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Changes to the official Standard for the Breed are subject
to a two-thirds vote in favor by ballot of Regular Members in good standing of
the ABTC. Following this, the American Kennel Club also must approve. These rules are prescribed by the Club's By-laws.
This ballot required return to an independent tabulation organization by July
21, 2006.
Below are the official, certified
results concerning the Proposed Standard revisions. All changes received the
necessary 2/3 majority vote to pass.
The
Proposed Standard will now be sent to the American Kennel Club Board of
Directors for their review and approval. The Board does not expect to hear their
decision until this fall at the earliest. If approved, the new Standard will not
take effect until sometime next year. The Board will keep the membership
apprised of the progress through the Announce List and the club newsletter,
Tervuren News Tales. If you have any questions or concerns about the
approval process, please contact any Board member. We are more then willing to
answer your questions.
Total Envelopes
Received:546
Total Void Envelopes: -12
Not Eligible 11
Duplicate (later date accepted) 1
TOTAL ENVELOPES OPENED: 534 |
Total Ballots Received:
534
Total Void Ballots: - 0
TOTAL BALLOTS TALLIED: 534 |
The numbers below correspond to the same numbers in the proposed standard
side-by-side comparison.
(2/3 = 356 votes)
1. YES 497
NO 38
2. YES 496 NO 37
3. YES 451 NO 83
4. YES 500 NO 34
5. YES 498 NO 36
6. YES 495 NO 39
7. YES 493 NO 41
8. YES 395 NO 139
9. YES 413 NO 120
10. YES 499 NO 35
11. YES 498 NO 36
12. YES 497 NO 37 |
13. YES 496
NO 38
14. YES 495 NO 39
15. YES 433 NO 101
16. YES 389 NO 145
17. YES 475 NO 59
18. YES 495 NO 39
19. YES 448 NO 86
20. YES 401 NO 133
21. YES 492 NO 42
22. YES 497 NO 37
23. YES 446 NO 88
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Ballots are tabulated and the final count certified by the Honest Ballot
Associates
Date of Tally: July 21, 2006
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Current Belgian Tervuren Standard |
Proposed Belgian Tervuren Standard |
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General Appearance - The first impression of the
Belgian Tervuren is that of a well balanced, medium
size dog, elegant in appearance, standing squarely on all fours,
with proud carriage of head and neck. He is strong, agile, well
muscled, alert and full of life. He gives the impression of depth
and solidity without bulkiness. The male should appear unquestionably
masculine; the female should have a distinctly feminine look and be judged
equally with the male. The Belgian Tervuren is a natural dog and
there is no need for excessive posing in the show ring.
The Belgian Tervuren reflects the qualities of
intelligence, courage, alertness and devotion to master. In addition to his
inherent ability as a herding dog, he protects his master's person and
property without being overtly aggressive. He is watchful, attentive, and
usually in motion when not under command.
The Belgian Tervuren is a herding dog, and faults which
affect his ability to herd under all conditions, such as poor gait, bite,
coat or temperament should be particularly penalized. |
General Appearance - The first impression of the
Belgian Tervuren is that of a well-balanced, medium-size
(1)
dog, elegant in appearance, standing
squarely on all fours, with proud carriage of head and neck. He is strong,
agile, well-muscled,
(2)
alert and full of life. He gives the impression of depth and solidity
without bulkiness. The male should appear unquestionably masculine; the
female should have a distinctly feminine look and be judged equally with the
male. The Belgian Tervuren is a natural dog and there is no need for
excessive posing in the show ring.
The Belgian Tervuren reflects the qualities of
intelligence, courage, alertness and devotion to master. In addition to his
inherent ability as a herding dog, he protects his master's person and
property without being overtly aggressive. He is watchful, attentive, and
usually in motion when not under command.
The Belgian Tervuren is a herding dog and versatile
worker. The highest value is to be placed on qualities that maintain these
abilities, specifically, correct temperament, gait, bite and coat.
(3) |
Size,
Proportion, Substance - The ideal male is 24 to 26 inches in height and
female 22 to 24 inches in height measured at the withers. Dogs are to be
penalized in accordance to the degree they deviate from the ideal. Males
under 23 inches or over 26.5 inches or females under 21 inches or over 24.5
inches are to be disqualified. The body is square; the length measured from
the point of shoulder to the point of the rump approximates the height.
Females may be somewhat longer in body. Bone structure is medium in
proportion to height, so that he is well balanced
throughout and neither spindly or leggy nor cumbersome and bulky.
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Size,
Proportion, Substance - The ideal male is 24 to 26 inches in height and
female 22 to 24 inches in height measured at the withers. Dogs are to be
penalized in accordance to the degree they deviate from the ideal. Males
under 23 inches or over 26.5 inches or females under 21 inches or over 24.5
inches are to be disqualified. The body is square; the length measured from
the point of shoulder to the point of the rump approximates the height.
Females may be somewhat longer in body. Bone structure is medium in
proportion to height, so that he is well-balanced
(4)
throughout and neither spindly or leggy nor cumbersome and bulky.
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Head –
Well chiseled, skin taut, long without exaggeration.
Expression intelligent and questioning, indicating alertness,
attention and readiness for action. Eyes dark brown,
medium size, slightly almond shape, not protruding. Light, yellow
or round eyes are a fault. Ears triangular in shape,
well cupped, stiff, erect, height equal to width
at base. Set high, the base of the ear does not come below the center of the
eye. Hanging ears, as on a hound, are a disqualification. Skull and
muzzle measuring from the stop are of equal length. Overall size is
in proportion to the body, top of skull flattened rather than rounded, the
width approximately the same as, but not wider than the length. Stop
moderate. The topline of the muzzle is parallel to the topline of the skull
when viewed from the side. Muzzle moderately pointed, avoiding any tendency
toward snippiness or cheekiness. Jaws strong and powerful.
Nose black without spots or discolored areas. Nostrils
well defined. Lips tight and black, no pink showing on the
outside when mouth is closed. Teeth – Full complement of
strong white teeth, evenly set, meeting in a scissors or level bite.
Overshot and undershot teeth are a fault. Undershot teeth such that
contact with the upper incisors is lost by two or more of the lower incisors
is a disqualification. Loss of contact caused by short
center incisors in an otherwise correct bite shall not be judged undershot.
Broken or discolored teeth should not be penalized. Missing teeth are a
fault. |
Head –
Well-chiseled, (5)
skin taut, long without exaggeration. Expression intelligent
and questioning, indicating alertness, attention and readiness for action.
Eyes dark brown, medium-size,
(6)
slightly almond shape, not
protruding. Light, yellow or round eyes are a fault. Ears
triangular in shape, well- cupped,
(7)
stiff, erect; height equal to
width at base. Set high, the base of the ear does not come below the center
of the eye. Hanging ears, as on a hound, are a disqualification. Skull
and muzzle measuring from the stop are of equal length. Overall size
is in proportion to the body, top of skull flattened rather than rounded,
the width approximately the same as, but not wider than the length.
Stop moderate. The topline of the muzzle is parallel to the topline
of the skull when viewed from the side. Muzzle moderately pointed, avoiding
any tendency toward snipiness or cheekiness. Jaws strong and
powerful. Nose black without spots or discolored areas.
Nostrils well defined. Lips tight and black, no pink
showing on the outside when mouth is closed. Teeth - Full
complement of strong white teeth, evenly set, meeting in a scissors or a
level bite. Overshot and undershot teeth are a fault. An undershot bite
such that there is a complete loss of contact by all the incisors is a
disqualification.
(8)
Broken or discolored teeth should not be
penalized. Missing teeth are a fault. Four or more missing teeth
are a serious fault.
(9) |
Neck, Topline,
Body - Neck round, muscular, rather long and elegant, slightly
arched and tapered from head to body. Skin well fitting
with no loose folds. Withers accentuated. Topline
level, straight and firm from withers to croup. Croup medium long,
sloping gradually to the base of the tail. Chest not broad without
being narrow, but deep; the lowest point of the brisket reaching the elbow,
forming a smooth ascendant curve to the abdomen. |
Neck, Topline,
Body - Neck round, muscular, rather long and elegant, slightly
arched and tapered from head to body. Skin well-fitting
(10)
with no loose folds. Withers
accentuated. Topline level, straight and firm from withers to
croup. Croup medium long, sloping gradually to the base of the tail.
Chest not broad without being narrow, but deep; the lowest point of
the brisket reaching the elbow, forming a smooth ascendant curve to the
abdomen. |
Abdomen
moderately developed, neither tucked up nor paunchy. Ribs well
sprung but flat on the sides. Loin section viewed from above
is relatively short, broad and strong, but blending smoothly into the back.
Tail strong at the base, the last vertebra to reach at least
to the hock. At rest the dog holds it low, the tip bent back level with the
hock. When in action, he may raise it to a point level with the topline
giving it a slight curve, but not a hook. Tail is not carried above the
backline nor turned to one side. A cropped or stump tail is a
disqualification. |
Abdomen
moderately developed, neither tucked up nor paunchy. Ribs well-sprung
(11)
but flat on the sides. Loin
section viewed from above is relatively short, broad and strong, but
blending smoothly into the back. Tail strong at the base, the
last vertebra to reach at least to the hock. At rest the dog holds it low,
the tip bent back level with the hock. When in action, he may raise it to a
point level with the topline giving it a slight curve, but not a hook. Tail
is not carried above the backline nor turned to one side. A cropped or stump
tail is a disqualification. |
Forequarters -
Shoulders long, laid back 45 degrees, flat against the body,
forming a right angle with the upper arm. Top of the shoulder blades roughly
two thumbs width apart. Upper arms should move in a direction exactly
parallel to the longitudinal axis of the body. Forearms long
and well muscled. Legs straight and parallel,
perpendicular to the ground. Bone oval rather than round. Pasterns
short and strong, slightly sloped. Dewclaws may be removed. Feet
rounded, cat footed, turning neither in nor out, toes curved close
together, well padded, strong nails. |
Forequarters -
Shoulders long, laid back 45 degrees, flat against the body,
forming a right angle with the upper arm. Top of the shoulder blades roughly
two thumbs width apart. Upper arms should move in a direction exactly
parallel to the longitudinal axis of the body. Forearms long
and well- muscled.
(12)
Legs straight and parallel,
perpendicular to the ground. Bone oval rather than round. Pasterns
short and strong, slightly sloped. Dewclaws may be removed. Feet
rounded, cat footed, turning neither in nor out, toes curved close
together, well- padded,
(13)
strong nails. |
| Hindquarters -
Legs powerful without heaviness, moving in the same pattern as
the limbs of the forequarters. Bone oval rather than round. Thighs
broad and heavily muscled. Stifles clearly defined, with upper
shank at right angles to hip bones. Hocks moderately bent.
Metatarsi short, perpendicular to the ground, parallel to each other
when viewed from the rear. Dewclaws are removed. Feet slightly
elongated, toes curved close together, heavily padded, strong nails.
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Hindquarters -
Legs powerful without heaviness, moving in the same pattern as
the limbs of the forequarters. Bone oval rather than round. Thighs
broad and heavily muscled. Stifles clearly defined, with upper
shank at right angles to hip bones. Hocks moderately bent.
Metatarsi short, perpendicular to the ground, parallel to each other
when viewed from the rear. Dewclaws are removed. Feet slightly
elongated, toes curved close together, heavily padded, strong nails.
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Coat - The
Belgian Tervuren is particularly adaptable to extremes of temperature or
climate. The guard hairs of the coat must be long, close fitting,
straight and abundant. The texture is of medium harshness, not silky or
wiry. Wavy or curly hair is undesirable. The undercoat is
very dense, commensurate, however, with climatic conditions. The hair is
short on the head, outside the ears, and on the front part of the legs. The
opening of the ear is protected by tufts of hair. Ornamentation
consists of especially long and abundant hair, like a collarette around the
neck, particularly on males; fringe of long hair down the back of the
forearm; especially long and abundant hair trimming the breeches; long,
heavy and abundant hair on the tail. The female rarely has as long or as
ornamented a coat as the male. This disparity must not be a consideration
when the female is judged against the male. |
Coat - The
Belgian Tervuren is particularly adaptable to extremes of temperature or
climate. The guard hairs of the coat must be long, close-fitting,
(14)
straight and abundant. The texture is
of medium harshness, not silky or wiry. Wavy or curly hair is a fault.
(15)
The undercoat is very dense, commensurate,
however, with climatic conditions. The hair is short on the head, outside
the ears, and on the front part of the legs. The opening of the ear is
protected by tufts of hair. Ornamentation consists of
especially long and abundant hair, like a collarette around the neck,
particularly on males; fringe of long hair down the back of the forearm;
especially long and abundant hair trimming the breeches; long, heavy and
abundant hair on the tail. The female rarely has as long or as ornamented
a coat as the male. This disparity must not be a consideration when the
female is judged against the male. |
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Color – Body rich fawn to russet
mahogany with black overlay. The coat is characteristically
double pigmented wherein the tip of each fawn hair is blackened.
Belgian Tervuren characteristically becomes darker with
age. On mature males, this blackening is especially pronounced on the
shoulders, back and rib section. Blackening in patches is
undesirable. Although allowance should be made for females and
young males, absence of blackening in mature dogs is a serious fault.
Washed out, predominate color, such as cream or gray is to be
severely penalized.
Chest is normally black, but may be a mixture of
black and gray. A single white patch is permitted on the chest, not
to extend to the neck or breast. Face has a black mask and
the ears are mostly black. A face with a complete absence of black is a
serious fault. Frost or white on chin or muzzle is normal. The underparts of
the body, tail and breeches are cream, gray, or light beige. The
tail typically has a darker or black tip. Feet- The tips of the
toes may be white. Nail color may vary from black to transparent. Solid
black, solid liver or any area of white except as specified on the chest,
tips of the toes, chin and muzzle are disqualifications. |
Color - Body rich fawn to russet
mahogany with black overlay is ideal and preferred. Predominate color
that is pale, washed out, cream or gray is a fault.
(16)
The coat is characteristically double
pigmented whereby the tips of fawn hairs are blackened.
(17)
Belgian Tervuren characteristically become
(18)
darker with age. On mature males,
this blackening is especially pronounced on the shoulders, back and rib
section. Blackening in patches is a fault.
(19)
Although allowance should be made for females and young males, absence of
blackening in mature dogs is a serious fault.
Chest is normally black, but may be a mixture
of black and gray. White is permitted on the chest/sternum only, not to
extend more than 3 inches above the prosternum, and not to reach either
point of shoulder.
(20) Face has a
black mask and the ears are mostly black. A face with a complete
absence of black is a serious fault. Frost or white on chin or muzzle is
normal. The underparts of the body, tail, and breeches are cream,
gray, or light beige. The tail typically has a darker or black tip.
Feet - The tips of the toes may be white. Nail color may vary from
black to transparent. Solid black, solid liver or any area of white except
as specified on the chest, tips of the toes, chin and muzzle are
disqualifications. |
Gait -
Lively and graceful, covering the maximum ground with minimum effort. Always
in motion, seemingly never tiring, he shows ease of movement rather than
hard driving action. He single tracks at a fast gait, the legs both front
and rear converging toward the center line of gravity of
the dog. Viewed from the side he exhibits full extension of both fore and
hindquarters. The backline should remain firm and level, parallel to the
line of motion. His natural tendency is to move in a circle, rather than a
straight line. Padding, hackneying, weaving, crabbing and similar movement
faults are to be penalized according to the degree which
they interfere with the ability of the dog to work. |
Gait -
Lively and graceful, covering the maximum ground with minimum effort. Always
in motion, seemingly never tiring, he shows ease of movement rather than
hard driving action. He single tracks at a fast gait, the legs both front
and rear converging toward the centerline
(21)
of gravity of the dog. Viewed from
the side he exhibits full extension of both fore and hindquarters. The
backline should remain firm and level, parallel to the line of motion. His
natural tendency is to move in a circle, rather than a straight line.
Padding, hackneying, weaving, crabbing and similar movement faults are to be
penalized according to the degree with which
(22)
they interfere with the ability of
the dog to work. |
| Temperament -
In his relationship with humans he is observant and vigilant with
strangers, but not apprehensive. He does not show fear or shyness. He does
not show viciousness by unwarranted or unprovoked attack. He must be
approachable, standing his ground and showing confidence to meet overtures
without himself making them. With those he knows well, he is most
affectionate and friendly, zealous for their attention and very possessive.
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Temperament -
In his relationship with humans he is observant and vigilant with
strangers, but not apprehensive. He does not show fear or shyness. He does
not show viciousness by unwarranted or unprovoked attack. He must be
approachable, standing his ground and showing confidence to meet overtures
without himself making them. With those he knows well, he is most
affectionate and friendly, zealous for their attention and very possessive.
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Faults: Any deviation from these specifications is a
fault. In determining whether a fault is minor, serious, or major, these two
factors should be used as a guide:
1. The extent to which it deviates from the standard.
2. The extent to which such deviation would actually
affect the working ability of the dog.
(23) |
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DISQUALIFICATIONS
Males under 23 inches or over 26.5 inches or
females under 21 inches or over 24.5 inches.
Hanging ears, as on a hound.
Undershot teeth such that contact with the upper incisors
is lost by two or more of the lower incisors.
A cropped or stump tail.
Solid black, solid liver or any area of white except
as specified on the chest, tips of the toes, chin, and muzzle.
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DISQUALIFICATIONS
Males under 23 inches or over 26.5 inches or
females under 21 inches or over 24.5 inches.
Hanging ears, as on a hound.
***An undershot bite such that there is a complete
loss of contact by all the incisors.
A cropped or stump tail.
Solid black, solid liver or any area of white except
as specified on the chest, tips of the toes, chin, and muzzle.
*** The revised change under Disqualifications will only
appear if Revision # 8 is voted as a Yes for change.*** |
Official notification of the effective date for these
changes which passed will be announced by the AKC, and are not in force until
the date they specify.
Follow the hyperlinks to
the current Standard, and to its current "Breed
Type" interpretations by the Judges' Education Committee
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