General
Appearance
|
Powerful build,
symmetrical, showing great strength, but not cumbersome; sound
and active. |
|
Characteristics |
Powerful, enduring, active
and reliable. |
|
Temperament |
High spirited, alert and
faithful. |
|
Head And Skull |
Skull large and square,
viewed from every angle, fair wrinkle when interested, but not
when in repose. Circumference of skull may equal height of dog
measured at top of shoulder; broad and deep with well filled
cheeks. Pronounced stop. Muzzle short; distance from tip of
nose to stop approximately one third of length from tip of
nose to centre of occiput, broad under eyes and sustaining
nearly same width to end of nose; blunt and cut off square,
forming right angle with upper line of face, and at same time
proportionate with skull. Under jaw broad to end. Nose broad
with widely spreading nostrils; flat, neither pointed nor
turned up in profile. Flews not pendulous, never hanging below
level of lower jaw. |
|
Eyes |
Dark or hazel, of medium
size, set apart the width of muzzle with furrow between
Light or yellow eyes highly undesirable. |
|
Ears |
V-shaped, folded back, set
on wide and high, level of occiput giving square appearance to
skull which is most important. Small and deeper in colour
than body. Point of ear level with eye when alert. Rose ears
highly undesirable |
|
Mouth |
Level desired but slightly
undershot allowed but not preferred. Canine teeth large and
set wide apart, other teeth strong, even and well placed.
|
|
Neck |
Well arched, moderate
length, very muscular and almost equal to skull in
circumference. |
|
Forequarters |
Chest, wide and deep, well
let down between forelegs, with deep brisket. Shoulders
muscular, sloping and powerful, not overloaded. Forelegs
powerful and straight, well boned, set wide apart, presenting
a straight front. Pasterns straight and strong. |
|
Body |
Back short and straight,
giving compact carriage, but not so short as to interfere with
activity. Roach and sway backs highly undesirable.
|
|
Hindquarters |
Loins wide and muscular
with fair depth of flank. Hind legs strong and muscular, with
well developed second thighs, denoting power and activity, not
cumbersome. Hocks moderately bent. Cow hocks highly
undesirable. |
|
Feet |
Well arched, cat like, with
rounded toes, pads hard. Dark toe nails desirable. Splayed
feet highly undesirable. |
|
Tail |
Set high, strong at root
and tapering, reaching to hocks, carried straight or curved,
but not hound fashion. Crank tails highly undesirable.
|
|
Gait/Movement |
Movement indicates power
and sense of purpose. When moving straight neither front nor
hind legs should cross or plait, right front and left rear leg
rising and falling at same time. A firm backline unimpaired
by powerful thrust from hind legs denoting a balanced and
harmonious movement. |
|
Coat |
Short and hard, weather
resistant, lying flat to body. Long, silky or woolly coats
highly undesirable. |
|
Colour |
Any shade of brindle, fawn
or red; colour to be pure and clear. A slight white marking
on chest permissible. Other white markings undesirable. Black
muzzle essential, toning off towards eyes, with dark markings
around eyes contributing to expression. |
|
Size |
Height: Dogs 63.5-68.5 cms
(25-27 ins) at shoulder
Bitches 61-66 cms (24-26
ins) at shoulder
Weight: Dogs 50-59 kg
(110-130 lbs)
Bitches 41-50 kg (90-110
lbs) |
|
Faults |
Any 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. |
|
Note |
Male animals should have
two apparently normal testicles fully descended into the
scrotum. |
