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Breed Standard

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History of the Breed

History of the Breed in the United Kingdom

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The breed at work - Falconry
Deer Stalking

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Other Breeders

Variations in Coats

Links to Other Gundog Sites

Introduction Page

They are still classified as a rare breed and are the latest addition to the HPR (Hunt, Point,
Retrieve) in the gundog group. They are very versatile and work as well in water as on land.
They are becoming popular on shoots due to their steadfastness and quick learning ability.
They are also becoming popular with falconers as their temperaments suit this discipline as
well. For an article on their use in falconry, click here.and for one on their use in deer
stalking, click here.

Two Wires swimming

Personally, I have found temperaments are excellent. They are sweet-natured, good with children and the elderly and with other breeds of dogs, and they have character!! They are fairly easy to care for; as the coat does not need a lot of attention, unless it is softer in which case it would require stripping.

General Care

A puppy would require only a garden to play in but as they grow older more exercise should be introduced gradually until an adult would be having between one and two hours a day free running, and/or several miles of road walking.

Socialisation is important from the start and some early basic working gundog training may be done as early as four months, with simple commands and whistle. Puppy socialisation classes are advisable from 10-12 weeks in order to get the puppies used to interactions with other animals, people and children, then they can go on to whatever other training is appropriate such as ringcraft, obedience, etc. Working training would not start until the puppy was more mature and bone growth was completed. We have found that they are very easy to train and are biddable and eager to please.

Wire lying down

BreedStandard (Interim)

General Appearance Medium sized, of distinguished appearance, robust and well boned without losing elegance.

CharacteristicsLively, intelligent, obedient, sensitive, very affectionate and easily trained. Bred for hunting fur and feather, pointing and retrieving from land and water.

Temperament Lively, gentle mannered and demonstratively affectionate, fearless and with well developed protective instinct.

Head and Skull Head lean and noble. Skull moderately wide between ears with median line down forehead and a moderate stop. Skull a little longer than muzzle. Muzzle although tapering, well squared at the end. Nostrils well developed, broad and wide. Jaws strong and powerful. Lips covering jaws completely and neither loose nor pendulous. Nose brown.

Eyes Neither deep nor prominent, of medium size, a shade darker in colour than coat. Slightly oval in shape, eyelids fitting tightly. Yellow or black eye undesirable.

Ears Moderately low set, proportionately long with a thin skin and hanging down close to cheeks. Rounded "V" shape, not fleshy.

Mouth Sound and strong white teeth. Jaws strong with perfect, regular and complete scissor bite, i.e. upper teeth closely overlapping lower teeth and set square to the jaws. Full dentition desirable.

Neck Strong, smooth and muscular, moderately long, arched and devoid of dewlap.

Forequarters Shoulders well laid and muscular, elbows close to body and straight, forearm long, pasterns upright.

Body Back level, short, well muscled, withers high. Chest moderately broad and deep with prominent breast bone. Distance from withers to lowest part of chest equal to distance from chest to ground. Ribs well sprung and belly with a slight tuck-up beneath loin. Croup well muscled.

Hindquarters Straight when viewed from rear, thighs well developed with moderate angulation, hocks well let down.

Feet Round with toes short, arched and tight. Cat-like foot is required, hare foot undesirable. Nails short, strong and a shade darker in colour than coat, dewclaws should be removed.

Gait/Movement Graceful, elegant with a lively trot and ground covering gallop.

Tail Moderately thick, rather low set, customarily one third docked. When moving carried horizontally.

Coat Lustreless. Hair on head short and harsh, longer on muzzle, forming beard. Pronounced eyebrows. Longer and finer on ears. Longer over body, fitting closely to neck and trunk. Short harsh hair fitting closely and smoothly to fore-limbs.

Colour Russet gold. Small white marks on chest and feet should not be penalised.

Size Height: Dogs: 57-64 cms. (22.50-25.00 ins.), Bitches: 53-60 cms. (21-23.50 ins.)

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.

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

Wire carrying stick
Silvanus Enchantress is doing very well in gundog work


If you are interested in finding out more about our beautiful breed, you will find us at the championship shows and, where we have classes scheduled, you will see quite a few. We have classes at:-

Crufts
W.E.L.K.S.
Birmingham (May)
Scottish K.C. (May)
Blackpool
Paignton
National Gundog
Welsh K.C.
Scottish K.C. (August)
Darlington
Gundog Society of Wales
Driffield
Midland Counties
Gundog Breeds of Scotland

You will always find a few of us at the championship shows, either in AVNSC or Rare Breeds where we don't have breed classes.

breed standard   Breed Standard {home page}  Home Page  breed history Breed history 
shows  Shows at which breed may be seen breed history in UK Breed history in U.K. links to gundog sites Links to other gundog sites
falconry   The Breed at Work- Falconry  deerstalking The Breed at Work - Deerstalking  breeders   Other Breeders
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Updated 3/5/2001