Summary
The Wirehaired Terrier is truly a “toy terrier”. He is small, slightly longer than he is tall, with a slender bone structure, but with enough bone mass to be successful in the task of hunting mice in the home. He has a silky coat that needs to be groomed from stop to tail, but not overly sculpted.
He has an inquisitive nature and a happy-go-lucky attitude toward life, making him an ideal companion dog.
Size
Height at the shoulder 9 to 10 inches. Any deviation is out of line. Dogs are about 1/5 longer than shoulder height. small bone mass, strong bones but more importantly fineness.
Head
The head is strong, wedge-shaped and of medium length. The expression is cool, the eyes are small, dark, almond shaped and have dark circles. Light colored eyes are a serious defect. Ears are small, V-shaped, high positioned, upright ears and must not show any crookedness. The head is flat and the distance between the eyes is not very wide. Head slightly long in relation to muzzle.
The stop is shallow. Nasal mirrors are black.
Teeth are neat and clipped bite.
A protruding upper jaw bite or a protruding lower jaw bite are considered serious defects.
Neck, Dorsal Line, Body
Neck and shoulders are elegantly integrated. Medium length, beautiful, with some angle to the head. Dorsal line level. An uneven dorsal line is a serious defect. Chest width medium, depth flush with elbows. Body position is low and body length is about 1/5 longer than shoulder height.
Body length is the projection from the beginning of the shoulder (or front chest) to the end of the thigh (end of the hip). A body that is too short or a body that is too long is a defect. Broken tail, with the tail root positioned high, at the 12 to 2 o’clock position.
Forelimbs
Shoulders are moderately angled and flat over the upper limbs, with the forelimbs positioned just below the body. The forelimbs are strong, straight, and skeletal. Foot claws are small, cat’s foot, round, and compact. The foot pads are thick and flexible, and the toenails are hard and dark in color. White or flesh-colored toenails are defective. Foot claws are straight
forward, with no inversion or eversion. If wolf claws are present, they must be removed.
Hind limbs
Thighs are muscular and firm, but not overly heavy in outline. The hind knees are properly angled, with low fly joints, and the legs are parallel when viewed from behind.
Foot claws are the same as the forelimbs.
Coat
Straight, single coat, shiny and silky. In adult dogs, the coat follows the contours of the body and hangs down. However, the length should not be close to the ground. There is a lot of hair on the top of the head, forming a head release, but too long hair on the face and ears is undesirable.
The hair on the head and back to the root of the tail needs to be parted to the sides. The tail has just the right amount of hair on it, but no trim. Short hairs grow on the legs from the ankles to the paws or from the fly knuckle to the paw section. Foot paws should not be obscured by hair on the legs.
Color
Orchid and brown colors. The orchid color can be silver blue, dove blue, or slate blue, and the brown color is dark and rich. The orchid color extends from the head to the tip of the tail, with the front leg portion extending down to the elbow, and the back leg portion being halfway up the outside of the thigh. The tail has a very dark orchid color. The brown color appears on the muzzle and cheeks, around the base of the ears, and around the legs, foot paws, and anus. The headdress should be silver or a brighter apricot color than the other brown areas.
Gait
Should be easy, brisk in stride, lively and straight ahead. The hindquarters drive is strong and the toes are turned inward or outward is a defect.
Temperament
The alertness characteristic of the Terrier, but timidity or excessive nervousness are defects. Its attitude should be responsive, friendly and sensitive.
