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CHARACTERISTICS
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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.
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TEMPERAMENT
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Dignified, courageous, aloof. Tends to show
dominance over other dogs.
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HEAD AND SKULL
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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.
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EYES
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Relatively small, almond shaped, clean,
moderately set apart and dark brown. Eye rims dark and tight.
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EARS
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Relatively small, thick, triangular, not low
set, carried forward over eyes in line with back of neck, firmly erect.
Moderately set apart; slightly rounded at tips.
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MOUTH
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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.
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NECK
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Thick and muscular, comparatively short,
widening gradually toward shoulders. Pronounced crest blends with back
of skull.
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FOREQUARTERS
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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.
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BODY
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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 fore chest. Level back, firmly
muscled loin, moderate tuck up. Skin pliant but not loose.
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HINDQUARTERS
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Strong and muscular, well developed thighs,
moderate turn of stifle. Strong hocks, with only moderate angulation,
well let down, turning neither in nor out.
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FEET
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Thick, well-knuckled, very tight, turning
neither in nor out. Pads hard. Nails hard. Dewclaws on hind legs
customarily removed.
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TAIL
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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.
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GAIT/MOVEMENT
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Resilient and vigorous with strides of
moderate length. Back remains firm and level. Hindlegs move in line with
front legs, whilst gaiting will single track.
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COAT
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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.
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COLOUR
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Any colour including white brindle or pinto.
Colours are brilliant and clear. Markings are well defined with or
without mask or blaze.
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SIZE
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Height at withers: Dogs
66-71 cm (26-28 ins). Bitches 61-66 cm (24-26 ins).
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FAULTS
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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.
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NOTE
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Male animals should have two
apparently normal testicles fully descended into the scrotum |
