Decker Terrier Breed Standard



General Appearance

The Decker Terrier is an agile, active medium bodied hunting Terrier. They are tenacious and fearless in the field. When Decker Terriers are not hunting, they are friendly, loyal companions and family pets. Decker Terriers are confident and regal in appearance making them a striking dog even to the untrained eye. The body is slightly longer than tall, well boned with good muscle definition. The head is moderately broad with a wedge shape, moderate stop and wedge shaped muzzle. Ears are set to the outside edges of the skull and are V-shaped. Erect ear carriage is preferred but tipped/button is acceptable. The tail is straight, set high and normally docked. The skin is thick and the coat is dense, slick and with a sheen. The Decker Terrier is traditionally tri colored in a variety of patterns but, may also be bi colored. Allowed colors are black, white, tan (in all shades) and apricot in patterns listed below. The Decker Terrier should be evaluated as a working Terrier and exaggerations or faults should be penalized in proportion to how much they interfere with the dog's ability to work. Scars should neither be penalized nor regarded as proof of a Decker Terrier's working abilities.

Characteristics
The Decker Terrier is a multi-purpose dog with a keen prey drive that is capable of (and bred for) hunting a variety of game including vermin, upland game, deer, raccoon, hogs, squirrels etc. He is gritty, feisty and tough yet never out of control, quick, alert, agile and fleet. Decker's are also wonderful companion dogs that will become an integral part of the family for many years. They are loving lap dogs that live to share a place on the couch with their people and wonderful with children when raised with them. The Decker is of superior intelligence and capable of amazing problem solving abilities. A Decker Terrier responds better to training if it has abundant human contact. These dogs need to be with their people and are loyal beyond description. Decker Terriers should not be sparred during conformation judging.

Temperament
The Decker Terrier is true to its heritage by being a superb hunter. He is gritty, feisty and tough, quick, alert, agile and fleet. They are intelligent and are problem solvers given almost any situation.

Head
The head is proportionate to the size of the body. When viewed from the side, the skull and muzzle are of equal length and joined by a moderate stop. The Decker Terrier's head forms a blunt wedge shape.
Skull- slightly rounded and moderately broad on top, wrinkling is common. Cheeks are muscular but not overdeveloped. The Decker Terrier's head forms a blunt wedge shape.
Stop- Moderate, tapered not abrupt.
Muzzle- The muzzle is well filled-out under the eyes, well-chiseled, wedge shaped and blunt at the nose. Jaws are powerful and hinged well back to enable the dog to catch small animals and vermin. When viewed from the side, the skull and muzzle should be of equal length.
Fault-Snipey muzzle, excessive cheekiness

Teeth
The Decker Terrier has a complete set of comparatively large, evenly spaced, white teeth. A scissors bite is preferred but, a level bite is acceptable.
Fault-Overshot or undershot

Nose
The nose is black or self colored and fully pigmented.
Faults-Dudley or butterfly nose.

Eyes
The eyes are dark hazel to dark brown/amber in color corresponding to coat color. They are almond-shaped, obliquely set with an alert expression. The rims are dark
Fault- light eye
DQ Blue eye

Ears
Ears are V-shaped, set at the outside edges of the skull. Ears are either erect, tipped or button when the dog is alert. Erect ear set is strongly preferred. NOTE: Ear carriage may not stabilize until the dog is mature. Dogs under one year of age should not be penalized for variations in ear carriage.
Fault-Rose ears, tulip ears, bat ears, flying ears, mismatched ear set after one year of age.
DQ Hanging ears

Lips
Lips are dry and tight with no flaws. Lip pigment matches nose pigment.
Fault-Lips that overhang hiding the lower jaw or sagging flews

Neck
Clean, slightly arched, strong and muscular in appearance yet not loaded, widening into the shoulder. There should be no hint of throatiness.
Fault-Bull neck, swan neck
DQ Throaty neck

Forequarters
Shoulders are long, sloping, well laid back and clearly cut at the withers. The forelegs are strong, straight and well boned. The elbows are set close to the body but, able to move freely in action. The pasterns are short, powerful, straight and flexible. Viewed from any angle, the forelegs are straight, strong, and sturdy in bone. The pasterns are strong, short and nearly vertical.
Fault-Bowed legs, fiddle front, down in the pasterns, toeing out, knuckling over or any other misalignment of joints, out at the elbow.

Shoulders
Shoulders are smoothly muscled. the shoulder blades are well laid back with the upper tips fairly close together at the withers. The length from the elbow to the top of the shoulder appears to be the same length as the distance from the elbow to the ground. The elbows are close to the body. Viewed from any angle, the forelegs are straight, strong, and sturdy in bone. The pasterns are strong, short and nearly vertical.

Chest
Fairly deep and with ribs extending well back and are well sprung out from the spine. When viewed from the front, moderately wide between the shoulders allowing straight placement for the legs. The brisket descends to or just below the elbow. When viewed from the side the fore chest extends in a shallow oval shape in front of the forelegs.
Fault-Narrow chest, excessive barrel chest or one that lacks depth in brisket.

Front legs
Straight with ample bone and proportion placed well under the body. Feet pointed forward and at the same distance apart from between the elbows and at the feet. Forearm and upper arm are of approximately equal distance, forearm being slightly longer .
Fault-Turned in or out, Bow legged

Elbow
Free from the body, held close and perpendicular. When viewed from the front, elbows should not be visible.
Fault-Turning neither in nor out, bow legged.

Body
A properly proportioned Decker Terrier is slightly longer (measured from prosternum to point of buttocks) than tall (measured from the withers to the ground), and length of the leg (measured from point of elbow to the ground) should approximately equal one half the dogs height. Whether the dog is standing or moving, the line of the back is strong and level. The loin is moderately short, slightly arched, and muscular, with moderate tuck-up. The croup is slightly sloping. the ribs extend well back and are well sprung out from the spine, forming a broad, strong back, then curving down and inward to form a deep body. The brisket extends to or just below the elbow. Viewed from the front, the chest between the forelegs is well filled and of moderate width. Viewed from the side, the fore chest extends in a shallow oval shape in front of the forelegs.

Hindquarters
The hindquarters are strong and muscular, with the length of the upper and lower thighs being approximately equal The bone, angulation and musculature of the hindquarters are in balance with the forequarters. The stifles are well bent, and the hocks are well let down. When the dog is standing, the short strong rear pasterns are perpendicular to the ground and viewed from the rear, parallel to one another.
Fault-Cow hocked, straight stifles or bowed.

Feet
Fairly round, compact, well arched and tight. Pads are hard, tough and well cushioned. Dewclaws may be removed.
Fault-splay foot, rear dewclaws.
DQ Feet with rudimentary toes other than normal dewclaws, also know as "high toes".


Tail
The tail is set on high and customarily docked to a length that is proportionate to the body. A docked or natural bob tail is preferred, but a natural tail is not a fault. The tail is carried erect.
Fault-No tail (exception, a dog born with a natural bob is not to be penalized regardless of tail length).

Coat
The coat is short, dense, and smooth, with a sheen. Whiskers are not removed.

Color
Tri-colored is preferred, with a white-black-tan. White may be the predominant color,
with black spots and tan trim: or black may be the predominant color with white markings and tan trim, such as piebald, saddle back, blanket back or tuxedo pattern. Tan sable/white (white/tan sable) (including shades of tan from buff to red) and apricot or lemon/white (white/apricot or lemon) are also acceptable colors in above described patterns.
DQ Any color, pattern or markings not listed above, albinism, brindle or merle.

Weight and Height
Decker Terriers will typically range in weight from 22-40 pounds and from 16-19 inches in height and should always be presented in hard, working condition. The Decker Terriers height to length ration should be 9:10. Sizes less than 22 pounds or over 40 pounds are not preferred. Dogs outside the approved range of height shall be penalized only to the degree that their size affects their ability to work.

Gait/Movement
Efficient movement is essential to the Decker Terrier. The gait is effortless, smooth powerful and well coordinated, showing good but, not exaggerated reach in front and drive behind. The back line remains level with only a slight flexing to indicate suppleness. Viewed from any position, legs turn neither in nor out, nor do feet cross or interfere with each other. As speed increases, feet tend to converge toward the center line of balance.

Disqualifications
Unilateral or bilateral crypt-orchid. Viciousness or extreme shyness. Extreme undershot or overshot bite. Blue Eyes. Any color, pattern or markings other than listed above. Albinism. feet with Rudimentary toes other than normal dewclaws, also knows as "high toes".