Drentsche Partridge Dog

		Drentsche Partridge Dog
		FCI standard Nº 224

Origin		The Netherlands
Group		Group 7 Pointing Dogs
Section		Section 1.2 Continental pointing dog, Spaniel type
Working		With working trial
Acceptance on a definitive basis by the FCI		Friday 04 March 1960
Publication of the official valid standard		Monday 04 April 2016
Last update		Tuesday 17 May 2016
En français, cette race se dit		Epagneul à perdrix de Drente
Diese Norm ist in deutscher Sprache sichtbar		Drentscher Hühnerhund
En español, esta raza se dice		Perdiguero de Drente
In het Nederlands, wordt dit ras gezegd		Drentsche Patrijshond

Usage

Pointing Dog.

Brief historical summary

In the 16th century, the breed originated from the Spioenen (also called Spanjoelen) which came via France from Spain. In the Netherlands they were called Partridge dogs. In the eastern part of the country, especially in the province Drenthe, these dogs were kept purebred and were not mixed with foreign breeds as done elsewhere. On the 15th of May 1943, the breed was officially recognised by the Raad van Beheer op Kynologisch Gebied in Nederland. This was strongly promoted by Baroness Van Hardenbroek, Mr. Van Heek Jr. and Mr. Quartero. The breed is related to the Small Münsterländer and the Epagneul Français. The breed club, the Nederlandse Vereniging « De Drentsche Patrijshond» was founded on 5 June 1948.

General appearance

A well proportioned, dryly muscled and clean-cut dog, whose body shows power and also the ability to develop the necessary speed for a gundog. The head is slightly wedge-shaped. The muzzle is a little shorter than the length of the skull and rather dry, without hanging lips. The coat, though not really long on the body, looks like a long coat because of the well feathered ears and somewhat thicker fur on the neck and chest, the feathered front and hind legs, and the long-haired, bushy tail, gives the impression of a long coat.

Important proportions

The length of the body, measured from the point of forechest to the buttock is more than the height of the withers, which makes a slightly longer appearance.
The length of the upper arm is slightly less than the length of the shoulder blade.
The length of the muzzle is slightly less than the length of the skull.

Behaviour / temperament

An ideal dog for hunting in varying fields. The dog hunts within range of the gun. Keeping in touch with the hunter is apparently an innate quality. A characteristic of the breed is that when searching the game, the tail moves in a circular motion, especially when the dog picks up the scent of game. When approaching the game, the dog points the game as solid as a rock and impeccably waits for the hunter to come near; when this takes a long time, the dog will look back for its master. The breed has the adaptability that makes it capable of hunting all sorts of game in the field and in water. In addition, they are good retriever and finds lost game. These characteristics are innate, therefore need little training. Because of their gentle character, it is harmful to use forceful training methods. The Drentsche Patrijshond can be reservedin the beginning, but never fearful. The dog is loyal and intelligent which makes him, together with a good upbringing and training, a highly esteemed family pet dog as well as a valuable companion of the hunter.

Head
Cranial region
Head		The head is wedge-shaped and moderately long, fitting into the overall picture, with a dry and fluid line.
Skull		The skull is rather broad and only slightly rounded. Along the mid-line there is a hardly perceptible furrow from the shallow stop half-way up to the moderately developed occiput.
Stop		The transition from the skull to the muzzle from both the side profile and the front view is gradual; the cheeks tapering gradually into the muzzle with well filled under the eyes. The eyebrow arches are well developed and clearly visible.

Facial region
Nose		The nose is well developed and brown. The nostrils are wide open.
Muzzle		The muzzle is powerful and tapering slightly to the nose tip and is slightly shorter than the skull, blunt at the end with dry, not pendulous lips. Well filled under the eyes. The nasal bridge is straight and broad. A slight curve upwards, just behind the nose tip is allowed.
Lips		The lips are rather thin, tightly fitting and brown.
Jaws and teeth		The bite is a strong and a well fitting scissor bite.
Cheeks		Moderately developed.
Eyes		The eyes are wide apart and set in such a way that they are well protected; neither protruding nor deep set. They are of moderate size and oval shaped. The expression shows kindness as well as the intelligence of the hunting dog. The desired colour is amber, therefore neither dark nor the light colour of the bird of prey; the eyelids are close fitting.
Ears		Not heavy. They are set high; hanging close to the head without any fold. Drawn forward, they should reach as far as 3 fingers breadth off the tip of the nose. They are broad at the set, ending in a blunted point. When the attention of the dog is drawn, the ears turn forward and are pulled up. Seen from the front, the ear then forms a triangle with the fold above the middle of the ear lap. The ears are mobile, expressing different moods.

Neck

Powerful, of medium length, forming a smooth transition between the head and body, with no interruption taking place. A longer than desirable neck, giving a more elegant impression, but lacking in power, is undesirable.

Body
Topline		Smooth line from withers to tail.
Withers		Powerful and not placed too far forward.
Back		Strong and straight, of medium length, not too short, giving together with the well angulated front- and hindquarters the impression of being slightly elongated.
Loin		Strongly muscled.
Croup		Slightly sloping, broad and long.
Chest		Deep, reaching to the elbows and rather broad in front. The forelegs must not be hindered by too much spring of the front ribs. Long ribcage, with the hind ribs also well developed. Good spring of ribs; ribs neither flat nor barrel shaped.
Underline and belly		Only slightly tucked up.

Tail

Carried in the continuation of the topline. The tail reaches approximately to the hock. In action, the tail is partly horizontal, the last part in a slight curve upwards. Never curled over the back. With the exception of the root, rich feathering on all sides, diminishing to the end of the tail.

Limbs

Forequarters
Generality		Well placed under the body with the elbows close to the chest.
Shoulders		Shoulder blade long, sloping and well laid back, close to the body.
Upper arm		Sloping backwards, forming a good angle with the shoulder. The length of the upper arm is slightly less than the length of the shoulder blade.
Elbows		Close to the body.
Forearm		Straight and parallel. Strong bone.
Carpal		Strong.
Pastern		Powerful and slightly sloping.
Forefeet		Round or oval with tight, arched, strong toes and solid pads. Feet neither turning in nor out.

Hindquarters
Generality		Well developed, so broad and well muscled. Seen from behind, straight and parallel. Strong bone.
Upper thigh		Broad and muscled. Forming a good angle with the lower thigh.
Lower thigh		The same length as the thigh bone.
Stifle		Moderately angulated.
Metatarsus		Short, neither turned in nor out.
Hock		Well let down.
Hind feet		Round or oval with tight, arched, strong toes and solid pads. Feet neither turning in nor out.

Gait and movement

Well extended, balanced with good drive, neither narrow nor wide in trotting, without any swinging sideways; neither elbows nor hocks turned in nor out, inclined to single tracking when speeding.

Skin

Tight without wrinkles or folds.

Coat
Hair		Dense, well covering the body. Not curly-haired, but more a straight coat with water resistance undercoat. The coat is not really long, but because it’s longer in some places, it gives the impression of being long. On the neck and the forechest the hair is longer. The base and the outer edge of the ears covered with long, preferably wavy, not curly hair. At the tip of the ears, the fur is short, while the ear on the inside edge is also feathered. On the back until the tailset, a wavy coat is preferable. Apart from the root, the tail is richly covered on all sides with long hair, gradually shorter to the tip. The backside of the fore- and hindlegs and the trousers are feathered. The feet between the toes are well covered with hair.
Colour		White with brown markings, with or without spots or ticking. The roan colour is not permitted (mixture of brown and white hairs all over the body). Less desired is a mantle. Ears are brown, just like the hair around the eyes.

Size and weight
Height at withers		Males : 58-63 cm. Females : 55-60 cm. The height at the withers can deviate a few centimeters more, if the dog is well proportioned.
Weight		Males : 30-35 kg. Females : 25-31 kg.

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 and its effect upon the health and welfare of the dog and its ability to perform its traditional work.
• Faults listed should be in degree of seriousness.

General faults

Mantle dogs.

Eye too round.

Too heavy lips whether or not accompanied by dewlaps or throatiness.

Open carried ears.

Curled feathers on ear and back.

Serious faults

Convex or dish-faced nosebridge.

Roan all over the body.

Narrow and shallow ribcage.

Somehow too elegant appearance.

Steep or very weak pasterns.

Low on the legs.

Disqualifying faults

Aggressive or very shy dogs.

A white or a partially white ear.

White marks around one or both eyes.

Bite: over- or undershot.

Dogs that are clearly untypical for the breed.

NB :

• Any dog clearly showing physical or behavioural abnormalities shall be disqualified.
• The above mentioned faults when occurring to a highly marked degree or frequently are disqualifying.
• Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles fully descended into the scrotum.
• Only functionally and clinically healthy dogs, with breed typical conformation should be used for breeding.

Bibliography

http://www.fci.be/

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Drentsche Partridge Dog