There has been much confusion over the varying terms used by non-registered breeders, to describe the same characteristic, therefore I've listed some of the terms which have been agreed by the majority as the standard term for a certain trait. 

Ink marked - This term relates to dogs who have a miss-matched, patched coat of any variation. Ink marked dogs are not currently accepted within our breeding programme.

Spitz tail - (often referred to as a gay or curly tail) This is where the tail forms a loop over the dogs back (regardless of the tightness of the loop) or when the tip bends over either touching or nearly touching the dogs back. This characteristic is considered a fault as it usually passes on to all or most of the progeny produced.  Previous confusion was due to some breeders, where tails did not actually form a loop but are bent over the back, referred to these as;

Up and over tail - This term has caused much confusion for our owners and members because regardless of degree of of bend, TUS still consider it to be a Spitz tail because it is proven that dogs displaying this trait also pass it on to to all or most or their progeny. Dogs displaying a Spitz tail can be bred from as long as their intended mate does not have the same fault and is not from lines carrying this fault. Hopefully, by careful, responsible breeding we can eventually breed this fault out as wolves do not have spitz tails.

Sickle tail - Where the tail is held erect but there is a very slight bend in the tail towards the head. Dogs displaying this trait tend to produce straight or sickle tailed progeny, therefore this trait is acceptable as the wolf is often seen to display this trait.

Soft Ears - Occasionally called floppy ears. In an adult dog this trait is considered a fault HOWEVER Utonagan are renowned for having soft ears whilst teething and maturing especially if in a household with a dominant adult dog of the same sex, (as to drop the ears is to show submission). Therefore please note it is impossible for any breeder to guarantee that a pups ears will become erect, HOWEVER if one or both parents have a soft ear, it is possible the pups ears will stay soft also.

Double coat - This is the coat type we are aiming for and successfully producing with some of our lines.  People occasionally confuse this with the long flat coat, which is a less desired coat type. The double coat has a short soft downy undercoat which is covered by a medium length protective weatherproof coat of coarse, guard hairs often growing through the undercoat. It thins out in Summer.

Long flat coat - Otherwise termed silky coat as seen with the GSD and Collie.  Dogs with this coat type often display excessive feathering around the tail, tummy, ears and legs. This is an acceptable but less desired coat type and is something we're hoping to selectively breed out.

Short flat coat - Again this is an acceptable but less desired coat type we're hoping to selectively breed out.

Snow nose - Where the dogs nose leather has all or some pink pigmentation. This can be seasonal in some dogs and whelping bitches occasionally develop this trait, in which case this would be acceptable. If it is a permanent feature then it is considered a fault. 

Here are some pictures showing both good and bad characteristics.

If a dog shows two or more faults then it is preferred that they are not bred from.

Dioggie Nuaka's daughter has a good mask, amber eyes and good ears.

Nuaka has a good mask, amber eyes and excellent ears. Her amber eyes have passed down to all of her pups so far.

Izzy has a lovely mask and brown eyes

Uzo Nuaka's son also has an excellent mask, amber eyes and good ears.

Ink marked colouring is accepted but considered a fault. Had this puppy have developed a full Ute Mask she would have been classed as white with mask as she has no patches on her body, this is a very rare colour in this breed. Usually ink marked dogs have fantastic wolf like conformation and length of muzzle.

Ink marked considered a fault, regardless of amount of patching or uniformity of patches.

Husky type mask where most of the face is white or pale with no definition of Ute mask would be considered a fault. (actual husky image used as this trait does not occur in Utes usually)

Again a Husky picture showing widows peak this time. Again most of the face is white or pale and there is a clear peak in the centre of the forehead (I apologise for picture quality) this would be considered a fault.

Double coat in Summer. Thins out in summer when mane is usually lost also but not in Nuaka's case. She has a clear tear drop mane.

Double coat in Winter.

Luca has a Double coat with a very thick teardrop mane but depending on Season can display GSD colouring and too much feathering around his tail and tummy.

Thick double coat taken in Winter

Long flat coat. This coat type often has too much feathering around tail, tummy, legs and ears as above. However desired teardrop mane and long body/legs are clearly evident in this picture.  In Winter this coat would appear much thicker.

Long flat coat. As with previous dog feathering is evident but desired teardrop mane and long body and legs are evident.

Short flat coat. Kioko's coat is much thicker in Winter, as above, and mane is evident.

Short flat coat, though mane is evident, picture taken in Winter. Desired long legs narrow chest are clearly evident.

Grey or sable any variation of

White or cream

Black any variation of, though solid colouring is preferred

Any form of black and tan

White with mask (full mask is not evident in this picture)

Ink marked (patched coat) considered a fault.

Apricot

Desired Ear size type and carriage

Perfect small ears with rounded tip

Good size of ears in proportion to head

Less preferred ear types and carriage of. Some considered faults

Soft ears, however this pup was teething, if they're like this as an adult, then this would be considered a fault.

Izzy ears are in proportion to her head but in this picture they do look pointed.

One soft ear. Kioko is 6 this year therefore this is a permanent fault.

With this bitch her ears are large in proportion and very pointed (though she is beautiful of course)

The stop is the slope between what we would call our forehead and the muzzle. In the Ute this needs to be sloped not angular.

Good nose length with good stop. Pigmentation is fully black.

Excellent length of nose with an excellent stop, but snow nose is evident.

Kioko has a good stop and black pigmentation to her nose.

Luca has a good stop and total black pigmentation

Nose

Less desired nose set or type considered faults or undesirable

Snow nose where nose leather is partially pink. This is considered a fault.

Deep pronounced stop and a snub nose (short muzzle)

Snow nose. Photo taken in Summer months

Preferred colours

Amber

Amber

Amber

Brown

These colours are not seen in the Ute but if they were to occur they would be considered a fault

Blue eyes, occasionally incorrectly called ice eyes. This would be considered a fault.

Again I've had to use husky pictures here as we don't have this trait. Bi-eyed where each eye is a differing colour, this would be considered a fault

Albino (pink eyes) would also be considered a fault but we have never had a dog display this trait. Not to be confused with the medical term pink eye in reference to Conjunctivitis where the third eyelid is inflamed and visible.

Desired or acceptable tail type and carriage

Short thick brush type tail carried straight

Short thick brush type tail carried straight

The length and usual carriage of Luca's tail is excellent but his tail is overly feathered.

This is a sickle tail with a slight bend. It is an acceptable tail type as all progeny so far has proven to display straight tails.

Kioko has a spitz tail, otherwise called curly, gay or doughnut tail. Considered a fault 

As mentioned above Luca's tail is overly feathered though accepted this is not a desired trait.

Though this tail, formerly termed an up and over, does not form a loop it is still considered spitz and therefore a fault.

Izzy generally holds her tail perfectly straight but occasionally carries it like this in which case it would be considered a fault

Although Wyot has a short flat coat, his overall conformation is fab. He displays narrow chest, long lean legs, fairly level top-line beautiful mask and good ears.

Matouskah got overall champion at the 2005 show. He has fabulous conformation including lean long legs, narrow chest, and a fabulous tapered muzzle with sloping stop. His only fault is he has a slight Spitz tail.

Kia has very good overall conformation.

Fagin has fabulous conformation, with great legs, coat tail and mane and excellent tapered muzzle.