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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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Head and Skull
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Skull large and flat,
forehead broad, with defined stop and clear furrow. Head forms blunt
triangle when viewed from above, free from wrinkle. Cheeks well
developed, bridge of nose straight. Nose large and black. Lips tight and
black. In white dogs flesh colour is permissible. Muzzle broad and
strong. Distance from nose to stop is to distance from stop to occiput
as 2 - 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 and firmly erect. Moderately set apart and slightly rounded at
tips.
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Mouth
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Jaws strong with 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 towards 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 slightly inclining
forward.
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Body
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Longer than high, as 10 is
to 9 in males, 1 I to 9 in bitches. Chest wide and deep, depth of chest
is one-half height of dog at shoulder. Well developed forechest. Level
back with firmly muscled loin and moderate tuck-up. Skin pliant but not
loose.
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Hindquarters
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Strong and muscular with
long, well developed thighs and 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 and
very tight turning neither in nor out. Pads hard. Nails hard. Dew claws
on hind legs customarily removed.
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Tail
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Large and full, set high and
carried over back in a three-quarter, full or double curl, always
dipping to or below level of back. On a three-quarter curl, tip drops
well down flank. Root large and strong. Tail bone almost reaches hock
when let down. Hair coarse, straight and full with no appearance of a
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 two inches and is slightly longer than on rest of
body, except on tail where it is more profuse. No indications 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 cms. (26 - 28 ins.)
Bitches 61 - 66 cms. (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 the
degree.
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Note
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Male animals should have two
apparently normal testicles fully descended into the scrotum.
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