Polish Tatra Breed Standard
FCI-Standard No 252 / 14.07.1997 / GB
TRANSLATION
: Brought up to
date by Dr. Paschoud.
Tatra Shepherd Dog
(POLSKI OWCZAREK PODHALANSKI)
ORIGIN :
DATE OF PUBLICATION OF THE
ORIGINAL VALID STANDARD: 08.06.1988
UTILIZATION: Herder and watchdog. Its imposing
attitude and beautiful appearance
make it a good companion dog.
CLASSIFICATION F.C.I.: Group 1 Sheepdogs
and Cattledogs (except
GENERAL APPEARANCE: Of strong and compact build giving the impression of
stamina
and mobility.
IMPORTANT PROPORTIONS: Rectangular in shape, the length of the
body of males
being a little shorter than that of bitches.
BEHAVIOUR/CHARACTER: Temperament calm, intelligent and alert.
HEAD: Lean, in good proportion to the body,
carried at medium height both in
movement and standing.
CRANIAL REGION:
Skull: Seen in profile slightly rounded ; the frontal
groove is shallow.
Stop: Distinctly marked, but without abrupt break.
FACIAL REGION:
Nose: Black, of medium size, with the nostrils wide open.
Muzzle: Strong, gradually tapering ; its length is
slightly greater or equal to the length
of the skull. The nasal bridge is broad.
Lips: Desirably taut and well fitting ; the edges of
the lips should be dark.
Teeth: Strong, regularly set. Scissor bite, pincer bite accepted.
Eyes: Medium size, expressive, set slightly slanting ;
the iris is dark brown ; the eyelid
rims are dark.
Ears: Set on at the height of the external angle of the eyes or a little
higher, medium
length, rather thick, triangular, well furnished with hair ; the front edge of
the ear is in
slight touch with the head ; auricle mobile.
NECK: Of medium length, muscular, without any dewlap, with a profuse mane ; the
upper line of the neck is higher than the topline of
the body.
BODY: Long and massive.
Withers: Distinctly marked, broad.
Back: Level, broad.
Loins: Broad , well coupled.
Croup: Oblique, slightly sloping.
Chest: Deep.
Ribs: Oblique, rather flat.
Belly: Slightly tucked up.
TAIL: Set on not too high, carried below the topline ; when excited
carried above the
topline, but not curved ; hanging, it reaches the
hock ; the tip of the tail may be
slightly curved.
LIMBS:
FOREQUARTERS: Forelegs muscular, with plenty of bone, but not too heavy ; seen
from front straight and parallel.
Shoulder-blade: Slightly sloping, well adapted to the body.
Pastern: Slightly sloping forward.
Feet: Compact, oval in shape like a relatively big fist. With
hairs between the toes.
Pads strong, hard and dark ; nails strong, blunt and
dark.
HINDQUARTERS: Viewed from the rear hind legs vertical
; seen from the side slightly
set backwards, moderately angulated.
Hock: Seen from the side vertical.
Feet: Like the forefeet.
COAT:
HAIR: On head, muzzle, frontpart
of forelegs and on the hindlegs from the hock
downward the hair is short and dense. The neck and the body are covered with
long,
thick, straight or slightly wavy hair, hard to the touch. Undercoat
profuse. On the neck
a rich ruff ; the thighs are covered with profuse,
long hair ; on the tail hair also
profuse, forming a flag.
COLOUR: Uniformly white ; little cream coloured patches are undesirable.
HEIGHT:
Height at withers For males 65-70cm, for bitches
60-65cm.
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.
ˇ Frontal furrow distinctly marked.
ˇ Poor pigmentation of nose, eyerims
and lips.
ˇ Light eye ( called Ť bear eye ť).
ˇ Entropion.
ˇ Ears set high, directed backwards or cropped.
ˇ Neck carried horizontal.
ˇ Croup overbuilt.
ˇ Tail carried constantly above the topline.
ˇ Dewclaws.
ˇ Lack of hair between the toes.
ˇ Lack of ruff, lack of feathering on the legs.
ELIMINATING FAULTS:
ˇ Stop too shallow.
ˇ Pointed muzzle.
ˇ Several missing teeth.
ˇ Over-or undershot mouth.
ˇ Ectropion.
ˇ Hair curly or silky.
ˇ Lack of undercoat.
ˇ Coat with coloured patches.
ˇ Nervous character.
ˇ Dog timid or definitely aggressive.
N.B.: Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles fully
descended into
the scrotum.