STANDARD 

In alignment with / based on the US standard

ORIGIN: USA

DATE OF PUBLICATION OF THE VALID ORIGINAL STANDARD: No. 997 / 29.10.2014 (VDH)

 

UTILIZATION: Companion, racing and coursing dog

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FCI CLASSIFICATION: Not recognized by the FCI / Nationally recognized breed in various FCI member countries

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GENERAL APPEARANCE

A medium-sized, athletic sighthound, well balanced in proportions and displaying a long, effortless, and light movement.
The overall impression should combine elegance and grace with athleticism, speed, and agility.
Exaggerations of any kind must be avoided.

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BEHAVIOUR AND TEMPERAMENT

Highly adaptable in both domestic and sporting environments.
Often reserved with strangers, yet always friendly and never aggressive.
Modest, affectionate, and even-tempered.

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HEAD

An elegant head, with longer ear feathering—varying in intensity between individuals—which clearly distinguishes it from the Whippet.

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CRANIAL REGION:
Skull: Long and lean, flat on top, tapering slightly towards the eyes and then evenly towards the nose.

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FACIAL REGION:

Nose: Solid black. In dilute colors, as dark as possible.

Jaws / Teeth: Strong, well-defined jaws with a perfect, regular, and complete scissor bite, i.e., the upper incisors closely overlapping the lower incisors and set square to the jaws.

Eyes: Dark, large, and expressive. In dilute colors, as dark as possible.
Both eyes must be of the same color. Eyelids and eye rims should be dark and fully pigmented.

Ears: Rose-shaped, small, carried close to the head; when alert, semi-erect in the upper third, with tips folding sideways or forward.

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NECK

Long, elegantly arched, and muscular.

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BODY

Slightly more elongated and larger-framed than the Whippet, with a somewhat longer loin.

Topline: Graceful arch over the loin.
Back: Broad and strong.
Loin: Well-muscled and of sufficient length.
Chest: Very deep, preferably reaching to the elbows. Well-sprung ribs, but not barrel-shaped.
Underline: Clearly tucked up in the loin.

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TAIL

Long, reaching at least to the hock. Tapering with a slight upward curve, suggesting a gentle arc, but never curled.
In movement carried in a fine upward curve, but never over the back.

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LIMBS

FOREQUARTERS:
Straight, vertical, and strong.
Shoulders: Well laid back, sloping and muscular.
Elbows: Well set under the body.
Pasterns: Strong, slightly springy.
Feet: Strong, well knuckled, well defined, with firm pads, pointing straight forward.

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HINDQUARTERS:
Long, powerful, and broad, providing strong drive.
Thighs: Strong and well-muscled.
Stifles: Well angulated.
Lower thighs: Well developed and angulated.
Hocks: Well let down.
Feet: Strong, well knuckled, well defined.

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GAIT / MOVEMENT

Effortless, light, and far-reaching movement, even and with strong drive from the hindquarters.
Movement must not be stilted, high-stepping, short, or mincing.
Parallel when viewed coming and going.

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COAT

Soft, straight, or slightly wavy to lightly curled.
Body coat may vary between individuals, with or without undercoat.

Neck coat is abundant and dense.
Feathering present on the backs of the forelegs, under the body, on the hindquarters, and on the tail.
The hair forming the “trousers” and tail plume is longer.

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COLOUR

All colors, markings, or combinations thereof.

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SIZE

Ideal height at the withers:
Males: 47 – 55 cm
Females: 44 – 53 cm

Greater importance is placed on overall harmony of proportions rather than exact height.

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FAULTS

Any departure from the foregoing points should be considered a fault, the seriousness of which should be in exact proportion to its degree and its effect upon the health and welfare of the dog.

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HEAD:
Heavy head; too short and broad.
Stop: too pronounced.
Lower jaw: too weak.
Ears: erect or hanging ears.
Eyelids: insufficient pigmentation.
Neck: short, thick neck, presence of dewlap.

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BODY:
Back: overly arched or too flat.
Croup: too steep.
Tail: too short, curled, or carried too high.
Movement: high-stepping, crossing, short-strided, too narrow or too wide.

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DISQUALIFYING FAULTS

• Dogs showing clear physical abnormalities or behavioural disturbances must be disqualified.

• Aggressive or overly fearful dogs.

• Short-coated variety.

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

 

Only functionally and clinically healthy dogs, typical of the breed, should be used for breeding.

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