Breed Standard

 

GENERAL APPEARANCE: Of great size, strength, symmetry and commanding appearance, very muscular, yet gracefully built.

 

CHARACTERISTICS: Of great power, activity, speed and courage.

 

TEMPERAMENT: Gentle, kind and friendly nature.

 

HEAD AND SKULL: Head long, carried high, the frontal bones of forehead very slightly raised and very little indentation between eyes. Skull not too broad. Muzzle long and moderately pointed. Nose and lips black.

 

EYES: Dark. Elliptical (regular oval) and full. Eyelids black.

 

EARS: Small, rose shaped, of fine velvet texture. Preferably dark in colour, not hanging close to face.

 

MOUTH: Jaws strong with a perfect, regular and complete scissor bite, i.e. the upper teeth closely overlapping the lower teeth and set square to the jaws. Level bite tolerated but not desirable.

 

NECK: Rather long, very strong and muscular, well arched, without dewlap or loose skin about the throat.

 

FOREQUARTERS: Shoulders muscular, giving breadth of chest, set sloping. Elbows well under, turned neither in nor out. Leg and forearm muscular, and whole leg strong and straight.

 

BODY: Chest very deep. Breast wide. Back, long rather than short. Loins arched. Belly well drawn up.

 

HINDQUARTERS: Muscular thighs and second thighs long and strong, good bend of stifle with hocks well let down and turning neither in nor out.

 

FEET: Moderately large and round, turned neither in nor out. Toes well arched and closed. Nails very strong and curved.

 

TAIL: Long and slightly curved, of moderate thickness and well covered with hair, carried low with an upward sweep towards the extremity.

 

GAIT/MOVEMENT: Easy and active.

 

COAT: Rough and harsh on body, legs and head; especially wiry and long over eyes and under jaw.

 

COLOUR: Recognised colours are grey, brindle, red, black, pure white, fawn, wheaten and steel grey.

 

SIZE: Minimum height for dogs 79 cm (31 ins.), bitches 71 cm (28 ins). Ideal weight 54.5 kg (120 lbs.) for dogs, 40.9 kg (90 lbs.) for bitches. Great size, including height of shoulder and proportionate length of body is to be aimed at, and it is desired to firmly establish a breed that shall average from 81-86 cm (32-34 ins) in dogs.

 

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.