Head and Skull: massive, broad skull with well developed zygomatic arches. Flat forehead, slight stop. The muzzle is slightly shorter than the length of the skull; wide between the eyes, hardly narrowing at all towards the nose. Seen from the front and from above, the muzzle appears rectangular, whereas in profile it has a truncated [blunt] shape with a heavy [thick] upper lip which hangs at the corners. The nose is strong and black. In light coloured dogs a brown [liver] nose is allowed. Eyes: dark, wide apart, round, set straight. Ears: small, pendant, set low, triangular. Mouth: teeth white, strong, fittingly tightly. The incisors are set with their base in a straight line. Scissor bite.
Neck: short, muscular, carried low, forming an angle of about 30 to 40 degrees with the line of the back. Withers: high, well defined especially in the males. The height at the withers is 1 or 2 cm higher than the height of the croup. Chest: wide, deep, with rounded ribs. The lower line of the chest is level with or lower than the elbows. Abdomen [Belly]: moderately tucked up. Back: strong, straight, broad. Loin: short, broad, slightly rounded. Croup: broad, muscular, almost level.
Forequarters: seen from the front, straight and parallel. The length of the leg, from the ground up to the elbows is slightly greater than half the height at the withers. The angle formed by the scapular and humerus [shoulder blade and upper arm] is about 100 degrees. The forearm is straight, massive and long. Pasterns short, broad, strong and upright. Hindquarters: set parallel; moderate angulation of stifle and hock joint. Short second thighs. Metatarsals [Rear pasterns] - Thick and perpendicular. Feet: (Front and Hind) - Strong, oval, compact.
Set high; sickle-shaped; hanging down, reaches to the hock joint. Customarily docked short.
Coat: coarse hair, straight with well developed undercoat. The hair is short and flat against the skin on the head and on the front of the legs.
The dogs are described according to the length of their coat:
(a) Long-haired (7 - 8 cm) on the back and body, particularly on the ears, the neck, the back of the fore and hind legs, and on the tail.
(b) Short-haired (3 - 5 cm) and smooth.
Colour: white, black, grey, straw coloured, russet (reddish brown), grey/brown, brindle, parti-coloured and flecked.
The heavy, short striding trot and the gallop are the most characteristic gaits of this breed of dog. At the trot, the legs must move in a straight line, with a certain coming together of the forelegs towards a median [centre; tend to single track] line.
Height: Males not less than 65 cm. Females not less than 60 cm.
