I propose, that in an effort to improve the quality and ease of judging IGs and to raise the quality and increase the uniformity of this breed, judges are requested to abide by the following guidelines.
Firstly, there are primary requirements of both type and soundness without which an exhibit is not worthy to be a breed Champion.
Primary Requirements [Breed Type]
An IG must move with a high-stepping and free gait. This is defined as follows. High-stepping: The forearm [as compared to the minute hand on a clock] must lift to an angle within the range of 18 to 15 minutes to the hour. Free : the front foot must ground in front of the head or under the foreface, no further back. The pastern must flex and bend, but not to excess.
An IG must have rose-shaped ears. Defined: Thrown back so as to expose the burr and orifice. Ears which become fully erect when the dog is alerted or ears which fold so as to cover the burr and orifice are not rose-shaped.
Primary Requirement [Soundness]
An IG must be sound in mind and body. To be a worthy example of the breed, an IG must possess a temperament of sufficient stability to allow examination on the table, [even if reluctantly].
It must be sound in limb, showing no evidence of lameness [favouring of a leg, hopping etc] It must be presented in an unaltered condition, showing no evidence of surgical alteration [especially of ears and tail] or of cosmetic alteration [colour altering substances]. It must possess a healthy coat, showing no signs of pattern baldness or irritation, [which may be indicative of health problems].
The lack of one [or more] of these attributes should debar the IG from being considered worthy of the title ‘Champion’
Secondary requirements. [Breed Type]
An IG must have a curved back-line and the back-line must not appear higher at the rear than at the shoulder, either at rest or when moving.
An IG must have a low set tail.
An IG must have feet of the hare type ie the two middle toes appreciably longer than the outer toes.
An IG must have a sighthound-type head as described in the Standard. It must not deviate sufficiently as to destroy the houndy appearance ie by being domed or very short in muzzle or protruding in eye etc
An IG must, in size, not deviate markedly from the desired limits given in the Standard ie 13 to 15 ins.
Secondary Requirements. [Soundness].
In movement, the front and hind legs must move forward in a straight line ie no leg or foot may cross the line of travel. [As speed increases the legs may tend to converge to single tracking]
An IG which lacks two [or more] of these attributes should not be considered of sufficient quality to gain the title ‘Champion’. An IG lacking one of these attributes would be unlikely to be of sufficient quality to be considered for a Group award.
The forgoing points must not be taken in isolation but considered within the framework of the complete standard of the IG, and the general considerations for any breed.