TRANSLATIONMrs. Peggy Davis.ORIGINBelgium (The Ardennes).DATE OF PUBLICATION OF THE VALID ORIGINAL STANDARD12.12.1978.UTILIZATIONTracking hound.FCI CLASSIFICATIONGroup 6 Scent hounds and related breedsSection 1 Large sized houndsWith working trial.GENERAL APPEARANCEHeavy and massive dog with a slow and imposing gait.APTITUDESTracking hound par excellence.HEADThe head is one of the most characteristic points of the breed; it must be well shaped, well developed in all its dimensions except in its width.SKULLVery high and pointed, the occipital crest is extremely well developed. The superciliary arch is only slightly pronounced and the expression of the head denotes size and majesty. The skin of the forehead and the cheeks is deeply wrinkled, more so than in any other breed of dog.EYESOf a dark hazel colour, the lower eyelid is very loose (hanging) showing a dark red ocular mucous. The eyes, being quite deep set in the head, seem relatively small.NOSEPreferably black, eventually brown-chestnut for the coats without black mantle.LIPSVery long and hanging; their lower extremities must be 5 cm lower than the corner of the mouth.JAWSVery long and broad near the nostrils; hollow and lean on the cheeks and especially under the eyes.EARSSufficiently long so that, when passed over the nose, they still go beyond it; set low, they hang forward against the jaws in graceful folds; the leather, very thin, is covered with very short, soft and silky hair.NECKLong, to enable the dog to follow the scent with his nose to the ground, without slowing his pace down; well muscled, with extremely well developed dewlaps.SHOULDERSSlanting and very muscular.CHESTBroad and deep.BACKBroad and deep; very strong for the size of the dog; flanks are broad, almost coarse.BELLYSlightly tucked up.LEGSStraight, muscled and of good bone structure; hocks well developed.FEETRound, cat-feet.TAILCarried in an elegant curve and higher than the topline of the back, but not on the back or as a trumpet. The underneath part of the tail is furnished with hairs about 5 cm long, becoming gradually shorter towards the tip.COAT TextureShort and rather harsh on the body, but soft and silky on the ears and the skull.COLOURBlack and tan, solid red, red and tan, liver and tan, the first colour is the one most sought after. The black must spread on the back in the shape of a saddle, on the flanks, the top of the nape of the neck and the point of the head. White is not admitted; but a little white on the chest or on the feet does not disqualify.HEIGHT AT THE WITHERSMales, about 67 cm and females, about 60 cm.FAULTSAny departure from the foregoing points should be considered a fault and the seriousness with which the fault should be regarded should be in exact proportion to its degree.DISQUALIFICATION 1) Pink nose or any other colour than black or brown-chestnut;2) Light yellow coat;3) Eyes : light yellow iris and wall eye.N.B.Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles fully descended into the scrotum.