General Appearance

Large, powerful, with much substance and heavy bone.

Characteristics

Large broad head, with relatively small eyes and erect ears carried forward in line with back of neck; large curled tail, in
balance with head.

Head and Skull

Skull large and flat, forehead broad, with defined stop and clear furrow. Head forms blunt triangle when viewed from above,
free from wrinkle. Cheeks well developed, bridge of nose straight. Nose large and black. Lips tight and black. In white dogs
flesh colour is permissible. Muzzle broad and strong. Distance from nose to stop is to distance from stop to occiput as 2 - 3.

Eyes

Relatively small, almond-shaped, clean, moderately set apart and dark brown. Eye rims dark and tight.

Ears

Relatively small, thick, triangular, not low set, carried forward over eyes in line with back of neck and firmly erect. Moderately
set apart and slightly rounded at tips.

Mouth

Jaws strong with perfect, regular and complete scissor bite, i.e. the upper teeth closely overlapping the lower teeth and set
square to the jaws.

Neck

Thick and muscular, comparatively short, widening gradually towards shoulders. Pronounced crest blends with back of skull.

Forequarters

Shoulders strong and powerful, moderately laid back. Elbows very tight. Forelegs well-boned and straight when viewed from
front. Pasterns slightly inclining forward.

Body

Longer than high, as 10 is to 9 in males, 1 I to 9 in bitches. Chest wide and deep, depth of chest is one-half height of dog at
shoulder. Well developed forechest. Level back with firmly muscled loin and moderate tuck-up. Skin pliant but not loose.

Hindquarters

Strong and muscular with long, well developed thighs and moderate turn of stifle. Strong hocks with only moderate angulation,
well let down, turning neither in nor out.

Feet

Thick, well knuckled and very tight turning neither in nor out. Pads hard. Nails hard. Dew claws on hind legs customarily
removed.

Tail

Large and full, set high and carried over back in a three-quarter, full or double curl, always dipping to or below level of back.
On a three-quarter curl, tip drops well down flank. Root large and strong. Tail bone almost reaches hock when let down. Hair
coarse, straight and full with no appearance of a plume. Sickle or uncurled tail highly undesirable.

Gait / Movement

Resilient and vigorous with strides of moderate length. Back remains firm and level. Hindlegs move in line with front legs whilst
gaiting will single track.

Coat

Outer coat coarse, straight and standing off body. Undercoat soft and dense. Coat at withers and rump is approximately two
inches and is slightly longer than on rest of body, except on tail where it is more profuse. No indications of ruff or feathering.

Colour

Any colour including white, brindle or pinto. Colours are brilliant and clear. Markings are well defined with or without mask or
blaze.

Size

Height at withers:
Dogs 66 - 71 cms. (26 - 28 ins.);
Bitches 61 - 66 cms. (24 - 26 ins.).

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 the degree.

Note

Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles fully descended into the scrotum.