The Decker Terrier
If you're looking for the perfect hunting
companion, Try a Decker Terrier.
         
Duke
        
Baby Pearl Gives Great
Kisses!
        
What you got?
Pearl and her best pal,
Baby Hugo.
      
Pearl
      
Duke and Pearl were
both bred at Seegmiller
Decker Terriers.
        
I have long wanted a hunting companion that would a,
not run off, and B, have a mild and loving
temperament.  Finally I found the perfect hunting
partner, the Decker Terrier.  Dukie and I go to the
woods.  he, of course, ranges ahead, but he always
circles back to check with me. He is totally reliable
and gets along well with my other breeds.  Pearl is a
young girl with not only a great nose but a lovely
demeanor and graceful conformation.  She holds her
own with her best friend, Miniature Bull Terrier,
Hugo.  They have been pals since they were tiny.
Visit these Web Sites for more Info

History of the Decker Terrier

(early Examples of the Breed)

National Rat Terrier Association

Seegmiller Decker Terriers

Decker Terrier Heritage Club

Breed Standard

General Appearance
The Decker Terrier is an agile, active
medium bodied hunting Terrier.  They
are tenacious and fearless in the field.  
When Decker Terriers are not hunting,
they are friendly, loyal companions
and family pets.  Decker Terriers are
confident and regal in appearance
making them a striking dog even to the
untrained eye.  The body is slightly
longer than tall, well boned with good
muscle definition.  The head is
moderately broad with a wedge shape,
moderate stop and wedge shaped
muzzle.  Ears are set to the outside
edges of the skull and are V-shaped.  
Erect ear carriage is preferred but
tipped/button is acceptable.  The tail is
straight, set high and normally docked.
 The skin is thick and the coat is
dense, slick and with a sheen.  The
Decker Terrier is traditionally tri
colored in a variety of patterns but,
may also be bi colored.  Allowed colors
are black, white, tan (in all shades)
and apricot in patterns listed below.  
The Decker Terrier should be
evaluated as a working Terrier and
exaggerations or faults should be
penalized in proportion to how much
they interfere with the dog's ability to
work.  Scars should neither be
penalized nor regarded as proof of a
Decker Terrier's working abilities.

Characteristics
The Decker Terrier is a multi-purpose
dog with a keen prey drive that is
capable of (and bred for) hunting a
variety of game including vermin,
upland game, deer, raccoon, hogs,
squirrels etc.  He is gritty, feisty and
tough yet never out of control, quick,
alert, agile and fleet.  Decker's are
also wonderful companion dogs that
will become an integral part of the
family for many years.  They are loving
lap dogs that live to share a place on
the couch with their people and
wonderful with children when raised
with them.  The Decker is of superior
intelligence and capable of amazing
problem solving abilities.  A Decker
Terrier responds better to training if it
has abundant human contact.  These
dogs need to be with their people and
are loyal beyond description.  Decker
Terriers should not be sparred during
conformation judging.

Temperament
The Decker Terrier is true to its
heritage by being a superb hunter.  He
is gritty, feisty and tough, quick, alert,
agile and fleet.  They are intelligent
and are problem solvers given almost
any situation.

Head
The head is proportionate to the size
of the body.  When viewed from the
side, the skull and muzzle are of equal
length and joined by a moderate stop.  
The Decker Terrier's head forms a
blunt wedge shape.
Skull- slightly rounded and moderately
broad on top, wrinkling is common.  
Cheeks are muscular but not
overdeveloped.  The Decker Terrier's
head forms a blunt wedge shape.
Stop- Moderate, tapered not abrupt.
Muzzle- The muzzle is well filled-out
under the eyes, well-chiseled, wedge
shaped and blunt at the nose.  Jaws
are powerful and hinged well back to
enable the dog to catch small animals
and vermin.  When viewed from the
side, the skull and muzzle should be of
equal length.
Fault-Snipey muzzle, excessive
cheekiness

Teeth
The Decker Terrier has a complete set
of comparatively large, evenly spaced,
white teeth.  A scissors bite is
preferred but, a level bite is acceptable.
Fault-Overshot or undershot

Nose
The nose is black or self colored and
fully pigmented.
Faults-Dudley or butterfly nose.

Eyes
The eyes are dark hazel to dark
brown/amber in color corresponding to
coat color.  They are almond-shaped,
obliquely set with an alert expression.  
The rims are dark
Fault- light eye
DQ Blue eye

Ears
Ears are V-shaped, set at the outside
edges of the skull.  Ears are either
erect, tipped or button when the dog is
alert.  Erect ear set is strongly
preferred.  NOTE: Ear carriage may
not stabilize until the dog is mature.  
Dogs under one year of age should
not be penalized for variations in ear
carriage.
Fault-Rose ears, tulip ears, bat ears,
flying ears, mismatched ear set after
one year of age.
DQ Hanging ears

Lips
Lips are dry and tight with no flaws. Lip
pigment matches nose pigment.
Fault-Lips that overhang hiding the
lower jaw or sagging flews

Neck
Clean, slightly arched, strong and
muscular in appearance yet not
loaded, widening into the shoulder.  
There should be no hint of throatiness.
Fault-Bull neck, swan neck
DQ Throaty neck

Forequarters
Shoulders are long, sloping, well laid
back and clearly cut at the withers.  
The forelegs are strong, straight and
well boned.  The elbows are set close
to the body but, able to move freely in
action.  The pasterns are short,
powerful, straight and flexible.  Viewed
from any angle, the forelegs are
straight, strong, and sturdy in bone.  
The pasterns are strong, short and
nearly vertical.
Fault-Bowed legs, fiddle front, down in
the pasterns, toeing out, knuckling
over or any other misalignment of
joints, out at the elbow.

Shoulders
Shoulders are smoothly muscled.  the
shoulder blades are well laid back with
the upper tips fairly close together at
the withers.  The length from the elbow
to the top of the shoulder appears to
be the same length as the distance
from the elbow to the ground.  The
elbows are close to the body.  Viewed
from any angle, the forelegs are
straight, strong, and sturdy in bone.  
The pasterns are strong, short and
nearly vertical.

Chest
Fairly deep and with ribs extending well
back and are well sprung out from the
spine.  When viewed from the front,
moderately wide between the
shoulders allowing straight placement
for the legs.  The brisket descends to
or just below the elbow.  When viewed
from the side the fore chest extends in
a shallow oval shape in front of the
forelegs.
Fault-Narrow chest, excessive barrel
chest or one that lacks depth in brisket.

Front legs
Straight with ample bone and
proportion placed well under the body.  
Feet pointed forward and at the same
distance apart from between the
elbows and at the feet.  Forearm and
upper arm are of approximately equal
distance, forearm being slightly longer .
Fault-Turned in or out, Bow legged

Elbow
Free from the body, held close and
perpendicular.  When viewed from the
front, elbows should not be visible.
Fault-Turning neither in nor out, bow
legged.

Body
A properly proportioned Decker Terrier
is slightly longer (measured from
prosternum to point of buttocks) than
tall (measured from the withers to the
ground), and length of the leg
(measured from point of elbow to the
ground) should approximately equal  
one half the dogs height.  Whether the
dog is standing or moving, the line of
the back is strong and level.  The loin
is moderately short, slightly arched,
and muscular, with moderate tuck-up.  
The croup is slightly sloping.  the ribs
extend well back and are well sprung
out from the spine, forming a broad,
strong back, then curving down and
inward to form a deep body.  The
brisket extends to or just below the
elbow.  Viewed from the front, the
chest between the forelegs is well filled
and of moderate width.  Viewed from
the side, the fore chest extends in a
shallow oval shape in front of the
forelegs.

Hindquarters
The hindquarters are strong and
muscular, with the length of the upper
and lower thighs being approximately
equal  The bone, angulation and
musculature of the hindquarters are in
balance with the forequarters.  The
stifles are well bent, and the hocks are
well let down.  When the dog is
standing, the short strong rear
pasterns are perpendicular to the
ground and viewed from the rear,
parallel to one another.
Fault-Cow hocked, straight stifles or
bowed.

Feet
Fairly round, compact, well arched and
tight.  Pads are hard, tough and well
cushioned.  Dewclaws may be
removed.
Fault-splay foot, rear dewclaws.
DQ Feet with rudimentary toes other
than normal dewclaws, also know as
"high toes".


Tail
The tail is set on high and customarily
docked to a length that is
proportionate to the body.  A docked
or natural bob tail is preferred, but a
natural tail is not a fault.  The tail is
carried erect.
Fault-No tail (exception, a dog born
with a natural bob is not to be
penalized regardless of tail length).

Coat
The coat is short, dense, and smooth,
with a sheen.  Whiskers are not
removed.

Color
Tri-colored is preferred, with a
white-black-tan.  White may be the
predominant color, with black spots
and tan trim: or black may be the
predominant color with white markings
and tan trim, such as piebald, saddle
back, blanket back or tuxedo pattern.  
Tan sable/white (white/tan sable)
(including shades of tan from buff to
red) and apricot or lemon/white
(white/apricot or lemon) are also
acceptable colors in above described
patterns.
DQ Any color, pattern or markings not
listed above, albinism, brindle or merle.

Weight and Height
Decker Terriers will typically range in
weight from 22-40 pounds and from
16-19 inches in height and should
always be presented in hard, working
condition.  The Decker Terriers height
to length ration should be 9:10.  Sizes
less than 22 pounds or over 40
pounds are not preferred.  Dogs
outside the approved range of height
shall be penalized only to the degree
that their size affects their ability to
work.

Gait/Movement
Efficient movement is essential to the
Decker Terrier. The gait is effortless,
smooth powerful and well coordinated,
showing good but, not exaggerated
reach in front and drive behind.  The
back line remains level with only a
slight flexing to indicate suppleness.  
Viewed from any position, legs turn
neither in nor out, nor do feet cross or
interfere with each other. As speed
increases, feet tend to converge
toward the center line of balance.

Disqualifications
Unilateral or bilateral crypt-orchid.
Viciousness or extreme shyness.
Extreme undershot or overshot bite.  
Blue Eyes. Any color, pattern or
markings other than listed above.  
Albinism.  feet with Rudimentary toes
other than normal dewclaws, also
knows as "high toes".  
The Best Kept
Secret in Dogs,
the Decker
Terrier!


Duke is available
for stud service!