NZKC Breed Standard

AKC Standard

Breed Standard......

Characteristics: Dual/purpose Pointer - Retriever, very keen nose, perseverance in searching, and initiative in game finding, excellence in field, a naturally keen worker, equally good on land and in water.

General Appearance: Noble, steady dog showing power, endurance and speed, giving the immediate impression of an alert and energetic dog whose movements are well-coordinated. Of medium size, with a short back standing over plenty of ground. Grace in outline, clean cut head, long sloping shoulders, deep chest, short back, powerful hindquarters, good bone composition, adequate muscle, well carried tail and taut coat.

Head and Skull: Clean cut, neither too light or too heavy, well proportioned to body. Skull sufficiently broad and slightly rounded. Nasal bone rising gradually from nose to forehead (this more pronounced in dogs) and never possessing a definite stop, but when viewed from side a well defined stop effect due to position of eyebrows. Lips falling away almost vertically from somewhat protruding nose and continuing in a slight curve to corner of mouth: Lips well developed but not over hung. Jaws powerful and sufficiently long to enable dog to pick up and carry game. Dish-face and snippy muzzle not desirable. Nose solid brown or black depending on coat colour. Wide nostrils well opened and soft.

Eyes: Medium size, soft and intelligent, neither protruding nor too deep set. Varying in shades of brown to tone with coat. Light eye undesirable. Eyelids should close properly.

Ears: Broad and set high: neither too fleshy nor too thin with a short soft coat: hung close to head, no pronounced fold, rounded tip and reaching almost to the corner of mouth when brought forward.

Mouth: Teeth sound and strong. Jaws strong with perfect, regular and complete scissor bite, i.e. upper teeth closely overlapping lower teeth and set square to jaws.

Neck: Moderately long, muscular and slightly arched, thickening towards shoulders. Skin not fitting too loosely.

Forequarters: Shoulder sloping and very muscular, top of shoulder blades close; upper arm bones between shoulder and elbow long. Elbows well laid back, neither pointing outwards nor inwards. Forelegs straight and lean, sufficiently muscular and strong but not coarse-boned. Pasterns slightly sloping.

Body: Chest must appear deep rather than wide but in proportion to the rest of the body; ribs deep and well sprung, never barrel-shaped nor flat, back ribs reaching well down to tucked up loins. Chest measurement immediately behind the elbows smaller than about a hands-breadth behind the elbows, so that the upper arm has freedom of movement. Firm, short back not arched. The loin wide and slightly arched, the croup wide and sufficiently long, neither too heavy nor too sloping starting on a level with the back and sloping gradually towards tail. Bones solid and strong. Skin should not fit loosely or fold.

Hindquarters: Hip broad and wide falling slightly towards tail. Thighs strong and well muscled. Stifles well bent. Hocks square with body and slightly bent, turning neither in nor out. Pasterns nearly upright.

Feet: Compact, close-knit, round to a spoon shaped, well padded, turning neither in nor out. Toes well arched with strong nails.

Gait: Smooth lithe gait essential. As gait increases from walk to a faster speed, legs converge beneath body (single tracking). Forelegs reach well ahead, effortlessly covering plenty of ground with each stride and followed by hindlegs, which give forceful propulsion.

Tail: Starts high and thick growing gradually thinner. Docked to leave half to three-fifths of the tail. When quiet, tail carried down, when moving, horizontally, never held high over back or bent.

Coat: Short, flat, and coarse to the touch, slightly longer under tail.

Colour: Solid liver, liver and white spotted, liver and white spotted and ticked, liver and white ticked, solid black or black and white in same variations, (not tricolour).

Weight and Size: Dogs: Weight: 25-31.80kg (55-70lb) - Size: 58-64cm (23-25in). Bitches: 20.4-27.2kg (45-60lb) - Size: 53-59cm (21-23in). Size measured at the shoulder. Symmetry is most essential.

Faults: Any departure from the foregoing points should be considered a fault and the seriousness of the fault should be in exact proportion to its degree.

Note: Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles full descended into the scrotum.