Translation: Elena Fedorenko
Standard CHORTAJ Hortaya borzaya Chortajs are a breed of sighthounds originating from the southern steppe regions of Russia and Ukraine. Crimean and Gorsky sighthounds and to a small extent Borzois have contributed to the original ancient chortaj to form the modern type of the breed. The standard was first adopted in 1951.
General appearance, temperament and behavior. Dog of large size, of lean but at the same time robust built, of conciderably elongated proportions. Elongation index – 103-105. Height at the withers: dogs – 65-75cm, bitches – 4cm less. In its everyday life the Chortaj is quiet and balanced. It has a piercing sight, capable of seeing a moving object very far. Movement. When not hunting short trot or even walk is typical of a Chortaj. When chasing the prey the Chortajs gallop in extremely fast leaps of great length. Faults*. Massive and coarse constitution, heavy bone structure, deviations from desirible size and elongation index. Colour. White, black, cream of all shades, red, sable and brindle, solid or pied (with white markings, or white with coloured markings). Flecks of the same shade as the background colour are not a fault. Black overlay and black mask, grey or red tan markings are normal. Nose is black, with light colours a brown nose is not a fault. Faults. Tan markings striking in shade, flecks of different shades from a background colour. Pink nose is a very serious fault. Coat. On the body, outer coat is 2,5 cm long, straight, close lying and elastic. Short and not heavy breeches are typical. Short and not heavy featherings on the tail are accepted. Light undercoat in winter is typical. Faults. Longer coat on the body, heavy featherings.
Skin, muscles and bone structure. Skin is tight-fitting and elastic without wrinkles. Muscles lean and well-developed, especially on the thighs. Bone structure strong but not massive.
Faults. Light bone structure and weak muscles. Coarse bone structure. Head. With very little flesh, quite long and wedge-shaped as seen from above, with scull slightly broad. Occupit is only slightly prominent. Supraorbital ridge is not prominent, stop is very slightly marked. Muzzle is long and clean, pointed, sometimes slightly arched near the nose. Lips are fine, clean and well fitting. Faults. Heavy and coarse head, abrupt stop, broad or squared-off muzzle, soft tissues, fluttering lips. Ears. Supple, thin and narrow, set on the eye level or lower, directed backwards along the nape of the neck. When Chortaj is alert the ears are carried semi-pricked with the tips directed forward or to the sides. Faults. Heavy, flying, dropped ears. Eyes. Large, oval-shaped, set obliquely, with all coat colours dark brown or brown with dark eye rims. Faults. Small, light-coloured, round. Eye rims not dark. Teeth. White, strong, set closely, scissor bite. Faults. Small, decayed teeth. Pincer bite after 6 years of age.Lack of PM1 and M3 is not taken into account. Lack of one PM2 or one PM3 influences the placement but not the mark. Lack of two PM2 or two PM3 a serious fault which cuts one point off the mark. Lack of one PM4 allows only “good” mark. Incsicors not in a regular line if it prevents judging the bite is an eliminating fault. Bite overshot or undershot is an eliminating fault. Asymmetric bite as well as pincer bite before six years of age is an eliminating fault. Lack of two PM4 is an eliminating fault. Lack of one M1 or M2 is an eliminating fault. Bite impossible to judge is an eliminating fault. Neck. Long, muscled, clean, flattened laterally, carried high. Faults. Short, of round cross-section, with soft tissues. Chest. Of oval cross-section, deep, reaching down almost to elbow level. Faults. Chest not deep, flat, narrow, barrel-shaped ribs. Back. Broad, muscled, together with the loin and croup forming a gradual curve. Withers marked well. Faults. Flat in withers. Flat, too arched, narrow, straight, weak, sagging back.
Loin. Well-muscled and arched. Faults. Straight, narrow, flat loin. Croup. Long, steeply sloping, wide (the width measured between the two hip bones should not be less than 7 cm). Faults. Narrow, short, sunken or flat. Belly. Well tucked up, the underline rises abruptly towards the abdomen. Faults. Belly not tucked up. Pendulous belly is a very serious fault. Forequaters. Clean, muscled, straight and parallel as seen from the front, forearms of oval cross-section. Forequaters angulation is well-pronounced (about 100°). Pastern short and set slightely obliquely in relation to the ground. Faults. In or out at elbows, narrow front, short or crooked forearms, upright pasterns, weak and sloping pasterns. Feet turning in or out. Hindquaters. Strong, clean, muscled, angulation well-pronounced. Straight and parallel as seen from behind. Hock joints are well-developed. Hocks are straight in relation to the ground. Normally the hindquaters are placed far back and wide. Faults. Over-angulated or straight hindquaters. Cow hocks or bandy hocks. Feet. Oval-shaped, toes arched and close cupped. Forefeet are more round than the back feet. Faults. Round, flat feet, spreading toes. Dewclaws are a very serious fault. Tail. Long, in shape of sabre. Tip of the tail in ring form is normal. In a quiet state tail is carried low, in action tail is raised a little above the back, but not cocked up. Faults. Tail carried to one side, turned over the back, thick.
NB: Males must have two apparently normal testicles fully descended into the scrotum.
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