FCI-Standard N° 259 / 20

ORIGIN : Japan.

DATE OF PUBLICATION OF THE ORIGINAL VALID STANDARD : 05.06.1995.

UTILIZATION : Toy dog.

FCI CLASSIFICATION : Group 3 Terriers

Section 2 Small sized Terriers

Without working trial.

BRIEF HISTORICAL SUMMARY : This breed was created by mating smooth-haired Fox Terriers, exported to Nagasaki from the Netherlands in the 17th century, to small-sized pointers or small-sized native dogs. Japanese Terriers were kept mainly as lap-dogs in ports such as Kobe and Yokohama.

The Japanese Terrier has a lively and cheerful character. Its planned

breeding started around 1920, and it was not until about 1930 that its

type became fixed.

GENERAL APPEARANCE : Small-sized dog of smart appearance with a clear-cut and compact outline. The coat is very short, being about 2 mm in length.

IMPORTANT PROPORTIONS : The ratio of height at withers to length of body is 1 : 1. The nasal bridge and the skull are equal in length.

BEHAVIOUR/TEMPERAMENT : The Japanese Terrier is swift and lively in temperament.

HEAD

CRANIAL REGION :

Skull : Flat and moderately narrow.

Stop : Not too defined.

FACIAL REGION :

Nose : Black with a straight nasal bridge.

Lips : Thin and tight.

Teeth : Strong and white, with a scissor bite.

Cheeks : Lean and free from fullness.

Eyes : Moderately sized, oval in shape and dark in colour.

Ears : Set on high, moderately small, thin, V-shaped and dropping

forward. But carried folded and standing out from sides of the skull

permitted.

NECK : Moderately long, strong, gradually thicker towards the

shoulders and free from throatiness.

BODY :

Withers : High.

Back : Short and firm.

Loins and croup : Slightly arched and powerful.

Chest : Deep, but forechest no too broad. Ribs well sprung.

Belly : Well tucked up.

TAIL : Moderately thin; docked at the third or fourth joint.

LIMBS

FOREQUARTERS :

Shoulders : Sloping gently.

Forearms : Straight, bones not too heavy.

HINDQUARTERS :

Thighs : Long.

Stifle joint : Moderately angulated.

Hock joint : Moderately angulated.

Hock : Vertical.

FEET : Tightly closed, pads elastic; nails hard and preferably dark in

colour .

GAIT / MOVEMENT : Light and agile.

COAT

Hair : Short, smooth, dense and glossy.

Colour : Tricolour with black, tan and white head; white with black

spots, black markings or tan markings on body.

SIZE : Height for both dogs and bitches : approximately 30 - 33 cm.

FAULTS :

Any departure from the foregoing points should be considered as a

fault and the seriousness with which the fault should be regarded

should be in exact proportion to its degree.

· Slightly overshot or undershot bite.

· Bicolour.

DISQUALIFYING FAULTS :

· Long hair.

· Extremely overshot or undershot bite.

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