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.
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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. Hindlegs
strong and muscular, with well developed second thighs,
denoting power and activity, not cumbersome. Hocks
moderately bent. Cowhocks highly undesirable.
Feet
Well arched, cat-like, with rounded toes, pads hard. Dark
toenails 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 hindlegs should cross or plait,
right front and left rear leg rising and falling at same
time. A firm backline unimpaired by powerful thrust from
hindlegs 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 at shoulder: dogs: 64-69 cms (25-27 ins); bitches
61-66 cm (24-26 ins). Weight: dogs: 50-59 kgs (110-130 lbs);
bitches: 41-50 kgs (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. |
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