General Appearance:
Sturdy, abundantly coated dog with distinctly arrogant carriage and crysanthemum-like face.

Characteristics:
Intelligent, active and alert.

Temperament:
Friendly and independent.

Head and Skull:
Head broad, round and wide between the eyes. Shock-headed with hair falling well over the eyes. Good beard and whiskers, hair growing upwards on the nose giving a distinctly chrysanthemum-like effect. Muzzle of ample width, short, square, not wrinkled, flat and hairy. Nose black, but dark liver in liver or liver-marked dogs and about 2.5cm (1 inch) from tip to definite stop. Nose level or slightly tip-tilted. Top of nose leather should be on a line with or slightly below the lower eyerim. Wide open nostrils. Downpointed nose highly undesirable, as are pinched nostrils. Pigmentation on muzzle as unbroken as possible.

Eyes:
Large, dark, round, well placed apart but not prominent. Warm expression. In liver or liver-marked dogs, lighter eye colour is permissible. No white of eye showing.

Ears:
Large, with long leathers, carried drooping. Set slightly below crown of the skull, so hevily coated that they appear to blend with the hair of the neck.

Mouth:
Wide, slightly undershot or level. Lips level.

Neck:
Well proportioned, nicely arched. Sufficient length to carry head proudly.

Forequarters:
Shoulders well laid back. Legs short and muscular with ample bone, as straight as possible, consistent with broad chest being well let down.

Body:
Longer between withers and root of tail than height at withers, well coupled and sturdy, chest broad and deep, shoulders firm, back level.

Hindquarters:
Legs short and muscular with ample bone. Straight when viewed from the rear. Thighs well rounded and muscular. Legs look massive on account of wealth of hair.

Feet:
Rounded, firm and well-padded, appearing big on account of the wealth of hair.

Tail:
Heavily plumed carried gaily well over back. Set on high. Height approximately level with that of skull to give a balanced outline.

Gait/Movement:
Arrogant, smooth-flowing, front legs reaching well forward, strong rear action and showing full pad.

Coat:
Long, dense, not curly, with good undercoat. Slight wave permitted. Strongly recommended that hair on head be tied up.

Colour:
All colours are permissible, white blaze on forehead and white tip to tail are highly desirable in parti-colours.

Weight and Size:
4.5-8.1 kg (10-18 lbs). Ideal weight 4.5-7.3 kg (10-16 lbs). Height at withers not more than 26.7 cm (10 1/2 inches). Type and breed characteristics are of the utmost importance and are on no account to be sacrificed to size alone.

Faults:
Any departure from the foregoing points should be considered a fault and the seriousness with which the fault should be regarded should be in axact proportion to its degree.

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

Thankyou to Lise Bradbury for the use of the Shih Tzu image.