set low to ground.
FEET: Oval, not long, turning neither in nor out in natural stance. Medium size, compact, well furred and slightly webbed between toes. Pads tough and thickly cushioned. Trimming of fur between toes and around feet permissible
TAIL: Well furred, of round fox brush shape, set on just below level of top line and usually carried over back in graceful sickle curve when dog at attention. When carried up tail should curl too tightly, nor should it curl to either side of body, or snap flat against back. Hair on tail of medium length and approximately same length all 'round. A trailing tail is normal dog when working or in repose
GAIT/MOVEMENT: Smooth and seemingly effortless. Quick and light on feet, gaited on a loose lead at a moderately fast trot, exhibiting good reach in forequarters and good drive in hindquarters. When walking, legs move in parallel, but as speed increases gradually angling inwards to single track. As pad marks converge, forelegs and hind legs carried straight with neither elbows or stifles turning in nor out, each hind leg moving in path of foreleg on same side. Topline of back remaining firm and level during gaiting
COAT: Double and medium in length, giving a full furred appearance. Never so long as to obscure clean cut outline of dog, undercoat soft and dense, of sufficient length to support outer coat. Guard hairs of outer coat straight and somewhat smooth lying, never harsh, rough or shaggy to silky nor standing straight off from body. Absence of undercoat during shedding is normal. No trimming of dog on any part of body except feet acceptable
COLOUR: All colours and markings including white allowed. Variety of markings on head is common, including many striking patterns not found in other Breeds
Breed Standard SIZE: Height: Dogs: 53 -60 cms (21-23 1/2 inches) at Withers Bitches: 51 - 56 cms (20 - 22 inches) at Withers
Weight: Dogs: 20 - 27 kgs (45 -60 lbs) Bitches: 16 - 23 kgs (35 -50 lbs) Weight should be in proportion to height, these measurements represent the extremes in height and weight with no preference given to either extreme. A Dog should not exceed 60 cms and a Bitch 56 cms
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 it's degree and it's effect upon the health and welfare of the Dog
NOTE: Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles fully descended
