Powerfully built, symmetrical, substantial but not clumsy, proportionately active.

Strong construction, endurance, active and reliable.

Large square skull, wrinkled when alert; circumference equal to height at withers. Broad, deep skull with pronounced stop. Short muzzle (approximately one third of total head length from nose to occiput), broad under eyes, broad nose ridge, blunt square foreface, broad underjaw. Broad nose with wide nostrils, flat and neither pointed nor upturned. Lips not overhanging, never reaching below the lower teeth.

Dark or hazel in colour, moderate size, set as wide apart as the width of the nose bridge, with a furrow between. Light or yellow eyes highly undesirable.

V-shaped, folded back, set high and wide apart, giving a square appearance to the skull (very important). Small and darker in colour than the body. Tip of ear level with the eye when alert.

Scissor bite preferred; slight undershot acceptable but not preferred. Large, well-developed canines with good spacing. Other teeth strong, straight and well-placed.

Well arched, moderate length, very muscular. Circumference approximately equal to that of the skull.

Broad, deep chest, well-placed between the forelegs with deep brisket. Muscular, sloping, powerful shoulders, not loaded. Strong, straight forelegs with heavy bone, well-spaced for a strong, straight front. Strong, straight pasterns.

Short, straight back giving a compact impression without hindering movement. Roach backs and sagging backs highly undesirable.

Broad, muscular loins with reasonable depth of flank. Strong, muscular hindlegs with well-developed thighs providing strength and mobility (never clumsy). Moderate hock angles. Cow hocks highly undesirable.

Well-arched toes (cat foot) with hard pads. Dark nails desired. Spread toes highly undesirable.

Set high, broad at root, tapering to hock. Carried straight or slightly curved, never over the back or too high. Kinked or curled tails highly undesirable.

Movement demonstrates strength and determination. Straight movement with no crossing of front or hind legs. Right foreleg and left hindleg move simultaneously. Good topline combined with powerful hindquarters provides balance and harmonious gait.

Short, hard and weather resistant, flat-lying. Long, silky or woolly coats highly undesirable.

Any shade of fawn, sand or red; colour must be pure. A small white marking on the chest is permissible; other white markings undesirable. Black muzzle essential, shading off upwards with black around the eyes, contributing to the typical expression.

Any departure from the foregoing points should be considered a fault, the seriousness of which is proportionate to its degree. Males must have two apparently normal testicles fully descended into the scrotum.