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A Breed Standard is the
guideline which describes the ideal characteristics, temperament and
appearance of a breed and ensures that the breed is fit for function.
Absolute soundness is essential. Breeders and judges should at all times
be careful to avoid obvious conditions or exaggerations which would be
detrimental in any way to the health, welfare or soundness of this
breed. From time to time certain conditions or exaggerations may be
considered to have the potential to affect dogs in some breeds adversely,
and judges and breeders are requested to refer to the Kennel Club
website for details of any such current issues. If a feature or quality
is desirable it should only be present in the right measure.
General Appearance
Smooth-coated, fairly thick set, rather low in stature, broad,
powerful and compact. Head, fairly large in proportion to size but no
point so much in excess of others as to destroy the general symmetry, or
make the dog appear deformed, or interfere with its powers of motion.
Face relatively short, muzzle broad, blunt and inclined upwards although
not excessively so. Dogs showing respiratory distress highly undesirable.
Body fairly short, well knit, limbs stout, well muscled and in hard
condition with no tendency towards obesity. Hindquarters high and strong.
Bitches not so grand or well developed as dogs.
Characteristics
Conveys impression of determination, strength and activity.
Temperament
Alert, bold, loyal, dependable, courageous, fierce in appearance,
but possessed of affectionate nature.
Head and Skull
Skull relatively large in circumference. Viewed from front appears
high from corner of lower jaw to apex of skull; also broad and square.
Cheeks well rounded and extended sideways beyond eyes. Viewed from side,
head appears very high and moderately short from back to point of nose.
Forehead flat with skin on and about head slightly loose and finely
wrinkled without excess, neither prominent nor overhanging face. From
defined stop, a furrow extending to middle of skull being traceable to
apex. Face from front of cheek bone to nose, relatively short, skin may
be slightly wrinkled. Muzzle short, broad, turned upwards and deep from
corner of eye to corner of mouth. Nose and nostrils large, broad and
black, under no circumstances liver colour, red or brown. Distance from
inner corner of eye (or from centre of stop between eyes) to extreme tip
of nose should not be less than distance from tip of the nose to edge of
the underlip. Nostrils large wide and open, with well defined vertical
straight line between. Flews (chops) thick, broad and deep, covering
lower jaws at sides, but joining underlip in front. Teeth not visible.
Jaws broad, strong and square, lower jaw slightly projecting in front of
upper with moderate turn up. Over nose wrinkle, if present, whole or
broken, must never adversely affect or obscure eyes or nose. Pinched
nostrils and heavy over nose roll are unacceptable and should be heavily
penalised. Viewed from front, the various properties of the face must
be equally balanced on either side of an imaginary line down centre.
Eyes
Seen from front, situated low down in skull, well away from ears.
Eyes and stop in same straight line, at right angles to furrow. Wide
apart, but outer corners within the outline of cheeks. Round, of
moderate size, neither sunken nor prominent, in colour very dark –
almost black – showing no white when looking directly forward. Free from
obvious eye problems.
Ears
Set high – i.e. front edge of each ear (as viewed from front) joins
outline of skull at top corner of such outline, so as to place them as
wide apart, as high and as far from eyes as possible. Small and thin.
’Rose ear‘ correct, i.e. folding inwards back, upper or front inner edge
curving outwards and backwards, showing part of inside of burr.
Mouth
Jaws broad and square with six small front teeth between canines in
an even row. Canines wide apart. Teeth large and strong, not seen when
mouth closed. When viewed from front under jaw directly under upper jaw
and parallel.
Neck
Moderate in length, thick, deep and strong. Well arched at back,
with some loose, thick and wrinkled skin about throat, forming slight
dewlap on each side.
Forequarters
Shoulders broad, sloping and deep, very powerful and muscular giving
appearance of being ’tacked on‘ body. Brisket round and deep. Well let
down between forelegs. Ribs not flat-sided, but well rounded. Forelegs
very stout and strong, well developed, set wide apart, thick, muscular
and straight, bones of legs large and straight, not bandy nor curved and
short in proportion to hindlegs, but not so short as to make back appear
long, or detract from dog’s activity. Elbows low and standing well away
from ribs. Pasterns short, straight and strong.
Body
Chest wide, prominent and deep. Back short, strong, broad at
shoulders. Slight fall to back close behind shoulders (lowest part)
whence spine should rise to loins (top higher than top of shoulder),
curving again more suddenly to tail, forming slight arch – a distinctive
characteristic of breed. Body well ribbed up behind with belly tucked up
and not pendulous.
Hindquarters
Legs large and muscular, slightly longer in proportion than forelegs.
Hocks slightly bent, well let down; legs long and muscular from loins to
hock. Stifles turned very slightly outwards away from body.
Feet
Fore, straight and turning very slightly outward; of medium size and
moderately round. Hind, round and compact. Toes compact and thick, well
split up, making knuckles prominent and high.
Tail
Set on low, jutting out rather straight and then turning downwards.
Round, smooth and devoid of fringe or coarse hair. Moderate in length –
rather short than long – thick at root, tapering quickly to a fine
point. Downward carriage (not having a decided upward curve at end) and
never carried above back.
Gait/Movement
Appearing to walk with short, quick steps on tips of toes, hind feet
not lifted high, appearing to skim ground, running with one or other
shoulder rather advanced. Soundness of movement of the utmost importance.
Coat
Fine texture, short, close and smooth (hard only from shortness and
closeness, not wiry).
Colour
Whole or smut, (i.e. whole colour with black mask or muzzle). Only
whole colours (which should be brilliant and pure of their sort) viz.,
brindles, reds with their various shades, fawns, fallows etc., white and
pied (i.e. combination of white with any of the foregoing colours).
Dudley, black and black with tan highly undesirable.
Size
Dogs: 25 kgs (55 lbs); bitches: 23 kgs (50 lbs).
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 and its effect upon the health and
welfare of the dog.
Note
Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles fully
descended into the scrotum.
Last Updated - October
2009 |