General Appearance
Most striking.
Medium and well balanced. Strong, active and graceful, free from coarseness but capable of great endurance.
Characteristics
Intelligent, alert,
full of action. Smiling expression.
Temperament
Displays affection
to all mankind. Unprovoked nervousness or aggression highly undesirable.
Head and Skull
Head powerful, wedge-shaped,
with broad, flat skull, muzzle medium length, tapering foreface not too sharply defined. Lips black. Hair short and smooth
before ears. Nose black for preference, but may be brown or flesh-coloured.
Eyes
Almond-shaped, set slanted,
medium to dark brown, set well apart with alert, intelligent expression. Eye rims unbroken black. Light or black eyes undesirable.
Ears
Thick, not too long, slightly
rounded at tips, set well apart and well covered inside with hair. Fully erect in adults.
Mouth
Jaws strong with a perfect,
regular and complete scissor bite, i.e. upper teeth closely overlapping lower teeth and set square to the jaws.
Neck
Strong, not too short, and
proudly arched.
Forequarters
Shoulders well laid,
legs straight and muscular with good bone and not too short.
Body
Back medium in length, broad
and very muscular with exceptionally strong loin. Chest deep but not too broad, well sprung deep ribs, giving plenty of heart
and lung room.
Hindquarters
Very muscular, stifles
well angulated. Viewed from rear, legs straight and parallel, with well let down hocks. Cowhocks or straight stifles highly
undesirable.
Feet
Long, flattish, slightly spread
and well feathered. Soles well cushioned with hair. Round cat feet highly undesirable.
Tail
Long, profusely coated, carried
over the back and to side when alert, sometimes dropped when at rest.
Gait/Movement
Moves freely with
strong, agile drive, showing power and elegance.
Coat
Body should be well covered
with thick, close, soft and short undercoat, with harsh but not wiry hair growing through it, forming weather-resistant outer
coat, which should stand straight away from body and be free from curl.
Colour
Pure white, white and biscuit,
cream, outer coat silver tipped.
Sizer
Height: dogs: 51-56 cms (20-22
ins) at shoulder; bitches: 46-51 cms (18-20 ins) at shoulder. Weight in proportion to size.
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.
Note
Male animals should have two
apparently normal testicles fully descended into the scrotum.