| Group: |
Group 6 (Utility) |
| History: |
| General Appearance: |
Large, powerful alert, 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. |
| Temperament: |
Dignified, courageous, aloof. Tends to show dominance over other dogs. |
| Head And Skull: |
Large, in balance with body, skull flat, forehead broad, defined stop and clear furrow. Head forms blunt triangle when viewed from above, free from wrinkle. Muzzle broad and strong, cheeks well developed. Nose large and black, bridge straight. Lips tight and black. In white dogs flesh coloured pigmentation is permissible on nose and lips. Length from nose to stop is to length from stop to occiput as 2 is to 3. |
| Eyes: |
Relatively small, almond shaped, clean, moderately set apart and dark brown. Eye rims dark and tight. |
| Ears: |
Strongly erect, relatively small, thick, triangular, not low set, carried forward over eyes in line with back of neck when viewed in profile. Moderately set apart; slightly rounded at tips. |
| 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. |
| Neck: |
Thick and muscular, comparatively short, widening gradually toward 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 inclining at approximately 15 degrees. |
| Body: |
Longer than high, as 10 is to 9 in males, 11 to 9 in bitches. Chest wide and deep, depth of brisket is one half height of dog at shoulder. Well developed forechest. Level back, firmly muscled loin, moderate tuck up. Skin pliant but not loose. |
| Hindquarters: |
Strong and muscular with only moderate angulation and turn of stifle. Well developed thighs, strong hocks, well let down turning neither in nor out. |
| Feet: |
Thick, well-knuckled, very tight, turning neither in nor out. Pads hard. Nails hard. Dewclaws on hind legs customarily removed. |
| Tail: |
Large and full, set high, carried over back, full or double curl, always dipping to or below level of back. On a three-quarter curl tail, tip dips down flank. Root large and strong. Hair coarse, straight and full with no appearance of plume. Sickle or uncurled tail highly undesirable. |
| Gait/Movement: |
Vigorous, powerful and fluent with strides of moderate length. Back remains firm and level. Hindlegs move in line with front legs, whilst gaiting may single track. |
| Coat: |
Outer coat coarse, straight, and standing off body. Undercoat soft and dense. Coat at withers and rump is approximately 5 cm (2 ins), slightly longer than on rest of body, more profuse on tail. No indication 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. |
| Sizes: |
Height at withers:
Dogs 66-71 cm (26-28 ins).
Bitches 61-66 cm (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 its degree. |
| Notes: |
Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles fully descended into the scrotum. |
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