| GENERAL APPEARANCE -
Strong, sturdy working dog, active,
alert, well boned, of striking colour. CHARACTERISTICS
- A multi purpose farm dog capable of
draught work. A kind and devoted
family dog. Slow to mature.
TEMPERAMENT -
Self-confident, good natured, friendly
and fearless. Aggressiveness not to
be tolerated.
HEAD AND SKULL -
Strong with flat skull, very slight
furrow, well defined stop; strong
straight muzzle. Lips slightly
developed.
EYES - Dark brown,
almond shaped, well fitting eyelids.
EARS - Medium sized;
set high, triangular shaped, lying flat
in repose, when alert brought slightly
forward and raised at base.
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,
muscular and medium length.
FOREQUARTERS -
Shoulders long, strong and sloping, with
upper arm forming a distinct angle, flat
lying, well muscled. Forelegs
straight from all sides. Pasterns
flexing slightly.
BODY - Compact rather
than long. Height to length
9:10. Broad chest, good depth of
brisket reaching at least to elbow.
Well ribbed; strong loins. Firm,
straight back. Rump smoothly
rounded.
HINDQUARTERS - Broad,
strong and well muscled. Stifles
well bent. Hock strong, well let
down and turning neither in nor
out. Dewclaws to be removed.
FEET - Short, round
and compact.
TAIL - Bushy,
reaching just below hock. Raised
when alert or moving but never curled or
carried over back.
GAIT/MOVEMENT -
Stride reaching out well in front,
following well through behind, balanced
stride in all gaits.
COAT - Soft, silky
with bright natural sheen, long, slightly
wavy but should not curl when mature.
COLOUR - Jet black,
with rich reddish brown on cheeks, over
eyes, on all four legs and on
chest. Slight to medium sized
symmetrical white head marking (blaze)
and white chest marking (cross) are
essential. Preferred but not
essential, white paws, white not reaching
higher than pastern, white tip to
tail. A few white hairs at nape of
neck, and white anal patch undesirable
but tolerated.
SIZE -
Height: Dogs 64-70 cms (25-27½ ins)
Bitches 58-66 cms (23-26 ins)
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.
Utility
Group
A.N.K.C. © January
1998
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