Standard
PURPOSE: Guardian, protector, and family companion.
OVERALL IMPRESSION: Square, powerfully built, yet agile and athletic for size and alert. Should give impression of nobility. (Thereby - "Blue Blood")
HEAD: Large, flat across top, square, heavily muscled in males.
MUZZLE: Square with heavily muscled jaws. Up to 40% of total length of head.
NOSE: Black to liver. 50% or more light pigment unacceptable.
EARS: Medium in size, half perked or rose. Cropping "not" permissible.
EYES: Set well apart and prominent. Any color permissible. "Glass" or "marble" eye preferred.
NECK: Thick, of medium length.
SHOULDERS: Of short length, heavily muscled and well tied in. Should give impression of power.
CHEST: Wide and deep with well sprung ribcage.
BACK: Straight, not rigid or swayed. Length equal to height at shoulders, with 1" variation.
TAIL: Optimum length, should reach hock. Final 1/3 to have gradual upward curvature. Docking "not" permissible.
FORELEGS: Straight and extremely thick-boned. Balanced forward toes. Feet well knuckled up with thick pads. (Dewclaws not removed.)
REAR: Hips narrower than shoulders. Well muscular and in proportion to forequarters.
COLOR: Merle and white preferred. Any color and white acceptable although solid white undesirable.
COAT: Short to medium length and fairly stiff to the touch with soft undercoat.
SIZE: Males 22-25 inches at the withers and 70-100 lbs. Females 20-23" and 50-70 lbs. 1" variation in height is allowed. 5-10 lbs. variation is allowed.
** NOTE:
This information has been contributed by, and is property of Lana Lou Lane, Circle L Kennels, and is gratefully used here with permission.