 |
Changes To The AKC Breed Standard For The Dachshund At the January, 2007, meeting of the AKC Board of Directors, a revision to the AKC standard for the Dachshund was approved, effective March 1, 2007. While the format remains the same, the revised standard contains several changes, many of which are meant to offer clarification regarding Dachshund structure or movement. Other changes to the standard were made to clarify issues regarding acceptable Dachshund colors and patterns. The first change is at the end of the “Head” paragraph. The last sentence now reads “The skull is slightly arched, neither too broad nor too narrow, and slopes gradually with little perceptible stop into the finely-formed, slightly arched muzzle, giving a Roman appearance.” “Giving a Roman appearance” is new wording, added in hopes of restoring the emphasis to “slightly arched” which was lost when the “ram’s nose” wording was removed with the 1992 revision. The next change of note is to the “Neck” sentence. It reads “Long, muscular, clean-cut, without dewlap, slightly arched in the nape, flowing gracefully into the shoulders, without creating the impression of a right angle.” The last phrase, “without creating the impression of a right angle” was added because upright shoulders have been a growing problem in the breed, and it is hoped that this addition will direct more attention of both judges and breeders to this part of Dachshund anatomy. Next, there is an added sentence in the “Forequarters” section. The new sentence: “The inclined shoulder blades, upper arms and curved forearms form parentheses that enclose the ribcage, creating the correct ‘wraparound front.’ ” As the front assembly of the Dachshund is an unusual canine structure, and as the term “wraparound front” is commonly used among fanciers of the breed, this sentence was added to incorporate the term into the standard, to explain its meaning, and to place special emphasis on its importance to the breed. There are a few minor changes of wording in the “Hindquarters” and “Gait” sections that need not be addressed here, as they are primarily changes in terminology. But there is one change of significance in the “Gait” section, the addition of this sentence: “Rear feet do not reach upward toward the abdomen and there is no appearance of walking on the rear pasterns.” This language was added to call the attention of breeders and judges to a persistent problem in the breed. The revision contains several changes regarding color. The first addresses the cream color and is self-explanatory, adding the words “with or without a shading of interspersed dark hairs.” There are two new color descriptions, those being for sable and for wild boar Dachshunds. “Sable – the sable pattern consists of a uniform dark overlay on red dogs. The overlay hairs are double-pigmented, with the tip of each hair much darker than the base color. The pattern usually displays a widow’s peak on the head. Nose, nails and eye rims are black. Eyes are dark, the darker the better.” This description was added because the term “sable” has traditionally been used differently by Dachshund fanciers than when it is used in reference to other breeds. A red sable Dachshund presents a distinctive appearance that is now defined in the standard. “Wild boar (agouti) appears as banding of the individual hairs and imparts an overall grizzled effect which is most often seen on wirehaired Dachshunds, but may also appear on other coats. Tan points may or may not be evident. Variations include red boar and chocolate-and-tan boar. Nose, nails and eye rims are black on wild-boar and red-boar Dachshunds. On chocolate-and-tan-boar Dachshunds, nose, nails, eye rims and eyes are self-colored, the darker the better. A small amount of white on the chest, although acceptable, is not desirable.” This addition to the standard was made because the use of the term “wild boar” to describe the agouti banding pattern is unique to Dachshund parlance, and the color is possibly the one most commonly encountered in wirehaired Dachshunds. Double dapple (double merle) has been removed from the standard as an acceptable pattern. The removal from the standard of this pattern that imparted white to the body of a Dachshund indicates that the only acceptable white on a Dachshund appears as a small spot on the chest, which, while acceptable, is not desirable. (A larger area of white is permissible on the chest of a single-dapple Dachshund.) This should simplify what has been a complex issue for some regarding judging the Dachshund, as the standard now has no pattern that displays areas of white, and clearly states in three places, that “a small amount of white on the chest is acceptable but not desirable.” Aside from a larger area of white on the chest of a dapple being permissible, white is not mentioned anywhere else in the breed standard. This wording appears in the “AKC Guidelines for Writing Breed Standards:” "Color. ….In breeds where multiple colors and color combinations are acceptable, but not all colors are permitted, the complete list of all colors and color combinations must be included in the standard. In such cases, any colors and color combination not mentioned are unacceptable, and judges are to pass judgment on this basis." In an effort to simplify Dachshund colors and patterns for judges, the Judges Education Committee stresses that the patterns and colors included in the Dachshund standard are acceptable in the conformation ring. The following is a list of those that are unacceptable. * any area of white anywhere on the dog other than a small area on the chest, with a larger area being permissible on the chest of a dapple * a piebald pattern * a double- dapple (double- merle) pattern * either a patterned or a Dudley (flesh-colored) nose * any nose color other than black on red, cream, black/tan, black/cream, wild boar and red boar Dachshunds. (For example, a brown nose on a red or a cream Dachshund is not acceptable.) * a total lack of tan or cream markings on black, blue, chocolate or Isabella Dachshunds * a combination of dapple and brindle patterns * any blue in either eye of a brindle Dachshund, indicating a combination of the dapple and brindle patterns Judges are reminded that the Dachshund Club of America is the sole parent club for the breed and the only entity whose endorsement of Dachshund seminars is recognized by AKC. It is the hope of the Judges Education Committee that the foregoing information will be helpful to judges by clarifying the revisions to the standard. The Dachshund fancy trusts that judges will render decisions based on the breed standard. If there are any questions regarding this revision or any questions pertaining to Dachshunds, please feel free to contact:
Lisa Warren, JE Co-Coordinator Marci Forrester Robert Wlodkowski
| |||
 | ||||
 | ||||
 | ||||
 | ||||
 | ||||
 | ||||
 | ||||
 | ||||
 | ||||
 | ||||
 | ||||
 | ||||
 | ||||
 | ||||
 | ||||
 | ||||
 | ||||
 | ||||
 | ||||
 | ||||
 | ||||
 | ||||
 | ||||
 | ||||
 | ||||
 | | | | |
