Sealyham Terrier

American Rare Breed Association

FCI-Standard N°74 / 28. 11. 2003/ GB

SEALYHAM TERRIER 

ORIGIN : Great Britain.

DATE OF PUBLICATION OF THE ORIGINAL VALID STANDARD : 29.10.2003.

UTILIZATION : Terrier.

CLASSIFICATION F.C.I. : Group 3 Terriers.  Section 2 Small sized Terriers.  Without working trial.

GENERAL APPEARANCE : Free-moving, active, balanced and of great substance in small compass.  General outline oblong, not square.

BEHAVIOUR AND TEMPERAMENT : Sturdy, game and workmanlike.  Alert and fearless but of friendly disposition.

HEAD

CRANIAL REGION :

Skull : Slightly domed and wide between ears.

FACIAL REGION :

Nose : Black.

Muzzle : Punishing square jaws, powerful and long.

Jaws/Teeth : Teeth level and strong with canines fitting well into each other and long for size of dog.  Jaws strong with regular scissor bite, i. e. upper teeth closely overlapping the lower teeth and set square to the jaws.

Cheeks : Cheek bones not protruding.

Eyes : Dark, well set, round, of medium size.  Dark, pigmented eyerims preferred but unpigmented tolerated.

Ears : Medium-sized, slightly rounded at tip and carried at side of cheek.

NECK : Fairly  long, thick and muscular on well laid shoulders.

BODY : Medium in length, flexible.

Back : Level.

Chest : Broad and deep, well let down between forelegs.

Ribs : Well sprung.

TAIL : Customarily docked.

Docked : Medium length.  Thick with a rounded tip.  Set in line with back and carried erect.  Quarters should protrude beyond set of tail.

Undocked : Medium length of tail to give a general balance to the dog.  Thick at root and tapering towards tip.  Ideally carried erect, but not excessively over the back, and with no curl or twist.  Quarters should protrude beyond set of tail.

LIMBS

FOREQUARTERS : Forelegs short, strong and as straight as possible consistent with chest being well down.

Shoulder : Point of shoulder in line with point of elbow.

Elbow : Should be close to side of chest.

HINDQUARTERS : Notably powerful for size of dog.

Thighs : Deep and muscular.

Stifle : Well bent.

Hocks : Strong, well bent and parallel to each other.

FEET : Round and catlike with thick pads.  Feet pointing directly forward.

GAIT / MOVEMENT : Brisk and vigorous with plenty of drive.

COAT

HAIR : Long, hard and wiry topcoat with weather-resistant undercoat.

COLOUR : All white or white with lemon, brown, blue or badger pied markings on head and ears.  Much black and heavy ticking undesirable.

SIZE AND WEIGHT :

Height should not exceed 31 cm (12 ins) at shoulder.

Ideal Weight : Dogs approximately : 9 kg (20 lbs), Bitches approximately  : 8,2 kg (18 lbs).

General conformation, overall balance, type and substance are main criteria.

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 and its effect upon the health and welfare of the dog.

Any dog clearly showing physical or behavioural abnormalities shall be disqualified.

N.B. : Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles fully descended into the scrotum.

 This amended breed standard will become effective from April 2004.