General 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 though
with broad 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, i.e.
upper teeth closely overlapping the lower teeth and set square to the jaws.
Neck: Muscular, rather short, clean
in outline gradually widening towards shoulder.
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; muscular and well
defined.
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 much and may be
likened 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 with white. Black and tan or liver colour highly
undesirable.
Sizes: Weight: Dogs 12.7-17 kg
(28-38 lbs) at withers
Bitches 11-15.4 kg (24-34 lbs) at withers
Desirable Height: 14-16 inches
(these heights being related to the weights)
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.
Notes: Male animals should have two
apparently normal testicles fully descended into the scrotum.
