Breed Standard

Appearance

Smooth coated, well balanced, of great strength for his size. Muscular,

active and agile.

Characteristics

Traditionally of indomitable courage and tenacity. Highly intelligent

and affectionate, especially with children.

Temperament

Bold, fearless and totally reliable.

Head and Skull

Short, deep through withbroad skull. Very pronounced cheek muscles,

distinct stop, short foreface, nose black.

Eyes

Dark preferred, but may bear some relation to coat colour. Round,

of medium size and set to look straight ahead. Eye rims dark.

Ears

Rose or half-pricked, not large or heavy. Full drop or pricked ears

highly undesirable.

Mouth

Lips tight and clean. Jaws strong, teeth large, with a perfect, regular and

complete scissor bite, ie upper teeth closely overlapping the lower teeth

and set square to the jaws.

Neck

Muscular, rather short, clean in outline gradually widening towards the

shoulders.

Forequarters

Legs straight and well-boned, set rather wide apart, showing no weakness

at the pasterns, from which point feet turn out a little. Shoulders well laid

back with no looseness at elbow.

Body

Close coupled, with level topline, wide front, deep brisket, well sprung ribs.

Hindquarters

Well muscled, hocks well let down with stifles well bent. Legs parallel when

viewed from behind.

Feet

Well padded, strong and of medium size. Nails black in solid coloured dogs.

Tail

Medium length, low set, tapering to a point and carried rather low. Should

not curl too much and may be linkened to an old fashioned pump handle.

Gait/Movement

Free, powerful and agile with economy of effort. Legs moving parallel when

viewed from front or rear. Discernible drive from hindlegs.

Coat

Smooth, short and close.

Colour

Red, fawn, white, black or blue or any one of these colours with white. Any

shade of brindle or any shade of brindle and white. Black and tan or liver

colour highly undesirable.

Size

Weight : Dogs       13 - 17 kg (28 - 38 lbs)

               Bitches   11 - 15,5 kg (24 - 34 lbs)

Height :                 35 - 40,5 cm (14 - 16 inches)

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 it's degree.

Notes

Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles full descended

into the scrotum.