General Appearance:        Powerful build, symmetrical, showing great strength, but not cumbersome; sound and active.

Characteristics:                  Powerful, enduring, active and reliable.

Temperament:                    High spirited, alert and faithful.

Head And Skull:                 Skull large and square, viewed from every angle, fair wrinkle when interested, but not when in repose.
                                                Skull broad and deep with well filled cheeks. Pronounced stop. Muzzle short, distance from tip of nose to
                                                stop approximately one-third of length from tip of nose to centre of occiput, broad under eyes and
                                                sustaining nearly the same width to end of nose; blunt and cut off square, forming right angle with upper
                                                line of face, and at the same time proportionate with skull. Under-jaw broad to end. Nose broad with
                                                widely spreading nostrils, flat, neither pointed nor turned up in profile. Flews not pendulous, never
                                                hanging below level of lower jaw.

Eyes:                                     Dark or hazel, of medium size, set apart the width of muzzle with furrow between. Light or yellow eyes
                                                highly undesirable.

Ears:                                      V-shaped, folded back, set on wide and high, level of occiput giving square appearance to skull which is
                                               most important. Small and deeper in colour than body. Point of ear level with eye when alert. Rose ears
                                               highly undesirable.

Mouth:                                 Level desired but slightly undershot allowed but not preferred. Canine teeth large and set wide apart,
                                               other teeth strong, even and well placed.

Neck:                                    Well arched, moderate length, very muscular and almost equal to skull in circumference.

Forequarters:                    Chest, wide and deep, well let down between forelegs, with deep brisket. Shoulders muscular, sloping
                                              and powerful, not overloaded. Forelegs powerful and straight, well boned, set wide apart, presenting a
                                              straight front. Pasterns straight and strong.  

Body:                                   Back short and straight, giving compact carriage, but not so short as to interfere with activity. Roach and
                                              sway backs highly undesirable.

Hindquarters:                   Loins wide and muscular with fair depth of flank. Hindlegs strong and muscular, with well developed
                                              second thighs, denoting power and activity, not cumbersome. Hocks moderately bent. Cow hocks highly
                                              undesirable.

Feet:                                    Well arched, cat like, with rounded toes, pads hard. Dark toe nails desirable. Splayed feet highly
                                              undesirable.

Tail:                                      Set high, strong at root and tapering, reaching to hocks, carried straight or curved, but not hound
                                              fashion. Crank tails highly undesirable.

Gait/Movement:               Movement indicates power and sense of purpose. When moving straight neither front nor hind legs
                                              should cross or plait, right front and left rear leg rising and falling at same time. A firm backline
                                              unimpaired by powerful thrust from hindlegs denoting a balanced and harmonious movement.

Coat:                                    Short and hard, weather resistant, lying flat to body. Long, silky or woolly coats highly undesirable.

Colour:                                Any shade of brindle, fawn or red; colour to be pure and clear. A slight white marking on chest
                                              permissible. Other white markings undesirable. Black muzzle essential, toning off towards eyes, with

                                              dark markings around eyes contributing to expression.

Size:                                    Height:
                                             Dogs 64-69 cms (25-27 ins) at shoulder
                                             Bitches 61-66 cms (24-26 ins) at shoulder

                                             Weight:
                                             Dogs 50-59 kg (110-130 lbs)
                                             Bitches 41-50 kg (90-110 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.

Notes:                                Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles fully descended into the scrotum.