Standard: Classic Rifle

Apr 2, 20146 min read

Deviation Actions

Isengard-breeds

Johan-N

Published: Apr 2, 2014

6.9K Views

_{Revised: Dec 27th 2023
Changes approved by Pedigree-Club on Jan 22nd 2024}

_{Country of origin: Sweden}

_{Breeds used: Rifle dog, beauceron & east-european shepherd}

_{Common use: Protection, livestock guardian
Groups: FCI- Group 2 Cattledog, AKC- Working, UKC- Guardian, KC- Working
FCI Champion requirement: 2 CACIBs and 1 CACIT

Background
The classic rifle is a breed that was created around early 1800's to serve as a livestock guardian and hunter. The dogs could be found roaming the large farms, confident and independent.
Two branches later evolved from the classic, the northern rifle and rifle royale by mixing in german shepherd and dobermann. The classic rifle didn't do as well in modern times and the numbers of them dwindled to the point of the breed being more or less extinct, though efforts to recreate the breed has been made and the breed is making a comeback.
To recreate the breed beauceron and east european shepherd was brought into the old stock. Due to the dropped ears of the beauceron the ears of the classic has softened, causing dropped and rose ears to occur within the breed. But the soft ears are now considered standard to avoid cutting off too much valuable breeding stock.}

The breed is in FCI Group 2 (cattledogs) as their nature is less that of a "living fence" type dog, and more of a livestock guardian.

_{General Appereance}

_{Large and powerful with the body appearing square and moderate.}

_{Males should have greater mass and be of a larger size compared to females.}

_{Important Proportions}

The length of the withers to the rump should be greater than the length of the withers to the ground.

_{Behaviour/Temperament}

_{Independent but loyal, the dog will form a strong bond to its family and it may take some time for it to warm up to strangers. However, the dog should never show signs of aggression.}

_{In general the classic rifle is affectionate and playful, with an eagerness to learn and please.}

_{Cranial Region}

Head: Broad head that appears quite heavy but shouldn't have too much loose skin.
_{Skull: Flat with moderate space between the ears and eyes.
Stop: Moderately pronounced.}

_{Facial Region
Muzzle:}Long, roman shaped nose, blocky muzzle with quite heavy flews. Females should have less lip. Nose can be any color.
_{Jaws/teeth: Strongly formed and powerful, scissor bite.
Eyes: Quite small with a friendly expression. Brown, amber, hazel or blue.}

_{Ears: Prick, rose or dropped. Dropped ears shouldn't be too heavy, be moderately sized and lay quite far back on the head. Ears with stronger cartilage may raise up to become prick as the dog gets older, and will naturally curl inwards at the tips, the stronger the cartilage the stronger the curled shape will be. A dog may have one ear dropped and one standing.}

_{Neck: Broad with lots of mass to it, but not too much loose skin.}

_{Body
Topline: Level with a clearly sloping croup.
Chest: Deep, reaching slightly below the elbows.
Underline and belly: Square body with a slightly visible tuck-up.
Paws: Short and tight, blocky appearance.}

Tail: Reaching the hocks, and may be straight or slightly curved, carried in a gentle sabre shape.

_{Stack: Placed four-square with broad distance between all paws.}

_Movement

_{Far-reaching without looking}strenuous_,_{and quite heavy without appearing lazy.
Hocks and pasterns should be firm and strong. Too much angulation in either is a fault.}

_Coat

_{Double coat with longer fur present along the throat and chest, called "silk".
The coat is very thick and compact, and the tail shouldn't look too bushy.}

_Color

_{All real dog genetics allowed. Fictional genetics link}

_{Eyes: Brown, amber, hazel or blue. Any mixture of these is allowed.
Nose: Any color is allowed (black, blue, liver, isabella, and pink spotting)}

_{Most common bases: Black, outlaw, wasteland, bay, sand, agouti, saddle, points
Most common markings: Palouse, mask, rawhide, merle, bronco, wrangler}

_Size

Males: 67-72 cm / 26.3-28.3 in (85-105lbs)
Females: 62-67 cm / 24.4-26.3 in (75-95lbs)

_Faults

Lacking longer fur on the throat/chest, called "silk".

Sway back or the rump raised above the withers.
Cow or sickle hocks.
Weak pasterns.
Shyness.

_{Prick ears not curled at the tips.}

_{Disqualifying faults}

_{Docked or bobbed tail}

_{Cropped ears}

_{Double merle / Double harlequin}

("MaM" Atypical merles are not to be considered unhealthy double merles due to one of the alleles being short. But these dogs should -not- be bred to other M dogs.)

_{Albino
Aggression}

_{Health:

Isengard breeds- Breed specific diseasesUpdated March 2024- DM test added to Kingshall, Akiulfr and Liulfr. vWd test added to Great Vildmarkens.
- - - - -Akiulfr - - - -
---- Body Scores
· Hips
· Elbows
· Patellas
· Eyes
---- Genetic Tests
· Progressive Retinal Atrophy, Progressive Rod-Cone Degeneration
· Degenerative Myelopathy
- - - - - Great Vildmarkens - - - - -
---- Body Scores
· Hips
· Elbows
· Patellas
· Eyes
---- Genetic Tests
· HUU Hyperuricosuria,
· PRA-PRCD, PRCD Progressive Retinal Atrophy, Progressive Rod-Cone Degeneration, SCID Severe Combined Immunodeficiency Disease (terrier)
- - - - King's Hall Hound - - - - -
---- Body Scores
· Hips
· Elbows
· Patellas
· Eyes
---- Genetic Tests
· PRA-PRCD, PRCD Progressive Retinal Atrophy, Progressive Rod-Cone Degeneration
Ichthyosis
· Degenerative Myelopathy
- - - - - Liulfr- - - -
---- Body Scores
· Hips
· Elbows
· Patellas
· Eye}