Breed Standard Cont'd

MOUTH AND TONGUE: Should have spots or patches of bluish-black on the surface of the tongue, a solid bluish-black mouth is ideal. Teeth should be healthy, strong, and regular, scissors bite or moderately undershot jaw, but the teeth should be invisible when the mouth is closed. Faults: Too pointed a bite, too undershot, teeth showing when mouth closed. NECK: Powerful, moderately long, slightly arched and without loose skin. The neck gradually increases in circumference as it approaches the shoulder.

BODY: Well-rounded and well-sprung ribs. Loin slightly tucked. Dogs' loin is somewhat shorter than bitches'. BACK: Strong, slightly arched over the loin. TAIL: Short, sturdy (good strength and substance), and set high on the rump. The tail is thick and round at the base, tapering to a fine point. When the dog is excited or in motion, the tail rises like a bamboo shoot and forms an angle approximately 45 – 90 degrees with the horizontal, this is a characteristic feature of the breed. Faults: Too long, curled, or held over back, docked.

FOREQUARTERS: The shoulders should be strong and muscular. Degree of front angulation to match correct rear angulation. The shoulder blades should be wide and flat. Behind the shoulders there should be no slack or dip at the withers. Chest should be broad when viewed from the front, extending at least to the elbow. LEGS: Developed with straight, heavy bone. Pasterns are strong, springy. The elbows must turn neither in nor out. FEET: Moderate in size, round and compact with well-arched toes (cat- footed). Nails are black. HINDQUARTERS: Muscular, strong, and moderately angulated matching the front. The hocks are perpendicular to the ground and parallel to each other when viewed from the rear. CROUP: Flat, with the base of the tail set extremely high, clearly exposing an up-tilted anus.

COAT: Short, flat, not dense, hard (harsh to the touch), and with a good gloss. Some dogs' coats are very thin, especially on the head, back and the top of the tail (the portion exposed to the sun). However, the skin must be healthy. Faults: A soft coat, a very dense coat, or a coat that has been trimmed. COLOUR: Solid colour, brown or dark brown. A small white patch on chest is permissible. MOVEMENT: The dog should move smoothly, covering the ground with free, easy strides, fore and hind legs should move parallel each to each when viewed from the front or behind. The forelegs should reach out well with the hind legs moving smoothly at the hip and flexing well at the stifle and hock, strong drive in the hindquarters. The dog should move compactly and in one piece, but with a typical jaunty air that suggests agility and power. Note: Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles fully descended into the scrotum.