GENERAL APPEARANCE
Strongly built; deep in chest and back ribs; level back and powerful quarters
on muscular legs and exhibiting in a marked degree a great
combination of strength and activity.

CHARACTERISTICS
Small, active, game, hardy, possessed of no small amount of self-esteem
with a varminty appearance.

TEMPERAMENT
Alert, gay, courageous, self-reliant but friendly.

HEAD AND SKULL
Skull slightly domed; when handled across forehead presents a smooth
contour. Tapering very slightly from skull at level of ears to eyes.
Distance from occiput to eyes slightly greater than length of
foreface. Head thickly coated with hair, and carried at right angle
or less, to axis of neck. Head not to be carried in extended
position. Foreface gradually tapering from eye to muzzle. Distinct
stop formed by heavy, bony ridges immediately above and slightly
overhanging eye, and slight indentation between eyes. Foreface not
dished nor falling away quickly below eyes, where it is well made
up. Jaws strong and level. Nose black and fairly large, forming
smooth contour with rest of muzzle. Nose not projecting forward.

EYES
Set wide apart, medium in size, not full, as dark as possible. Slightly
sunk in head, sharp and intelligent, which, looking from under heavy
eyebrows, impart a piercing look. Light coloured eyes highly
undesirable.

EARS
Small, erect and carried firmly, terminating in sharp point, set neither
too wide nor too close. Hair short and smooth (velvety), should not
be cut. Free from any fringe at top. Round-pointed, broad, large or
thick ears or too heavily coated with hair most undesirable.

MOUTH
As broad between canine teeth as is consistent with varminty expression
required. Teeth large for size of dog, with regular scissor bite,
i.e. upper teeth closely overlapping the lower teeth and set square
to the jaws.

NECK
Sufficiently long to allow proper set of head required, muscular and gradually
thickening towards base allowing neck to merge intonicely sloping
shoulders.

FOREQUARTERS
Shoulders sloping backwards. Shoulder blades broad and lying close to chest
wall. Shoulder joint placed forward, elbow well in, allowing foreleg
to move freely, parallel to axis of body. Forelegs short and
muscular, straight and thickly covered with short, hard hair.

BODY
Back level, loins broad and strong. Chest deep and ribs well arched
in upper half presenting a flattish side appearance. Back ribs of
considerable depth and distance from last rib of quarters as short
as compatible with free movement of body.

HINDQUARTERS
Strong, muscular and wide across top. Legs short, muscular and sinewy.
Thighs very muscular and not too wide apart. Hocks bent andwell set
in under body so as to be fairly close to each other when standing
or moving. Straight or weak hocks most undesirable.

FEET
Forefeet larger than hind, round, proportionate in size, strong, thickly
padded and covered with short harsh hair. Hindfeet are smaller and
thickly padded. Under surface of pads and all nails preferable
black.

TAIL
12,5-15 cms (5-6 ins) long, covered with harsh hair, no feathering, as
straight as possible, carried jauntily, not gay or carried over
back. A long tail undesirable, and on no account should tails be
docked.

GAIT/MOVEMENT
Free, straight and easy all round. In front legs freely extended forward
from shoulder. Hind movement free, strong and close. Stifleand hocks
well flexed and hocks drawn under body giving drive. stiff, stilted
movement behind and cow hocks highly undesirable.

COAT
Double coated. Outer coat consists of harsh hair, about 5 cms (2 ins) long,
free from any curl. Undercoat, which resembles fur, short, soft and
close. Open coats most undesirable.

COLOUR
White. SIZE - Height: approx. 28 cms (11 ins) at withers.

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.

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

repository westies to day   Derek Tattersall