Breeding Standard - UTONAGAN

General Appearance - Large, strong and muscular but not heavy in build. Should reflect an overall balance of power, speed and agility. Should show characteristics bearing a likeness to the Wolf, including its diversity of colours, i.e. should make one instantly think of a wolf.

Characteristics - A dog of strong constitution, being very versatile in his use. Active, alert, capable of endurance. Energetic and enthusiastic towards most disciplines with quick reactions.

Temperament -The temperament should be exemplary, friendly and intelligent with no hint of aggression whatsoever.

Head and Skull -The head should not be too broad, or overly domed and should be in proportion to the size of dog. The stop should be slight, not too severe. Muzzle slightly longer than the skull, lips firm and closing tightly. Nose leather should be black, lack of pigmentation to nose leather to be considered a fault.

Eyes - Almond in shape. Colour ranging from Brown to amber or yellow (preferred). Blue eyes to be considered a fault.

Ears - Small in comparison to head. Set well spaced so as to create a triangular cast to overall shape of face. Slightly rounded at tip. Soft ears to be considered a fault.

Mouth - A long tapered muzzle with well developed powerful jaws is preferred. Flews should be black and tight. Complete dentition and perfect scissor bite, i.e. upper teeth closely overlapping lower teeth and set square to jaws. Lips Black. Undershot or overshot jaws are highly undesirable.

Neck - Fairly long and strong with well developed muscles.

Forequarters - Shoulders moderately sloping. Forelegs long, straight & fine boned in comparison to body. Viewed from the front, forelegs narrowly spaced, parallel and straight with elbows close to the body, turning neither in nor out. Length from elbow to ground, slightly more than the distance from elbow to withers. Pasterns strong.

Body - Streamlined chest. Body fairly long with level topline from withers to croup. Slight slope of croup acceptable. Ribs well formed and long. Loins well muscled and taut with slight tuck up.

Hindquarters - Viewed from the rear, hind legs well spaced and parallel. Thighs well muscled and powerful, reasonable bend of stifle with strong hocks.
Feet - Front paws large, oval in shape, turning neither in nor out when viewed from the front in a normal stance. Back paws smaller and when viewed from the rear in normal stance, preferably forward facing. Paws webbed. Dew claws on hind feet to be considered a fault.

Tail - Should be evenly furred but not overly feathered. Should hang straight to the hock. Carried straight and high when excited or at a trot. Should not curl over the back, or present in front of the vertical. Spitz/curly tails are to be considered a fault regardless of degree of curl. Black tail tip and black diamond shaped scent gland mark preferable in coloured dogs.

Gait - Long, loping and effortless with powerful drive from the hindquarters.

Coat - Thick double coat preferred, preferably with mane during winter months. Short flat/long flat coat are both acceptable but less desirable. Guard hairs of outer coat straight and smooth lying. In longer coated dogs, excessive feathering around ears, abdomen, legs and tail is not desirable.

Colour - Colours allowable: grizzled combination of grey, black, tan and buff all with clearly defined mask, single colours of black, white or apricot. White with mask.

Pied or ink marked colours undesirable.

Height - Bitches 23 ins and above to top of withers. Dogs 25 ins and above to top of withers. Height should be taken into consideration with overall appearance.

Weight - Approximately 55-90 lbs though weight should be in proportion to height, age and frame and be neither overly lean nor overly heavy.