CHARACTERISTICS:

Traditionally of indomitable courage and tenacity. Highly intelligent and affectionate especially with children.

GENERAL APPEARANCE:

Smooth coated, well balanced, of great strength for its size. Muscular, active and agile.

MOUTH:

Lips tight and clean. Jaws strong, teeth large, with perfect, regular and complete scissor bite, e.i. Upper teeth closely overlapping the lower teeth and set square to the jaws.

NECK:

Muscular, rather short, clean in outline gradually widening towards shoulders.

FOREQUARTERS:

Legs straight and well boned, set rather wide apart, showing no weakness at the pasterns, from which point the feet turn out a little. Shoulders well laid back with no looseness at elbows.

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 AND MOVEMENT:

Free, powerful and agile with economy of effort. Legs moving parallel when viewed from front and rear. Discernible drive from hind legs.

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.

SIZE:

Weight: Dogs 13-17 kgs (28-38 lbs). Bitches 11-15.5 kgs (24-34 lbs). Desirable height (at withers) 35.5 - 40.5 cms (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 be in exact proportion to its degree.

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