Lifespan

8 to 15 years

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Temperament

A truly faithful, affectionate and energetic companion.

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Head and skull

The dog has a very distinctive large and heavy head of medium length and remaining deep throughout. The skull is broad, and the cheek muscles noticeably pronounced. The stop is deep and distinct.

 

Eyes

The eyes are oval to almond in shape, set far apart and low in the skull. There should be little visibility of the haw. All colours acceptable, excepting pink to red.

 

Muzzle

Whilst being broad in width, the muzzle of the dog should be medium in length, and shorter than the skull length with the distance from the nose tip to the stop being roughly a third of the distance from the nose tip to the occiput. The muzzle appears slightly square, falling away abruptly below the eyes. Muzzle topline straight without the nose being pointed or upturned when viewed in profile. The jaws show good definition and are strong and parallel to the muzzle without turning upward.

 

Nose

The nose has wide open nostrils and is large in size. Any colour fine other than light pink.

 

Neck

The breed has a medium sized, slightly arched, heavy and well-muscled neck that tapers from the shoulder to the back of the skull. No loose skin is preferred.

 

Forequarters

Well laid-back shoulders with wide blades. Shoulders are strong and well-muscled. The upper arm should be approximately the same length as the shoulder blade and joined at an approximate angle of between 35 and 45 degrees. The forelegs should be straight, visibly strong with equally strong pasterns which are short and almost erect. Feet should be straight forward. The distance from the elbows to the bottom of the legs should be the same as the distance from withers to elbow.

 

Hindquarters

The hindquarters should be visibly well muscled, let down at the hocks and not turned in or out. There should be a balance between the muscularity, angulation and width with that of the forequarters. The hind legs should appear straight and parallel when viewed from behind, and the croup should exhibit a slight downward angle.

 

Body

Showing strong, heavy muscling and bulk on the body which is of medium length. The breed is typified by exhibiting an impression of power and strength. The well rounded ribs are close together and create a barrel like chest. The rib cage itself should extend to, or just below, the elbow. The chest is broad and deep, and the forelegs set noticeable wide apart in accordance to allowing the development of the chest, which is broad but not overly exaggerated.

 

Feet

These should be well proportioned to the size of the dog, well rounded, well arched, rounded and tight.

 

Tail

The tail size will be medium, being low set and tapering to a fine point. It will extend to the hock. There should be no kinks or curvature. When the dog is relaxed the tail will be carried low, when moving, the tail is carried either level with the topline or when excited it will be raised without being curled over.

 

Gait

The breed has a great degree of confidence in its movement and exudes pride and power. The movement is free and powerful, with good power shown from the rear and a moderate reach at the front. The backline should remain level, showing only slight flexing. The legs will not turn in or out or interfere with each other.

 

Coat

The coat is between smooth and stiff when touched, glossy and short and close. It should be around 1.27 centimetres in length.

 

Colour

All colours and patterns acceptable.

 

Size

Both height and weight should be proportionate, without appearing obese. In the standard, male height should be between 43 centimetres (17 inches) and 51 centimetres  (20 inches) , and in females should be approximately 40 (16 inches) to 48 centimetres (19 inches) at the withers.

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Faults

Faults to be penalized but not to cause disqualification for showing include:

• Both eyes not the same colour match

• Haw overly visible

• Bulging or protruding eyes

• Overly long or snipey muzzle

• Lack of pronounced/deep stop

• Weak underjaw

• Underjaw turning up

• Albinism (light pink colouration) of nose

• Nose turning up or pushed back

• Tail too long or too short (approx. 1 inch (2.5 cm) from point of hock)

• Curled tail

• Level or flush bite

• Overshot or Undershot bite

• Wry or cross bite

• Neck appearing overly thin or weak

• Neck too short or too long

• Upright shoulders; steep and forward scapula

• Upper arm too short

• Severe turned fronts (in or out)

• Bowed front legs

• Down at the pasterns (weak pasterns)

• Splayed or flat feet

• Long toes

• Hocks turning in or out; cow hocked

• Coat curly or wavy

• Movement: Rolling, pacing, sidewinding, hackney action, and paddling or pounding

• Not moving on the same plane – legs over-reaching, crossing over in front or rear, or rear legs moving too close or touching

 

Serious Faults

Faults to be heavily penalized but not deserving of disqualification for showing are:

• Severely overshot or undershot (1/4 inch (0.6cm)or more)

• Tail kinked, twisted, knotted, fused or overly short

• Long coat

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Disqualifications

• Displaying or possessing aggressive behavior towards humans

• Pink or Albino eyes

• Missing one or both testicles

• Deafness in one or both ears

• Screwed tail

• Bobbed tail

• Docked tail