CRANIAL REGION:

Skull: Skull broad between ears, forehead flat, but wrinkled when attention is excited. Brows (superciliary ridges) slightly raised. Arch across skull of a flattened curve, with depression up centre of forehead from median line between eyes, to halfway up sagittal suture.
Stop: Stop between eyes well marked but not too abrupt.

FACIAL REGION:

Nose: Black. Broad, with widely spreading nostrils when viewed from front, flat (not pointed or turned up) in profile.

Muzzle: Short, broad under eyes, and keeping nearly parallel in width to end of nose; truncated, i.e. blunt and cut off squarely, thus forming a right-angle with upper line of face, of great depth from point of nose to under-jaw. Length of muzzle to whole head and face as 1 : 3. Circumference of muzzle (measured mid-way between eyes and nose) to that of head (measured before the ears) as 3 : 5. Whilst in repose, any exaggeration of wrinkle or excess of skin is unacceptable in mature adults.

Lips: Lips diverging at obtuse angles with septum and slightly pendulous so as to show a square profile.

Jaws / Teeth: Under-jaw broad to end. Canine teeth healthy; powerful and wide apart. Incisors level (pincer bite, edge to edge) or lower projecting beyond upper (reversed scissor bite) but never so much as to become visible when mouth is closed.

Cheeks: Muscles of temples and cheeks (temporal and masseter) well developed.

Eyes: Moderate size, wide apart. Colour hazel brown, darker the better, showing no haw. Loose eyelids highly undesirable. Free from obvious eye problems.

Ears: Small, thin to touch, wide apart, set on at highest points of sides of skull, so as to continue outline across summit and lying flat and close to cheeks when in repose.

Slightly arched, moderately long, very muscular, and measuring in circumference about 2,5 – 5 cms less than skull before ears.

Topline: Level. Back: Wide and muscular. Loin: Wide and muscular; flat and very wide in bitch, slightly arched in dog.

Chest: Wide, deep and well let down between forelegs. Ribs arched and well rounded. False ribs deep and well set back to hips. Underline and belly: Great depth of flanks.

Set on high, and reaching to hocks, or a little below them, wide at its root and tapering to end, hanging straight in repose, but forming a curve with end pointing upwards, but not over back, when dog is excited.

FOREQUARTERS:

General appearance: Balanced and in harmony with hindquarters.

Shoulder: Slightly sloping, heavy and muscular. Upper arm: Slightly sloping, heavy and muscular. Elbow: Elbows square.

Forearm: Legs straight, strong and set wide apart; bones being large. Metacarpus (Pastern): Pasterns upright.

Forefeet: Large, round and tight. Toes well arched. Nails black.

HINDQUARTERS:

General appearance: Broad, wide and muscular. Strength in hindquarters is of paramount importance, cow hocks in mature adults is unacceptable. Lower thigh: Well developed.

Metatarsus (Rear pastern): Hocks bent, wide apart, and quite squarely set when standing or walking. Hind feet: Large, round and tight. Toes well arched. Nails black.

GAIT / MOVEMENT:

Powerful, easy extension, driven from the rear, fluent, sound, with ground-covering strides. Level topline maintained whilst on the move. Tendency to pace is undesireable. Absolute soundness essential.

Hair: Short and close-lying, but coarse over neck and shoulders.

Colour: Apricot, fawn or brindle. In any case, muzzle, ears and nose should be black with black around eye rims, and extending upwards between them. Excessive white on body, chest or feet is unacceptable.

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.

DISQUALIFYING FAULTS:

Aggressive or overly shy.

Any dog clearly showing physical or behavioural abnormalities shall be disqualified.

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

Only functionally and clinically healthy dogs, with breed typical conformation should be used for breeding.