Head
Expression - Alert and
intense. Eyes - Almond-shaped,
set wide apart. Dark-colored dogs have dark-colored
eyes, and lighter-colored dogs may have lighter-colored
eyes. Eye rims match the coloring of the dog.
Ears - Uncropped large and erect,
placed so that the base of the ear is level with the
outside corner of the eye. Skull
- The skull is arched gently over the occiput from ear
to ear. Distance from occiput to stop equal to distance
from stop to tip of nose. The head is wedge-shaped
viewed from above and the side. Stop
- Slight but distinct. Muzzle
- Cheeks taper cleanly into the muzzle. Nose
- Dark in dark-colored dogs; may be lighter in
lighter-colored dogs. Pigment is solid. Lips
- Lips are clean and tight. Bite
- Scissors or level in both varieties. Missing teeth in
the Powderpuff are to be faulted. The Hairless variety
is not to be penalized for absence of full dentition.
Neck, Topline, Body
Neck - Neck is lean and clean,
slightly arched from the withers to the base of the
skull and carried high. Topline
- Level to slightly sloping croup. Body
- Brisket extends to the elbow. Breastbone is not
prominent. Ribs are well developed. The depth of the
chest tapers to a moderate tuck-up at the flanks. Light
in loin. Tail - Tail is
slender and tapers to a curve. It is long enough to
reach the hock. When dog is in motion, the tail is
carried gaily and may be carried slightly forward over
the back. At rest the tail is down with a slight curve
upward at the end resembling a sickle. In the Hairless
variety, two-thirds of the end of the tail is covered by
long, flowing feathering referred to as a plume. The
Powderpuff variety's tail is completely covered with
hair.
Forequarters
Angulation - Layback of
shoulders is 45 degrees to point of shoulder allowing
for good reach. Shoulders -
Clean and narrow. Elbows -
Close to body. Legs - Long,
slender and straight. Pasterns
- Upright, fine and strong. Dewclaws may be removed.
Feet - Hare foot, narrow with
elongated toes. Nails are trimmed to moderate length.
Hindquarters
Angulation - Stifle moderately
angulated. From hock joint to ground perpendicular.
Dewclaws may be removed. Feet
- Same as forequarters.
Coat
The Hairless variety has hair on certain portions of the
body: the head (called a crest), the tail (called a
plume) and the feet from the toes to the front pasterns
and rear hock joints (called socks). The texture of all
hair is soft and silky, flowing to any length. Placement
of hair is not as important as overall type. Areas that
have hair usually taper off slightly. Wherever the body
is hairless, the skin is soft and smooth. Head Crest
begins at the stop and tapers off between the base of
the skull and the back of the neck. Hair on the ears and
face is permitted on the Hairless and may be trimmed for
neatness in both varieties. Tail Plume is described
under Tail. The Powderpuff variety is completely covered
with a double soft and silky coat. Close examination
reveals long thin guard hairs over the short silky
undercoat. The coat is straight, of moderate density and
length. Excessively heavy, kinky or curly coat is to be
penalized. Grooming is minimal-consisting of presenting
a clean and neat appearance.
Color
Any color or combination of colors.
Gait
Lively, agile and smooth without being stilted or
hackneyed. Comes and goes at a trot moving in a straight
line.
Temperament
Gay and alert.