The tail is docked, set high and carried upward. The coat is short and shiny, and lies smooth and tight to the body. The fawn is found in various shades, from light yellow to a deep dark red. The brindle variety has black stripes on a golden yellow or red brown background. The stripes are clearly defined.
White markings are permissible and desirable, if attractively distributed.
A black mask is absolutely required. When white stretches over the muzzle, that portion of the black mask disappears. However, there must not be so much white on the muzzle that all the black is displaced. Grey or dirty appearing brindle stripes. Stripes that do not cover the whole top of the body.