General Appearance: Active and small a powerful and sturdily built, but an alert and energetic working dog.

Characteristics: Works well with Cattle, but does have terrier instincts when ratting or rabbiting.

Temperament: A very happy breed who are loyal, and very affectionate to their owners.

Head and Skull: In proportion to body.  The skull is flat and wide between ears, tapering towards the eyes which are set wide apart.  A moderate stop, equidistant between nose and occiput.  The tapering continues  towards nose.  The skull and muzzle to be on parallel planes.

Eyes:  Are to be almond-shaped, medium sized and dark in colour except in liver where they may be lighter to match coat colour.

Ears:  Are to show alert lift, or erect.  Drop ears showing no lift are undesirable.

Mouth: Lips to be firm, with a scissor bite-jaws strong with a regular and complete scissor bite, i.e:- upper teeth closely overlapping lower teeth and set square to the jaws.  Under or overshot to be discouraged.

Neck:  Of moderate length and well laid into shoulders.

Forequarters:  Well-laid with elbows firm against the ribs.  Amply boned.  Pasterns will allow feet to turn slightly outwards, but not enough to cause weakness or affect freedom of movement.

Body:  With well-sprung ribbing, extending well back with close coupling.  Firm, level topline, never dipping at the withers or falling at the croup.  Approximately 2.5cm (1 inch) longer than height at withers, (measured from withers to set-on of tail).

Hindquarters: Muscular, with well turned stifles, hocks well let down.  From the rear they should be parallel when moving or standing.  Never bandy legged or cow-hocked.

Feet: Small, firm and well padded.

Tail:  Set on high, left natural and carried over the back in a slight curve when alert, but not forming a complete ring.

Gait/Movement:  Smart and brisk with natural free movement.

Coat:  A fine undercoat is covered throughout by weather resistant, short, thick, hard, flat topcoat.  The topcoat is slightly longer on neck.  The undercoat should not show through topcoat nor allow any longer hair at the mane to stand off.  A very wavy or long coat is highly undesirable.

Colour: Black or Liver with rich tan markings on muzzle, spots on cheeks and often above the eyes, from knees downwards, with desirable thumb-mark above feet, inside hind legs and under tail.  Richness of tan may fade with age.  White to be discouraged, except for a very small spot on forechest this is permitted, but not desired.  Pigmentation to tone with coat colour.

Size:  Ideal height at shoulder Dogs 30cm (12 inches) Bitches 25cm (10 inches).

Faults: Any departure from the above 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.