Above average size, stalwart dog.  Correctly proportioned, compact and powerful form, permitting great strength, manouevrability and endurance.

Proportions and Size:

Dogs height at shoulder between 63 to 69 cms (25 to 27 inches), Bitches between 58 to 63 ½ cms (23 to 25 inches).  Height should always be considered in relation to general appearance.

Character & Temperament :

Appearance displays boldness and courage.  Self-assured and fearless.  Calm gaze should indicate good humour.  Good nature, not nervous, aggressive or vicious: courageous, biddable with natural guarding instincts.

Head :  Head and skull.  Head medium length, skull broad between ears.  Forehead moderately arched as seen from side.  Occiputal bone well developed but not conspicuous.  Cheeks well boned and muscled but not prominent.  Skin on head not loose although it may form a moderate wrinkle when attentive.  Muzzle fairly deep with topline level and length of muzzle in relation to distance from well defined stop to occiput to be as 2 is to 3.  Nose is well developed with proportionately large nostrils, always black.

Eyes : Medium size, almond shaped, dark brown in colour, light eye undesirable, eyelids close fitting.

Ears : Pendant, small in proportion rather than large, set high and wide apart, lying flat and close to cheek.

Mouth : Teeth, strong, complete dentition with scissor bite i.e. upper teeth closely overlapping the lower teeth and set square to the jaws.  Flews black and firm, falling gradually away towards corners of mouth, which do not protrude excessively.

Neck: Of fair length, strong, round and very muscular.  Slightly arched, free from throatiness.

Body :

Back : Straight, strong, tight.  Loin is short, strong and deep.

Croup : Broad, medium long, gently sloping, neither flat nor steep.

Chest : Roomy, broad and deep (approximately 50% of the height of the dog at the withers) with a well developed forechest and well arched ribs.

Tail : Docked short so that one or two tail vertebrae remain.

Body : Chest, roomy, broad and depp with well sprung ribs.  Depth of brisket will not be more, and not much less than 50% of shoulder height.  Back straight, strong and not too long, ratio of shoulder height to length of body should be as 9 to 10.  Loins short, strong and deep, flanks not tucked up.

Croup : Of proportionate length and broad, very slightly sloping.

Tail : Normally carried horizontally, but slightly above horizontal when dog is alert.  Customarily docked at the first joint, it is strong and not set too low.

Forequarters : Shoulders well laid back, long and sloping, elbows well let down but not loose. 

Legs:  straight, muscular with plenty of bone and substance.  pasterns sloping slightly forward.

Feet : Strong, round and compact with toes well arched.  Pads very hard, toe nails short, dark and strong.

Hindquarters: Upper thigh not too short, broad and strongly muscled.  Lower tihgh well muscled at top, strong and sinewy below.  Stifles fairly well bent.  Hocks well angulated without exaggeration, metarsals not completely vertical.  strength and soundness of hock highly desirable.

Movement :

Conveys an impresion of supple strength, endurance and purpose.  While back remains firm and stable, there is a powerful hindthrust and good stride.  First and foremost, movement should be harmonoius, positive and unrestricted.

Coat:

Coat consists of top coat and undercoat.  Top coat is of medium length, coarse and flat.  Undercoat essential on the neck and thighs, should not show through top coat.  Hair maybe a little longer on the back of forelegs and breechings.  Long or excessively wavy coat highly undesirable.

Colour :

Black with clearly defined markings as follows : a spot over each eye, on cheeks, as a strip around each side of muzzle, but not on bridge of nose, on throat, two clear triangles of either side of breast bone, on forelegs from carpus downwards to toes, on inside of rear legs from hocks to toes, but not completely eliminating black from back of legs, under tail.  Colour of markings from rich tan to mahogany and should not exceed 10 percent of body colour.  White marking is highly undesirable.  Black pencil markings on toes are desirable.  Undercoat is grey, fawn or black.

Faults :

The British kennel Club covers faults by the statement "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".

Property of The Kennel Club