THE AUSTRALIAN BREED STANDARD

GENERAL APPEARANCE: should be small, active and alert.
The outline should give a  well balanced appearance, slightly longer in body than height at withers.

CHARACTERISTIC: gay and assertive, highly intelligent, aloof with
strangers.

HEAD AND SKULL: small in proportion to body and proudly carried giving an impression of quality. Masculine in dogs but free from coarseness. Skull slightly domed, moderate width and length. Stop slight, but defined. Medium length of muzzle, blunt with cushioning from wrinkle.
The chin should show some depth and width. Nose black preferred.

EYES: dark brown in colour, oval in shape, bright and expressive,
of medium size set fairly well apart but forward looking, giving an ape like expression. Eye rims black.

EARS: medium size, pendant, well feathered in the adult and set fairly high. They may have a slight lift from the skull, but should not fly. Large, heavy, low set ears are not typical.

MOUTH: ideally slightly undershot, the upper incisors fitting neatly inside touching the lower  incisors. Teeth should be evenly placed and the lower jaw wide between the canine    tusks. Full dentition desired. A level mouth is permissible provided there is sufficient    width and depth of chin to preserve the blunt appearance of Muzzle. Teeth must not    show when mouth is closed.

NECK: moderately short, strong and well set on. Covered with a mane or ‘shawl’ of longer hair, which is more pronounced in dogs than bitches.

FOREQUARTERS: the bones of the forelegs slightly bowed but firm at shoulder. Moderate bone. Shoulder well placed.

BODY: slightly longer from point of shoulder to root of tail than height at withers, well ribbed with good depth, level back.

HINDQUARTERS: well made and strong, hocks well let down and straight when viewed from behind. Stifle well developed, showing moderate angulation.

FEET: hare footed, small and neat with feathering between toes often
extending beyond the feet. White markings allowed.

TAIL: set high, richly plumed and carried in a gay curl over the back when moving. Should not be penalized for dropping tail when standing.

GAIT: quick moving, straight, free, positive.

COAT: double coat, silky in texture, smooth on face and front of legs,
moderate length on body, but lying rather flat. Ears and back of forelegs
nicely feathered, tail and buttocks well furnished with longer hair should
not be overcoated and bitches tend to carry less coat and mane than dogs.

COLOUR: all colours and mixture of colours allowed.

SIZE: weight 9-15 lbs. being ideal height about 10 inches.

FAULTS: large full eyes, broad fiat muzzle, very domed or flat wide skull, accentuated stop, pointed weak or wrinkled muzzle, overshot mouth, long plain face without stop, very bowed or loose front, straight stifle, cow hocks, nervousness cat feet, coarseness of type, mean expression, liver or putty coloured pigmentation, light eyes, protruding tongue.

NOTE: male animals should have two apparently normal testicles fully
descended into the scrotum.

Overseas visitors please note: Tibetan Spaniels in Australia have been judged in Group 1 since 1985.