Sylvan Dog Standard
GENERAL APPEARANCE:
The Sylvan is a large, muscular and powerful dog. It is well-balanced, substantial and solid. The breed is slightly longer than tall, but overall must appear squarely built and harmonious. There are 2 varieties based on size and weight differences, 3 types separated by coat length and texture, and 4 variations in colouring. Certain tolerances regarding the dog's appearance are permitted, because this is a working breed, with the function being more important than the form. Dogs of mixed origin whose ancestry is at least 75% Sylvan and their appearance and personality match the Sylvan requirements are not to be seen as impure, as long as their working abilities are satisfactory. Strains having a greater percentage of foreign blood than above listed, but possessing the required Sylvan traits are to be tested in work and then cleansed of their foreign blood by breeding with a true Sylvan. Regional types from the Balkans and dogs found anywhere else in God's world are to be judged fairly and on their true qualities and not in comparison to other breed varieties. As this is a very rare and endangered breed, matings between types are to be tolerated until a sufficient number of animals is gathered for more specific classification by aforementioned varieties.
TEMPERAMENT AND BEHAVIOUR CHARACTERISTICS:
The breed is highly intelligent, dominant and courageous, never shy or timid. It is aloof, independent and very territorial, suspicious of strangers and devoted to its master. The Sylvan must be reserved and defensive, but never nervous or vicious. It is alert and quick to react to any perceived threats, but should not seek out confrontational situations. Dog-aggression is an acceptable trait and an unfriendly attitude towards strange people is tolerated, as long as the dog shows no signs of viciousness or instability. Dogs working with livestock must be protective of, and reasonably gentle with the herd, but confident and forceful enough to successfully control and if needed, drive it. Dogs which attack or kill livestock are to be assigned a new duty, preferably a position of a property guardian, but not to be excluded from future breedings. Dogs which lack the protective drive and fail to bond with livestock, but also perform poorly as guardians are to be eliminated from any future breedings. Any dog that kills and eats livestock is to be terminated. Those dogs not employed as livestock drivers and protectors must prove themselves as good property watchdogs, trustworthy companions and reasonably obedient pets, otherwise their existence will be judged as detrimental to both the reputation and the well-being of the breed. The Sylvan has traditionally been a working breed adaptable to a variety of duties, which is why those representatives that fail to perform any job assigned to them with satisfactory results should be removed from the breeding stock. Tolerating poor examples for the sake of preserving and/or increasing the breed's population is not a service to the Sylvan breed. The traditionally valued character traits and working qualities should be placed above physical uniformity when judging the breed.
BREED VARIETIES:
Distinct breed types have existed since ancient times, each valued for specific appearance traits, but without severe differences in temperament. The separation of Sylvan types and their specifics is as follows:
Lowland type - Well-boned and powerful, but a nicely balanced and lean dog. Noted for its ease of movement, great speed and athletic built, without seeming light or insufficiently muscled. This is the taller of the two main Sylvan types, with the acceptable crossover of heights in the medium range of the Lowland variety and the largest examples of the Mountain type. The back is straight, with minimal sloping at the rump tolerated, but not as valued as a perfectly level back or a slightly elevated croup. This variety has a fairly narrow, but substantial head, appearing somewhat small in relation to the body, with females even more so. The neck is very strong, muscular and reasonably long. The brisquet reaches the elbows, but shouldn't extend too far below them, and when correct it is giving the legs the appearance of being quite long. This type appears more squarely built of the two.
Mountain type - Overall a heavier dog, but never too massive to inhibit movement, agility and working abilities. It is of solid bone, broad chest and wide body, without exaggerations. When compared to the Lowland variant, allowances are made regarding the body proportions, which can be up to 8 percent longer than tall. The back is broad and with a level topline, although reasonable elevation of the croup is preferred. The head is broad, but not too large. The neck is shorter than that of the Lowland type, but is still defined and muscled. The legs are long, but appear shorter in comparison to the Lowland type due to the brisquet extending further below the elbow for mountain dogs. This variety is not as numerous today as it was in the past and special attention to its preservation must be paid, therefore reasonable tolerances are to be allowed.
Long-Coated type - More commonly encountered in the Mountain variety of the breed, but equally acceptable and valued in both types. This coat type ranges from 3 to 6 inches in length, with dogs whose coats exceed 6 inches not being preferred, due to the possibility of matting. Accepted as flat or wavy, never curly. The undercoat should be thick and soft. Dogs lacking undercoat are not to be used for breeding.
Short-Coated type - Usually associated with the Lowland variety, although it is found in both types of the breed. Shorthaired examples are the most numerous in the breed, with the coat ranging from being as short as 1 inch to as long as 3 inches, always densely undercoated and hard to the touch. Coat must be flat. Dogs without undercoat not to be bred.
Rough-Coated type - The least common of the coat varieties, this type is medium in length, always curled and sometimes even matted, with the obligatory longer hair on the head, above the eyes and on the muzzle, giving appearance of the beard on the face. Dogs having curly coats, but lacking the aforementioned beard on the face aren't truly representative of this type, simply being poor examples of the Long-Coated variety. Lack of undercoat in the bearded variety not to be penalized.
Uniform black variety - Regardless of breed type and coat length, this colouring must be solid black, without any tan or white markings anywhere on the body, except for only a few white hairs on the chest being acceptable. The undercoat, however, may be either black, gray, chocolate-brown or reddish-brown, as long as the skin pigment remains dark. The pads and toenails on the feet must be black.
Black-n-white variety - Regardless of breed type and coat length, this colouring is primarily black, with white markings found on the face, chest, legs, stomach and tail. The white markings on the face aren't valued, but are permitted as long as they don't exceed the length of the muzzle. On the legs, the white markings are found primarily on the paws, but are tolerated if reaching as high up as the forearm, but never more than that. The pads and toenails on the feet must be black, but dogs having up to 4 pink toes and nails are to be accepted. The dewclaw on the front legs must be black.
Black-n-tan variety - Regardless of breed type and coat length, this is the most widely spread and prized colouring for the Sylvan breed, having two basic sub-varieties itself, which are known as "Closed" and "Open" types. These names refer to the amount of tan shades on the dog's head, with the "Open" type having a lighter face and "Closed" variety being darker, with a lesser tan surface on the face. Equal value is placed on both of these sub-varieties, although traditionally the clearly defined tan markings on a jet black dog and with distinctive tan spots above the eyes have been the most prized in the past. The tan markings are accepted in a range of shades, from very light to very dark. The appearance of tiger stripes on the tan parts of the legs is not to be penalized. Dogs whose colour appears to be solid black, but have dark shades of brown, brindle or tan present known as fading instead of the more commonly found clear tan markings are acceptable, as such examples are extremely rare and valuable. For all variations of the black-n-tan colouring, the pads and toenails on all four feet must be black.
Tricolour variety - Regardless of breed type and coat length, this colouring is basically the same as the black-n-tan one, but with white markings of various sizes seen on the head, chest, legs, stomach and tail. The white socks on the legs are accepted as long as they don't reach the elbows. The tail should have a white tip, but no white is permitted on its base. The pads and toenails on the feet must be black, but dogs having up to 4 pink toes and nails are to be accepted. The dewclaw on the front legs must be black.
*Note - Brindle dogs whose parents have coat colours as described above are not to be penalized.
SIZE, SUBSTANCE AND IMPORTANT PROPORTIONS:
Regardless of breed type, the Sylvan must appear healthy, strong and compact, without physical exaggerations or movement problems. The height for the breed as a whole ranges from 25 to 35 inches at the withers, but when classified as specific types, the following measurements should be promoted:
Mountain type - The ideal height for male dogs at the withers is 30 inches, not lower than 28 inches and not exceeding 32 inches at the highest point of the shoulder blade. Females should not exceed 30 inches, with the ideal height being 28 inches at the withers. Bitches under 25 inches not accepted. Mature males of the Mountain type weigh between 80 and 160 pounds. Heavier dogs in good working condition are not to be penalized. Mature bitches weigh between 60 and 100 pounds. Heavier females in good working condition not to be penalized.
Lowland type - There is no upper height limit for male dogs, as long as the dog remains functional, but the most valued height for adult males of the Lowland type has traditionally been 35 inches. The lower height limit for dogs belonging to this type is 30 inches at the shoulder. The ideal height for a female of this breed variety is 30 inches, but taller bitches are not to be penalized. Females under 25 inches not accepted. Mature males of this type weigh between 60 and 140 pounds. Heavier dogs in good working condition are not to be penalized. Mature bitches weigh between 45 and 75 pounds. Heavier females in good working condition not to be penalized.
*Note - All other features being satisfactory, the height at the withers being as much as 3 inches lesser than prescribed as minimal is acceptable. Correct type, temperament and functionality are to be valued more than size itself when evaluating breeding stock.
HEAD:
The head is clean, but not fine. It is elegant and noble, with rugged and masculine features for males and softer facial features for females. The forehead is gently arched and the skull is moderately broad between the ears, fairly flat for the Lowland variety and only slightly domed for the Mountain type. Cheeks and jaws are well developed, but not exaggerated. The teeth are large, complete and ideally in a scissors bite, with level bite acceptable, but not preferred. The lips are tight, firm and darkly pigmented, although the inside of the mouth can be flesh coloured as long as the roof of the mouth is dark, preferably black. The muzzle is long, but not too narrow, deeper at the base, with a topline parallel to that of the skull. Measured from occiput to stop, the skull should match the length of the muzzle from nose to the stop, but slight tolerances in each direction are allowed. The stop shouldn't be too abrupt, but even though fairly soft, it should be clear. The broad nose must be black, as do all other visible mucous tissues. The eyes are of medium size, almond-shaped, with a proud and fierce expression. The eyerims are black. Eye colour varies from almost black and very dark brown to light chestnut and amber, with darker shades being preferred. Yellow or green eyes are not preferable, but are to be tolerated if the example as a whole is of exceptional quality. The drop ears are set somewhat high and can reach the inner corner of the eye, but there is no preference regarding the specific ear type or size, with all of them being accepted, apart from semi-pricked and fully erect ears. Ears may be cropped or left natural. Working dogs with only one of their ears cropped are not to be penalized. Ear-cropping should be done in the traditional shepherd's fashion, the smaller Italian crop is permitted, but the large western style is not preferable. Un-cropped dogs missing a part of their ear due to injuries not to be penalized.
NECK:
The neck is strong, moderately long and broad, with a reasonably loose skin without dewlap. It slightly arches at the crest and joins the shoulders relatively smoothly. The neck is carried in line with the back when the dog is being defensive, lowered below the shoulders when threatening to attack and raised above the backline when alert or excited. When relaxed and in motion, the neck and head should be only slightly elevated above the level of the back.
BODY:
The chest is deep, fairly wide and with the prosternum slightly protruding ahead of the shoulder when observed in profile. The loin is muscular and broad, with little tuck-up. The ribs are long and well-sprung, forming a deep and solid body. Male dogs must have a broader chest and body than the females. The withers are visible and the shoulders are quite broad.
FOREQUARTERS:
The forelegs are well-developed, sturdy and straight, with springy and strong pasterns. The shoulder blades are wide, long and well-muscled. The elbows are close to the body and the legs are muscled and solid, with large and firm feet, moderately arched toes and strong black nails. The black pads are hard and resilient, but quite elastic.
HINDQUARTERS:
The hindquarters are wide, muscled and can be either set at a right angle or wider apart, depending on the specific breed type. The Mountain variety usually has a more open rear angulation than the Lowland type, but both breed variants have their rear pasterns perpendicular to the ground and more or less parallel to one another when the dog is observed from behind. The hock joint is substantial. The feet on the hind legs are the same as the front ones, with the dewclaws accepted both in their natural state and removed. Double dewclaws are fairly common in the breed, but are neither desired nor are they to be penalized.
TAIL:
The tail is fairly thick and set smoothly into the croup. When the dog is relaxed, the tail hangs low, sometimes slightly curled, being of saber or hook type, but when excited or irritated, the dog will raise its tail and sometimes carry it curled over its back, especially the Mountain variety of the breed. Longhaired dogs have richly coated tails, while the short-coated variety can have a tail with no feathering or a moderately bushy tail. The tail can be docked or left unaltered. When docked, it can be quite short or left slightly longer, depending on regional preferences. Naturally bobtailed dogs are not to be used in the breeding.
MOVEMENT:
The Sylvan moves freely and with ease. Somewhat catlike when walking, it quickly shifts from a light trot into a lumbering bearlike gallop, or into a full speed outreaching run, covering great distances with minimal effort. The proper musculature, healthy joints and correct body proportions are very important, otherwise the legendary agility of the breed will be compromised, which is why removing poor representatives from the breeding is crucial. Mature dogs that have been injured while working or older dogs that suffer from joint problems are not to be penalized for poor movement.
GENERAL FAULTS:
- Any colouring other than those included in the Standard, with the exception of brindle under the terms as defined.
- Coat texture other than defined as acceptable by the Standard.
- Height below the lower limit allowed by the Standard.
- Weight below the lower limit allowed by the Standard.
- Insufficient skin pigment.
- More than four pink toes and nails on the feet altogether.
- Albinism, both complete and partial.
- Any pigment dilution, apart from true winter nose.
- Any nose, lip and eyerim colour other than black.
- Blue, green, yellow eyes or any other eye colour than the allowed shades of brown.
- Semi-pricked or fully erect ears.
- Overshot or undershot bite.
- Incomplete teeth.
- Natural bobtail.
- Deafness.
- Blindness.
- Less or more than two testicles in the scrotum of male dogs.
- Shyness.
- Cowardice.
- Viciousness.
- Stupidity.
- Failure to perform breed specific duties.
- Any and all other signs of impurity, bad quality and poor breeding.
*Note - The faults listed above are to be penalized in proportion to their degree.
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The Sylvan is a large, muscular and powerful dog. It is well-balanced, substantial and solid. The breed is slightly longer than tall, but overall must appear squarely built and harmonious. There are 2 varieties based on size and weight differences, 3 types separated by coat length and texture, and 4 variations in colouring. Certain tolerances regarding the dog's appearance are permitted, because this is a working breed, with the function being more important than the form. Dogs of mixed origin whose ancestry is at least 75% Sylvan and their appearance and personality match the Sylvan requirements are not to be seen as impure, as long as their working abilities are satisfactory. Strains having a greater percentage of foreign blood than above listed, but possessing the required Sylvan traits are to be tested in work and then cleansed of their foreign blood by breeding with a true Sylvan. Regional types from the Balkans and dogs found anywhere else in God's world are to be judged fairly and on their true qualities and not in comparison to other breed varieties. As this is a very rare and endangered breed, matings between types are to be tolerated until a sufficient number of animals is gathered for more specific classification by aforementioned varieties.
TEMPERAMENT AND BEHAVIOUR CHARACTERISTICS:
The breed is highly intelligent, dominant and courageous, never shy or timid. It is aloof, independent and very territorial, suspicious of strangers and devoted to its master. The Sylvan must be reserved and defensive, but never nervous or vicious. It is alert and quick to react to any perceived threats, but should not seek out confrontational situations. Dog-aggression is an acceptable trait and an unfriendly attitude towards strange people is tolerated, as long as the dog shows no signs of viciousness or instability. Dogs working with livestock must be protective of, and reasonably gentle with the herd, but confident and forceful enough to successfully control and if needed, drive it. Dogs which attack or kill livestock are to be assigned a new duty, preferably a position of a property guardian, but not to be excluded from future breedings. Dogs which lack the protective drive and fail to bond with livestock, but also perform poorly as guardians are to be eliminated from any future breedings. Any dog that kills and eats livestock is to be terminated. Those dogs not employed as livestock drivers and protectors must prove themselves as good property watchdogs, trustworthy companions and reasonably obedient pets, otherwise their existence will be judged as detrimental to both the reputation and the well-being of the breed. The Sylvan has traditionally been a working breed adaptable to a variety of duties, which is why those representatives that fail to perform any job assigned to them with satisfactory results should be removed from the breeding stock. Tolerating poor examples for the sake of preserving and/or increasing the breed's population is not a service to the Sylvan breed. The traditionally valued character traits and working qualities should be placed above physical uniformity when judging the breed.
BREED VARIETIES:
Distinct breed types have existed since ancient times, each valued for specific appearance traits, but without severe differences in temperament. The separation of Sylvan types and their specifics is as follows:
Lowland type - Well-boned and powerful, but a nicely balanced and lean dog. Noted for its ease of movement, great speed and athletic built, without seeming light or insufficiently muscled. This is the taller of the two main Sylvan types, with the acceptable crossover of heights in the medium range of the Lowland variety and the largest examples of the Mountain type. The back is straight, with minimal sloping at the rump tolerated, but not as valued as a perfectly level back or a slightly elevated croup. This variety has a fairly narrow, but substantial head, appearing somewhat small in relation to the body, with females even more so. The neck is very strong, muscular and reasonably long. The brisquet reaches the elbows, but shouldn't extend too far below them, and when correct it is giving the legs the appearance of being quite long. This type appears more squarely built of the two.
Mountain type - Overall a heavier dog, but never too massive to inhibit movement, agility and working abilities. It is of solid bone, broad chest and wide body, without exaggerations. When compared to the Lowland variant, allowances are made regarding the body proportions, which can be up to 8 percent longer than tall. The back is broad and with a level topline, although reasonable elevation of the croup is preferred. The head is broad, but not too large. The neck is shorter than that of the Lowland type, but is still defined and muscled. The legs are long, but appear shorter in comparison to the Lowland type due to the brisquet extending further below the elbow for mountain dogs. This variety is not as numerous today as it was in the past and special attention to its preservation must be paid, therefore reasonable tolerances are to be allowed.
Long-Coated type - More commonly encountered in the Mountain variety of the breed, but equally acceptable and valued in both types. This coat type ranges from 3 to 6 inches in length, with dogs whose coats exceed 6 inches not being preferred, due to the possibility of matting. Accepted as flat or wavy, never curly. The undercoat should be thick and soft. Dogs lacking undercoat are not to be used for breeding.
Short-Coated type - Usually associated with the Lowland variety, although it is found in both types of the breed. Shorthaired examples are the most numerous in the breed, with the coat ranging from being as short as 1 inch to as long as 3 inches, always densely undercoated and hard to the touch. Coat must be flat. Dogs without undercoat not to be bred.
Rough-Coated type - The least common of the coat varieties, this type is medium in length, always curled and sometimes even matted, with the obligatory longer hair on the head, above the eyes and on the muzzle, giving appearance of the beard on the face. Dogs having curly coats, but lacking the aforementioned beard on the face aren't truly representative of this type, simply being poor examples of the Long-Coated variety. Lack of undercoat in the bearded variety not to be penalized.
Uniform black variety - Regardless of breed type and coat length, this colouring must be solid black, without any tan or white markings anywhere on the body, except for only a few white hairs on the chest being acceptable. The undercoat, however, may be either black, gray, chocolate-brown or reddish-brown, as long as the skin pigment remains dark. The pads and toenails on the feet must be black.
Black-n-white variety - Regardless of breed type and coat length, this colouring is primarily black, with white markings found on the face, chest, legs, stomach and tail. The white markings on the face aren't valued, but are permitted as long as they don't exceed the length of the muzzle. On the legs, the white markings are found primarily on the paws, but are tolerated if reaching as high up as the forearm, but never more than that. The pads and toenails on the feet must be black, but dogs having up to 4 pink toes and nails are to be accepted. The dewclaw on the front legs must be black.
Black-n-tan variety - Regardless of breed type and coat length, this is the most widely spread and prized colouring for the Sylvan breed, having two basic sub-varieties itself, which are known as "Closed" and "Open" types. These names refer to the amount of tan shades on the dog's head, with the "Open" type having a lighter face and "Closed" variety being darker, with a lesser tan surface on the face. Equal value is placed on both of these sub-varieties, although traditionally the clearly defined tan markings on a jet black dog and with distinctive tan spots above the eyes have been the most prized in the past. The tan markings are accepted in a range of shades, from very light to very dark. The appearance of tiger stripes on the tan parts of the legs is not to be penalized. Dogs whose colour appears to be solid black, but have dark shades of brown, brindle or tan present known as fading instead of the more commonly found clear tan markings are acceptable, as such examples are extremely rare and valuable. For all variations of the black-n-tan colouring, the pads and toenails on all four feet must be black.
Tricolour variety - Regardless of breed type and coat length, this colouring is basically the same as the black-n-tan one, but with white markings of various sizes seen on the head, chest, legs, stomach and tail. The white socks on the legs are accepted as long as they don't reach the elbows. The tail should have a white tip, but no white is permitted on its base. The pads and toenails on the feet must be black, but dogs having up to 4 pink toes and nails are to be accepted. The dewclaw on the front legs must be black.
*Note - Brindle dogs whose parents have coat colours as described above are not to be penalized.
SIZE, SUBSTANCE AND IMPORTANT PROPORTIONS:
Regardless of breed type, the Sylvan must appear healthy, strong and compact, without physical exaggerations or movement problems. The height for the breed as a whole ranges from 25 to 35 inches at the withers, but when classified as specific types, the following measurements should be promoted:
Mountain type - The ideal height for male dogs at the withers is 30 inches, not lower than 28 inches and not exceeding 32 inches at the highest point of the shoulder blade. Females should not exceed 30 inches, with the ideal height being 28 inches at the withers. Bitches under 25 inches not accepted. Mature males of the Mountain type weigh between 80 and 160 pounds. Heavier dogs in good working condition are not to be penalized. Mature bitches weigh between 60 and 100 pounds. Heavier females in good working condition not to be penalized.
Lowland type - There is no upper height limit for male dogs, as long as the dog remains functional, but the most valued height for adult males of the Lowland type has traditionally been 35 inches. The lower height limit for dogs belonging to this type is 30 inches at the shoulder. The ideal height for a female of this breed variety is 30 inches, but taller bitches are not to be penalized. Females under 25 inches not accepted. Mature males of this type weigh between 60 and 140 pounds. Heavier dogs in good working condition are not to be penalized. Mature bitches weigh between 45 and 75 pounds. Heavier females in good working condition not to be penalized.
*Note - All other features being satisfactory, the height at the withers being as much as 3 inches lesser than prescribed as minimal is acceptable. Correct type, temperament and functionality are to be valued more than size itself when evaluating breeding stock.
HEAD:
The head is clean, but not fine. It is elegant and noble, with rugged and masculine features for males and softer facial features for females. The forehead is gently arched and the skull is moderately broad between the ears, fairly flat for the Lowland variety and only slightly domed for the Mountain type. Cheeks and jaws are well developed, but not exaggerated. The teeth are large, complete and ideally in a scissors bite, with level bite acceptable, but not preferred. The lips are tight, firm and darkly pigmented, although the inside of the mouth can be flesh coloured as long as the roof of the mouth is dark, preferably black. The muzzle is long, but not too narrow, deeper at the base, with a topline parallel to that of the skull. Measured from occiput to stop, the skull should match the length of the muzzle from nose to the stop, but slight tolerances in each direction are allowed. The stop shouldn't be too abrupt, but even though fairly soft, it should be clear. The broad nose must be black, as do all other visible mucous tissues. The eyes are of medium size, almond-shaped, with a proud and fierce expression. The eyerims are black. Eye colour varies from almost black and very dark brown to light chestnut and amber, with darker shades being preferred. Yellow or green eyes are not preferable, but are to be tolerated if the example as a whole is of exceptional quality. The drop ears are set somewhat high and can reach the inner corner of the eye, but there is no preference regarding the specific ear type or size, with all of them being accepted, apart from semi-pricked and fully erect ears. Ears may be cropped or left natural. Working dogs with only one of their ears cropped are not to be penalized. Ear-cropping should be done in the traditional shepherd's fashion, the smaller Italian crop is permitted, but the large western style is not preferable. Un-cropped dogs missing a part of their ear due to injuries not to be penalized.
NECK:
The neck is strong, moderately long and broad, with a reasonably loose skin without dewlap. It slightly arches at the crest and joins the shoulders relatively smoothly. The neck is carried in line with the back when the dog is being defensive, lowered below the shoulders when threatening to attack and raised above the backline when alert or excited. When relaxed and in motion, the neck and head should be only slightly elevated above the level of the back.
BODY:
The chest is deep, fairly wide and with the prosternum slightly protruding ahead of the shoulder when observed in profile. The loin is muscular and broad, with little tuck-up. The ribs are long and well-sprung, forming a deep and solid body. Male dogs must have a broader chest and body than the females. The withers are visible and the shoulders are quite broad.
FOREQUARTERS:
The forelegs are well-developed, sturdy and straight, with springy and strong pasterns. The shoulder blades are wide, long and well-muscled. The elbows are close to the body and the legs are muscled and solid, with large and firm feet, moderately arched toes and strong black nails. The black pads are hard and resilient, but quite elastic.
HINDQUARTERS:
The hindquarters are wide, muscled and can be either set at a right angle or wider apart, depending on the specific breed type. The Mountain variety usually has a more open rear angulation than the Lowland type, but both breed variants have their rear pasterns perpendicular to the ground and more or less parallel to one another when the dog is observed from behind. The hock joint is substantial. The feet on the hind legs are the same as the front ones, with the dewclaws accepted both in their natural state and removed. Double dewclaws are fairly common in the breed, but are neither desired nor are they to be penalized.
TAIL:
The tail is fairly thick and set smoothly into the croup. When the dog is relaxed, the tail hangs low, sometimes slightly curled, being of saber or hook type, but when excited or irritated, the dog will raise its tail and sometimes carry it curled over its back, especially the Mountain variety of the breed. Longhaired dogs have richly coated tails, while the short-coated variety can have a tail with no feathering or a moderately bushy tail. The tail can be docked or left unaltered. When docked, it can be quite short or left slightly longer, depending on regional preferences. Naturally bobtailed dogs are not to be used in the breeding.
MOVEMENT:
The Sylvan moves freely and with ease. Somewhat catlike when walking, it quickly shifts from a light trot into a lumbering bearlike gallop, or into a full speed outreaching run, covering great distances with minimal effort. The proper musculature, healthy joints and correct body proportions are very important, otherwise the legendary agility of the breed will be compromised, which is why removing poor representatives from the breeding is crucial. Mature dogs that have been injured while working or older dogs that suffer from joint problems are not to be penalized for poor movement.
GENERAL FAULTS:
- Any colouring other than those included in the Standard, with the exception of brindle under the terms as defined.
- Coat texture other than defined as acceptable by the Standard.
- Height below the lower limit allowed by the Standard.
- Weight below the lower limit allowed by the Standard.
- Insufficient skin pigment.
- More than four pink toes and nails on the feet altogether.
- Albinism, both complete and partial.
- Any pigment dilution, apart from true winter nose.
- Any nose, lip and eyerim colour other than black.
- Blue, green, yellow eyes or any other eye colour than the allowed shades of brown.
- Semi-pricked or fully erect ears.
- Overshot or undershot bite.
- Incomplete teeth.
- Natural bobtail.
- Deafness.
- Blindness.
- Less or more than two testicles in the scrotum of male dogs.
- Shyness.
- Cowardice.
- Viciousness.
- Stupidity.
- Failure to perform breed specific duties.
- Any and all other signs of impurity, bad quality and poor breeding.
*Note - The faults listed above are to be penalized in proportion to their degree.
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