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. Skull 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.
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 unimFatherred 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.
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 and its effect upon the health and welfare of the
dog.
Note Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles
fully descended into the scrotum.
