Lionhead Proposed Working Standard
Theresa Mueller (Revised November 2011)
Varieties: Ruby-Eyed White and Tortoise (Black, Blue, Chocolate, & Lilac)
Other CODS: Blue, Blue-Eyed White, Blue Point, Chestnut Agouti, Chocolate, Otter,
Pointed White, Red, Sable Point, Seal, Siamese Sable, Silver Marten & Smoke Pearl.
SCHEDULE OF POINTS
GENERAL TYPE.........................................................................40
Body...............................................25
Head...............................................10
Ears..................................................5
FUR................................................................................................45
Mane.............................................. 35
Coat............................................... 10
COLOR.........................................................................................10
CONDITION..................................................................................5
TOTAL...................................................................................................100
SHOWROOM CLASSES & WEIGHTS
Senior Buck & Does - 6 months of age and over, not over 3 3/4 pounds.
Junior Bucks & Does- Under 6 months of age, not over 3 1/2 pounds. Minimum weight 1 pound 10 oz.
Note: Juniors which exceed the maximum weight limit may be shown in higher age classifications.
No animal may be shown in a lower age classification than its true age.
Each variety is to be exhibited individually.
Note: Lionheads should be posed with front feet resting lightly on the table. When viewed from the front, the stance is high enough to show full chest and mane. In order to correctly evaluate head mount and stance, the head should not be pushed or forced down. Image at right shows correct stance.
GENERAL TYPE
BODY - Points 25: The body is to be short, compact and well rounded. The shoulders and chest are to be broad and well filled, with shoulders matching hindquarters. The depth at the shoulders should be deep enough to allow the animal to show full chest and then round back to hindquarters of slightly less depth. The hindquarters are to be broad, deep and well rounded. The lower hips should be well filled. Legs should be of medium length and medium bone, relative to the size of the animal.
Faults: Long, narrow body; flatness over shoulders or hips; chopped off, pinched, or undercut hindquarters; any specimen that shows raciness.
HEAD - Points 10: The head should be bold. It should have a good width and a slight roundness between the eyes, but should not be round from all directions. The muzzle should be well filled. The head should be attached to the body with a high head mount and no visible neck. Eyes should be bright and bold. Eye color to be as described in the individual variety.
Faults: A long, narrow head; pointed or narrow muzzle; low headset; head that is round from all directions.
EARS - Points 5: Ears are to be erect and well set, but not necessarily touching. When relaxed, ears will be carried in a slight “V". They should be well furred, of good substance, and slightly rounded at the tips. Ears should balance with the head and body.
Faults: Ears that are pointed, lack furring, or do not balance with the body. Heavy wool more than halfway up the ear.
Disqualification from Competition: Ears that exceed 3-1/2 inches in length.
FUR & WOOL
Note: “Transition wool” is defined as significantly shorter wool on the hips or face of the Lionhead rabbit.
MANE - Points 35: The mane is comprised of wool which is strong and full of life with a medium soft texture and an evident crimp. Softer wool on juniors is permissible. Guard hairs may be present, but should not create a coarse feeling to the wool. The mane must be at least 2 inches in length and form a full circle around the head which may extend into a “V” at the back of the neck. The wool of the mane should be dense enough to make the mane full and prominent. The greatest density possible is desired. The mane may form a wool cap across the brow, which should enhance the prominence of the mane. The center of the foreface below the wool cap may have transition wool up to 1” in length. The cheeks extending into the whisker bed may be heavily trimmed. The side trimmings and chest wool may be noticeably longer in length.
Faults: A mane that lacks density or balance; wool that is too cottony or prone to felting on seniors.
Disqualifications from Competition:
*Lack of any mane, or a mane that is of such poor quality that it shows open areas with no wool.
*Mane that is less than 2 inches in length.
*Transition Wool longer than 1 inch on the face below the wool cap
Note: Only the quality of the wool of the mane is used when judging Lionhead wool. The quality of the transition wool, found on the lower sides and rump, is never taken into consideration.
COAT - Points 10: (Rollback) The fur should be soft, dense, of medium length, and prime. It should show lots of life and glossiness. The saddle must be clean of wool. Transition wool is allowed on the flanks and lower hips.
Faults: Fur that is long, thin, or poor in texture; transition wool that is longer than 2 inches.
Disqualifications from Competition:
*Wool in the saddle area.
*Lack of a break between the wool of the mane and any transition wool on the flanks & hips. The break between the mane and transition wool should be clear and distinct, easily seen when the animal is posed.
If there is a question, simply lift the longer mane wool up, which should reveal the break of normal fur
between the mane wool and any transition wool on the flanks and hips. Junior animals tend to carry more
transition wool and should be given more leniencies as long as the side break is clearly evident.
*Transition wool over 4 inches in length on the flanks and lower hips.
COLOR – Points 10: The fur, wool, and eye color is to be as described under each variety.
CONDITION – Points 5: As per ARBA definition
COLOR DESCRIPTIONS:
When judging color on the Lionhead it is important to remember that the wooled areas may be more diffused in color.
RUBY EYED WHITE - Color is to be a pure white and uniform throughout. Eyes - Pink.
TORTOISE (Black, Blue, Chocolate or Lilac): Black and Chocolate color is to be a rusty orange on the saddle; Blue and Lilac color is to be a light fawn on the saddle; with all varieties blending to a shading of darker color over the lower rump, haunches, belly, & feet. The color is to extend well down the hair shaft to an off-white under-color. Top of the tail is to match the body color. Underside of the tail is to match the shadings, as near as possible. Shading on the head is darkest at the whisker bed, blending into a lighter shade along the jaw line and darkening again at the ear base, blending up the ears to match the body color Eyes - Black and Chocolate are to be Brown. Eyes - Blue and Lilac are to be Blue-Grey. Ruby cast on Chocolate and Lilac varieties permissible.
Faults: Saddle color too light or too dark; Lack of bold shadings; Stray white hairs; Underside of tail too light in color
Colors on C.O.D.’s other than the Mueller Working Standard
BLUE: The surface color is to be dark blue over the entire animals, extending well down the hair shaft with a lighter blue undercolor. Eyes: Blue-Gray
Faults: Fault animals for having faded color, scattered white hairs, or a light undercolor.
BLUE-EYED WHITE - Color is to be a pure white and uniform throughout. Eyes - Blue.
BLUE POINT: Color on the nose, ears, feet, legs and tail is to be a rich smoke gray color. The marking color is to shade rapidly to a creamy body color with as little shading as possible. The entire upper body is to be a creamy color with a lighter creamy white undercolor. A slightly deeper body color may occur along the saddle but is not desirable. Body surface color is to be lighter than the point color to give proper contrast. Darker shading is permissible around the eyes. The ideal is an animal whose surface color is light enough to give good contrast with the point color. Toenails are to be horn color and dark as possible. Difference in pigmentation between rear and front toenails is permitted, but all front toenails should match and all rear toenails should match. Eyes – Blue-gray.
Faults: Blotchy surface color on body; animals with body smut in such an excess as to almost appear Siamese Sable in color; markings too light to provide good contrast with the body; light color on the underside on the tail
Disqualifications from Competition: White underside on the tail; martenized markings, non-matching toenails on the same foot or corresponding foot, white toenails.
CHESTNUT AGOUTI: Body and tail are to be a rich chestnut shade with black ticking over an intermediate orange band and a dark slate undercolor. Ears are to be laced in black. Eye circles and underside of the tail are to be white. Belly is to be white with slate blue undercolor. Transitional and mane wool may affect the ring pattern and is to be taken into consideration when judging the animal. Eyes: Brown
Faults: Indistinct or faded orange band; too light or dark in surface color.
CHOCOLATE - The surface color is to be a rich dark chocolate brown over the entire animal and extending well down the hair shaft. The undercolor is to be a dove-gray. Toenails to be a uniform dark brown. Eyes - Brown. Ruby cast permissible, but not desirable.
Faults: Faded, rusty or "yellowed" color, scattered white hairs, light undercolor.
OTTER (Black, Blue, Chocolate and Lilac): Otters should not be judged as a marked variety. Markings are to be the final consideration after type, fur and body color. Surface & Undercolor: The surface & undercolor of the head, outside of the ears, front of the fore feet, outside of the hind feet, and the top and sides of the body are to be as described in the respective self varieties. Markings: Black and Chocolate animals will have orange to creamy orange marking color, while Blue and Lilac animals will have fawn markings and ticking color. The belly, nostrils, eye circles, jowls, underside of the tail, inside of the ears, back of the fore feet and the inside of the hind feet and legs are to be creamy white, highlighted by an orange or fawn marking as it meets the self color of the body. The border color between the belly and flanks shall continue down to the hind feet as it meets the color of the body. The undercolor of the belly is to be as described in the respective self varieties. The triangle and collar are to be orange to creamy white. No ticking is preferred. The eye color is to be as described in the respective self varieties.
Faults: Brown or rusty tinge on body color; orange to creamy orange hairs in areas other than the patterned areas; mealiness on the ears, head, muzzle; faded or indistinct markings. Scattered white hairs over the body.
POINTED WHITE (Black, Blue Chocolate, and Lilac): Body color is to be pure white. Markings may be Black, Blue, Chocolate, or Lilac, and must be present on the nose, ears, feet & tail. Allowances should be made for developing color on juniors. Toenails must show color. Eyes: Pink.
Faults: Markings extremely faded, frosted appearance to the marking color.
Disqualification from Competition: Any Tan Pattern marking appearing in the marking pattern.
RED: Color is to be a brilliant red, carried as uniformly over the body as possible. Color to be carried well down the hair shaft to the skin. The wool will soften or diffuse color in the mane area of the coat and transitional wool in Juniors so that it may appear lighter than the body color and must be taken into consideration when judging. Belly color may vary from body color (preferred) to a dark cream. Underside of tail and eye circles may also be a lighter shade of red to cream. Eyes: Dark Brown.
Faults: Lack of intensity and brilliance. Color dark and muddy or too light. Extremely light belly color. Light toenails. Smut on body. Ear lacing.
Disqualification from Competition: Heavy smut or ear lacing. White belly color or white underside of tail. White toenails.
SABLE POINT: Color on the nose, ears, feet, legs, and tail is to be a rich sepia brown color. The marking color is to shade rapidly to a creamy body color with as little shading as possible. The entire upper body is to be creamy color with a lighter almost white undercolor. The ideal is an animal whose surface color is light enough to give good contrast with the point color. Eyes: Brown
Faults: Blotchy surface color on body, markings too light to provide good contrast with the body or too dark to the point of detracting from the creamy nature of the color.
SEAL: Color is to be rich sepia brown (bordering on black) on the saddle from the nape of the neck to the tail, shading to a just slightly lighter tint on the flanks, chest, and belly. Color is to carry well down the hair shaft with under color to match shadings throughout. Toenails must be a uniform dark brown. Eyes- Brown; Ruby cast permissible but not desirable.
Faults: Faded or rusty tinge, body color too dark to show contrast in shadings, body color too light.
SIAMESE SABLE: The surface color is to be a rich sepia brown on the head, ears, back, outside of legs, and top of tail. The surface color will fade to a lighter sepia on the sides, chest, belly, inside of legs, and underside of the tail. Dark face color is to fade from the eyes to the jaws and all blending of color is to be gradual and free from blotches or streaks. The under color will be slightly lighter than the surface color. Eyes: Brown. Ruby Cast Permissable.
Faults: Streaks, blotches, or poor color blending, scattered white hairs, or lack of darker color in the loin area.
SILVER MARTEN (Black, Blue, Chocolate and Lilac): The surface color of the head, outside of the ears, front of fore feet, outside of the hind feet, and the top and sides of the body are to be the surface and undercolor as described in the respective self varieties. The nostrils, eye circles, jowls, inside of the ears, triangle, collar, back of the fore feet, inside of the hind feet and legs, belly, and underside of the tail are to be silver-white in color. The triangle and the collar may white and may be slightly soften or defuse color due to the wool of the mane. Prominent silver-white guard hairs are to be evenly distributed around the sides and chest. Eyes - The eye color is to be as described in the respective self-varieties.
Faults: Fault animals with mealiness on the ears, head, or body. Scattered white hairs or indistinct markings
SMOKE PEARL: The surface color is to be a rich smoke gray on the head, ears, back, outside of legs and top of tail. The surface color will fade to a pearl gray on the sides, chest, belly, inside legs and underside of tail. Dark face color is to fade from the eyes to the jaws and all blending of color is to be gradual and free from blotches and streaks. The undercolor will be slightly lighter than the surface color. Dark toenails are preferred, but light toenails showing pigmentation are permissible. Difference in pigmentation between rear and front toenails is permitted, but all front toenails should match and all rear toenails should match. Eyes – Blue-gray. Ruby cast permissible.
Faults: Streaks, blotches or poor color blending; scattered white hairs; lack of darker color in the loin area; animals that are too light or too dark are undesirable.
Disqualifications from Competition: Non-matching toenails on the same foot or corresponding foot, white toenails.
Theresa Mueller (Revised November 2011)
Varieties: Ruby-Eyed White and Tortoise (Black, Blue, Chocolate, & Lilac)
Other CODS: Blue, Blue-Eyed White, Blue Point, Chestnut Agouti, Chocolate, Otter,
Pointed White, Red, Sable Point, Seal, Siamese Sable, Silver Marten & Smoke Pearl.
SCHEDULE OF POINTS
GENERAL TYPE.........................................................................40
Body...............................................25
Head...............................................10
Ears..................................................5
FUR................................................................................................45
Mane.............................................. 35
Coat............................................... 10
COLOR.........................................................................................10
CONDITION..................................................................................5
TOTAL...................................................................................................100
SHOWROOM CLASSES & WEIGHTS
Senior Buck & Does - 6 months of age and over, not over 3 3/4 pounds.
Junior Bucks & Does- Under 6 months of age, not over 3 1/2 pounds. Minimum weight 1 pound 10 oz.
Note: Juniors which exceed the maximum weight limit may be shown in higher age classifications.
No animal may be shown in a lower age classification than its true age.
Each variety is to be exhibited individually.
Note: Lionheads should be posed with front feet resting lightly on the table. When viewed from the front, the stance is high enough to show full chest and mane. In order to correctly evaluate head mount and stance, the head should not be pushed or forced down. Image at right shows correct stance.
GENERAL TYPE
BODY - Points 25: The body is to be short, compact and well rounded. The shoulders and chest are to be broad and well filled, with shoulders matching hindquarters. The depth at the shoulders should be deep enough to allow the animal to show full chest and then round back to hindquarters of slightly less depth. The hindquarters are to be broad, deep and well rounded. The lower hips should be well filled. Legs should be of medium length and medium bone, relative to the size of the animal.
Faults: Long, narrow body; flatness over shoulders or hips; chopped off, pinched, or undercut hindquarters; any specimen that shows raciness.
HEAD - Points 10: The head should be bold. It should have a good width and a slight roundness between the eyes, but should not be round from all directions. The muzzle should be well filled. The head should be attached to the body with a high head mount and no visible neck. Eyes should be bright and bold. Eye color to be as described in the individual variety.
Faults: A long, narrow head; pointed or narrow muzzle; low headset; head that is round from all directions.
EARS - Points 5: Ears are to be erect and well set, but not necessarily touching. When relaxed, ears will be carried in a slight “V". They should be well furred, of good substance, and slightly rounded at the tips. Ears should balance with the head and body.
Faults: Ears that are pointed, lack furring, or do not balance with the body. Heavy wool more than halfway up the ear.
Disqualification from Competition: Ears that exceed 3-1/2 inches in length.
FUR & WOOL
Note: “Transition wool” is defined as significantly shorter wool on the hips or face of the Lionhead rabbit.
MANE - Points 35: The mane is comprised of wool which is strong and full of life with a medium soft texture and an evident crimp. Softer wool on juniors is permissible. Guard hairs may be present, but should not create a coarse feeling to the wool. The mane must be at least 2 inches in length and form a full circle around the head which may extend into a “V” at the back of the neck. The wool of the mane should be dense enough to make the mane full and prominent. The greatest density possible is desired. The mane may form a wool cap across the brow, which should enhance the prominence of the mane. The center of the foreface below the wool cap may have transition wool up to 1” in length. The cheeks extending into the whisker bed may be heavily trimmed. The side trimmings and chest wool may be noticeably longer in length.
Faults: A mane that lacks density or balance; wool that is too cottony or prone to felting on seniors.
Disqualifications from Competition:
*Lack of any mane, or a mane that is of such poor quality that it shows open areas with no wool.
*Mane that is less than 2 inches in length.
*Transition Wool longer than 1 inch on the face below the wool cap
Note: Only the quality of the wool of the mane is used when judging Lionhead wool. The quality of the transition wool, found on the lower sides and rump, is never taken into consideration.
COAT - Points 10: (Rollback) The fur should be soft, dense, of medium length, and prime. It should show lots of life and glossiness. The saddle must be clean of wool. Transition wool is allowed on the flanks and lower hips.
Faults: Fur that is long, thin, or poor in texture; transition wool that is longer than 2 inches.
Disqualifications from Competition:
*Wool in the saddle area.
*Lack of a break between the wool of the mane and any transition wool on the flanks & hips. The break between the mane and transition wool should be clear and distinct, easily seen when the animal is posed.
If there is a question, simply lift the longer mane wool up, which should reveal the break of normal fur
between the mane wool and any transition wool on the flanks and hips. Junior animals tend to carry more
transition wool and should be given more leniencies as long as the side break is clearly evident.
*Transition wool over 4 inches in length on the flanks and lower hips.
COLOR – Points 10: The fur, wool, and eye color is to be as described under each variety.
CONDITION – Points 5: As per ARBA definition
COLOR DESCRIPTIONS:
When judging color on the Lionhead it is important to remember that the wooled areas may be more diffused in color.
RUBY EYED WHITE - Color is to be a pure white and uniform throughout. Eyes - Pink.
TORTOISE (Black, Blue, Chocolate or Lilac): Black and Chocolate color is to be a rusty orange on the saddle; Blue and Lilac color is to be a light fawn on the saddle; with all varieties blending to a shading of darker color over the lower rump, haunches, belly, & feet. The color is to extend well down the hair shaft to an off-white under-color. Top of the tail is to match the body color. Underside of the tail is to match the shadings, as near as possible. Shading on the head is darkest at the whisker bed, blending into a lighter shade along the jaw line and darkening again at the ear base, blending up the ears to match the body color Eyes - Black and Chocolate are to be Brown. Eyes - Blue and Lilac are to be Blue-Grey. Ruby cast on Chocolate and Lilac varieties permissible.
Faults: Saddle color too light or too dark; Lack of bold shadings; Stray white hairs; Underside of tail too light in color
Colors on C.O.D.’s other than the Mueller Working Standard
BLUE: The surface color is to be dark blue over the entire animals, extending well down the hair shaft with a lighter blue undercolor. Eyes: Blue-Gray
Faults: Fault animals for having faded color, scattered white hairs, or a light undercolor.
BLUE-EYED WHITE - Color is to be a pure white and uniform throughout. Eyes - Blue.
BLUE POINT: Color on the nose, ears, feet, legs and tail is to be a rich smoke gray color. The marking color is to shade rapidly to a creamy body color with as little shading as possible. The entire upper body is to be a creamy color with a lighter creamy white undercolor. A slightly deeper body color may occur along the saddle but is not desirable. Body surface color is to be lighter than the point color to give proper contrast. Darker shading is permissible around the eyes. The ideal is an animal whose surface color is light enough to give good contrast with the point color. Toenails are to be horn color and dark as possible. Difference in pigmentation between rear and front toenails is permitted, but all front toenails should match and all rear toenails should match. Eyes – Blue-gray.
Faults: Blotchy surface color on body; animals with body smut in such an excess as to almost appear Siamese Sable in color; markings too light to provide good contrast with the body; light color on the underside on the tail
Disqualifications from Competition: White underside on the tail; martenized markings, non-matching toenails on the same foot or corresponding foot, white toenails.
CHESTNUT AGOUTI: Body and tail are to be a rich chestnut shade with black ticking over an intermediate orange band and a dark slate undercolor. Ears are to be laced in black. Eye circles and underside of the tail are to be white. Belly is to be white with slate blue undercolor. Transitional and mane wool may affect the ring pattern and is to be taken into consideration when judging the animal. Eyes: Brown
Faults: Indistinct or faded orange band; too light or dark in surface color.
CHOCOLATE - The surface color is to be a rich dark chocolate brown over the entire animal and extending well down the hair shaft. The undercolor is to be a dove-gray. Toenails to be a uniform dark brown. Eyes - Brown. Ruby cast permissible, but not desirable.
Faults: Faded, rusty or "yellowed" color, scattered white hairs, light undercolor.
OTTER (Black, Blue, Chocolate and Lilac): Otters should not be judged as a marked variety. Markings are to be the final consideration after type, fur and body color. Surface & Undercolor: The surface & undercolor of the head, outside of the ears, front of the fore feet, outside of the hind feet, and the top and sides of the body are to be as described in the respective self varieties. Markings: Black and Chocolate animals will have orange to creamy orange marking color, while Blue and Lilac animals will have fawn markings and ticking color. The belly, nostrils, eye circles, jowls, underside of the tail, inside of the ears, back of the fore feet and the inside of the hind feet and legs are to be creamy white, highlighted by an orange or fawn marking as it meets the self color of the body. The border color between the belly and flanks shall continue down to the hind feet as it meets the color of the body. The undercolor of the belly is to be as described in the respective self varieties. The triangle and collar are to be orange to creamy white. No ticking is preferred. The eye color is to be as described in the respective self varieties.
Faults: Brown or rusty tinge on body color; orange to creamy orange hairs in areas other than the patterned areas; mealiness on the ears, head, muzzle; faded or indistinct markings. Scattered white hairs over the body.
POINTED WHITE (Black, Blue Chocolate, and Lilac): Body color is to be pure white. Markings may be Black, Blue, Chocolate, or Lilac, and must be present on the nose, ears, feet & tail. Allowances should be made for developing color on juniors. Toenails must show color. Eyes: Pink.
Faults: Markings extremely faded, frosted appearance to the marking color.
Disqualification from Competition: Any Tan Pattern marking appearing in the marking pattern.
RED: Color is to be a brilliant red, carried as uniformly over the body as possible. Color to be carried well down the hair shaft to the skin. The wool will soften or diffuse color in the mane area of the coat and transitional wool in Juniors so that it may appear lighter than the body color and must be taken into consideration when judging. Belly color may vary from body color (preferred) to a dark cream. Underside of tail and eye circles may also be a lighter shade of red to cream. Eyes: Dark Brown.
Faults: Lack of intensity and brilliance. Color dark and muddy or too light. Extremely light belly color. Light toenails. Smut on body. Ear lacing.
Disqualification from Competition: Heavy smut or ear lacing. White belly color or white underside of tail. White toenails.
SABLE POINT: Color on the nose, ears, feet, legs, and tail is to be a rich sepia brown color. The marking color is to shade rapidly to a creamy body color with as little shading as possible. The entire upper body is to be creamy color with a lighter almost white undercolor. The ideal is an animal whose surface color is light enough to give good contrast with the point color. Eyes: Brown
Faults: Blotchy surface color on body, markings too light to provide good contrast with the body or too dark to the point of detracting from the creamy nature of the color.
SEAL: Color is to be rich sepia brown (bordering on black) on the saddle from the nape of the neck to the tail, shading to a just slightly lighter tint on the flanks, chest, and belly. Color is to carry well down the hair shaft with under color to match shadings throughout. Toenails must be a uniform dark brown. Eyes- Brown; Ruby cast permissible but not desirable.
Faults: Faded or rusty tinge, body color too dark to show contrast in shadings, body color too light.
SIAMESE SABLE: The surface color is to be a rich sepia brown on the head, ears, back, outside of legs, and top of tail. The surface color will fade to a lighter sepia on the sides, chest, belly, inside of legs, and underside of the tail. Dark face color is to fade from the eyes to the jaws and all blending of color is to be gradual and free from blotches or streaks. The under color will be slightly lighter than the surface color. Eyes: Brown. Ruby Cast Permissable.
Faults: Streaks, blotches, or poor color blending, scattered white hairs, or lack of darker color in the loin area.
SILVER MARTEN (Black, Blue, Chocolate and Lilac): The surface color of the head, outside of the ears, front of fore feet, outside of the hind feet, and the top and sides of the body are to be the surface and undercolor as described in the respective self varieties. The nostrils, eye circles, jowls, inside of the ears, triangle, collar, back of the fore feet, inside of the hind feet and legs, belly, and underside of the tail are to be silver-white in color. The triangle and the collar may white and may be slightly soften or defuse color due to the wool of the mane. Prominent silver-white guard hairs are to be evenly distributed around the sides and chest. Eyes - The eye color is to be as described in the respective self-varieties.
Faults: Fault animals with mealiness on the ears, head, or body. Scattered white hairs or indistinct markings
SMOKE PEARL: The surface color is to be a rich smoke gray on the head, ears, back, outside of legs and top of tail. The surface color will fade to a pearl gray on the sides, chest, belly, inside legs and underside of tail. Dark face color is to fade from the eyes to the jaws and all blending of color is to be gradual and free from blotches and streaks. The undercolor will be slightly lighter than the surface color. Dark toenails are preferred, but light toenails showing pigmentation are permissible. Difference in pigmentation between rear and front toenails is permitted, but all front toenails should match and all rear toenails should match. Eyes – Blue-gray. Ruby cast permissible.
Faults: Streaks, blotches or poor color blending; scattered white hairs; lack of darker color in the loin area; animals that are too light or too dark are undesirable.
Disqualifications from Competition: Non-matching toenails on the same foot or corresponding foot, white toenails.