"snipiness"

[black and brindle]

When you read the breed standard of a lot of breeds it says "with no tendency towards snipiness" (usually talking about the muzzle). I thought it meant narrow but I've seen "narrow muzzle with no tendency towards snipiness."

What is "snipiness"?

[sumbirdy]

I think its the lack of definite stop...but im not sure.

[Karen]

I would think it is the tendency to snip at folks.

[k9krazee]

Snippy: A pointed, weak muzzle, lacking breadth and depth

Google is your friend
Glossary of dog terms

[Giselle]

K9krazee got it. A breed's standard is really a poetic description of the "ideal" specimen. You cannot read it literally because being snippy literally means snapping at strangers, like how Karen interpreted it Of course, if you found the word "snippiness" in the behavior section, Karen would be correct.

Shiba Inu
-Muzzle is firm, full, and round with a stronger lower jaw projecting from full cheeks.

Example of good strong muzzle:


Snippy muzzle:


Very snippy muzzle and cheeks are not full:

[black and brindle]

THANK YOU! (thanks especially for the pics because they really are worth 1000 words)

Been reading a lot of breed standards lately to try to figure out what's in our newest mix (just out of curiosity). We'd had 20 years of purebreds before our two current shelter pups so it's fun thinking in those terms, even tho mixes obviously aren't going to meet ANY breed standard except their own!