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STANDARD
Origin: Great Britain
Date of publication of the original valid standard: 29.10.2003 (effective from April 2004)
Utilization: Sheepdog
General Appearance
Strong, square-looking dog of great symmetry and overall soundness. Absolutely free from legginess, profusely coated all over. A thick-set muscular, able-bodied dog with a most intelligente expression. The natural outline should not be artificially changed by scissoring or clipping. Of great stamina, exhibiting a gently rising topline, and a pear-shaped body when viewed from above. The gait has a typical roll when ambling or walking. Bark has a distinctive toned quality.
Important proportions
Muzzle measuring approximately half of the total head length. Dog standing lower at withers than loin.
Behaviour/Temperament
A biddable dog of even disposition. Bold, faithful and trustworthy, with no suggestion of nervousness or unprovoked aggression.
Head
In proportion to the size of the body
Cranial region
Skull: Capacious, rather square. Well arched above eyes
Stop: Well defined
Facial region
Nose: Large and black. Nostrils wide Muzzle: Strong, square and truncated. Jaws/teeth: Teeth strong, large and evenly placed. Scissor bite. Jaws strong with a perfect, regular and complete scissor bite, i.e. upper teeth closely overlapping the lower teeth and set square to the jaws. Pincer bite tolerated but undesirable. Eyes: Set well apart. Dark or wall eyes. Two blue eyes acceptable. Light eyes undesirable. Pigmentation of the eye rims preferred. Ears: Small and carried flat to side of head.
Neck
Fairly long, strong, arched gracefully
Body
Rather short and compact. Dog standing lower at withers than loin. Loin: Very Sturdy, broad and gently arched. Chest: Deep, capacious brisket. Ribs well-sprung.
Tail
Customarily docked or natural bobtail. Docked: Customarily completely docked. Undocked: Unobtrusive when standing. Low set. Never curled or carried over back, with no kink evident. Well feathered with abundant hard-textured coat.
Limbs
Forequarters: Forelegs perfectly straight, with plenty of bone, holding body well from ground. Shoulders: Should be well laid back, being narrower at the point of withers than at the point of shoulder. Loaded shoulders undesiderable. Elbows: Fitting close to brisket.
Hindquarters
Quarters well covered, round and muscular. Stifle: Well turned Second Thigh: Long and well developed. Hocks: Set low. From the rear, the hocks should be quite straight. Feet: Turning neither in nor out. Small, round and tight. Toes well arched. Pads thick and hard. Dew claws should be removed.
Gait/Movement
When walking exhibits a bear-like roll from the rear. When trotting, shows effortless extension and strong driving rear action, with legs moving straight along line of travel. Very elastic at the gallop. At slow speeds, some dogs may tend to pace. When moving, the head carriage may adopt a naturally lower position.
Coat
Hair: Profuse, of good harsh texture, not straight, but shaggy and free from curl. Undercoat of waterproof pile. Head and skull well covered with hair, ears moderately coated, neck well coated, forelegs well coated all around, hindquarters more heavily coated than rest of body. Quality, texture and profusion to be considered above more lenght
Colour
Any shade of grey, grizzle or blue. Body and hindquarters of solid colour with or without white socks. White patches in the solid area to be discouraged. Head, neck, forequarters and under belly to be white or without markings. Any shade of brown undesirable.
Size
Dogs: 61 cm (24 inches) and upwards Bitches: 56 cm (22 inches) and upwards. Type and symmetry of greatest importance and on no account to be sacrified to size alone.
Faults
Any departure from the forefoing points should be considered a fault and the seriousness with which the fault should be regarded should be in exact proportion to its degree.
Any dog clearly showing physical or behavioural abnormalities shall be disqualified.
NB: Male animals must have two apparently normal testicles fully descended into the scrotum
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