AQUADANE KENNELS

Home of the stunning gentle giants

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  • Breed Standards
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Introduction to the Breed

Breed Standards

 Very muscular, strongly though elegantly built, with look of dash and daring, of being ready to go anywhere and do anything.

Head and neck carried high, tail in line with back or slightly upwards, but never curled over hindquarters. Elegance of outline and grace of form are most essential.

            It has an alert expression and a powerful, majestic action displaying dignity.

             The temperament is kind without nervousness, friendly and outgoing.

             The head gives the idea of great length and strength of jaw.

             The muzzle or forehead is broad, skull proportionately narrow, so that the whole head when

            viewed from above and in front has the appearance of equal breadth throughout. The length of 

the head is in proportion to the height if the dog.

Length from nose to point between the eyes is equal or of greater length than from this point to the back of the occipital. The skull is flat, with a slight indentation running up centre and the occipital peak is not prominent. There is a decided rise or brow over the eyes, but not abrupt stop between them.  The face is well chiselled, well filled in below the eyes with no appearance of being pinched. The foreface is long, of equal depth throughout. The cheeks show as little lumpiness as possible, compatible with strength. The underline of the head, viewed in profile, runs almost in a strait line from corner of lip to corner of jawbone, allowing for fold of lip, but with no loose skin hanging down. The bridge of the nose is very wide, with a slight ridge where cartilage joins bone. Nostrils are large, wide and open, giving a blunt look to nose. The lips hang squarely in front, forming a right angle with the upper line of the foreface.

The eyes are fairly deep set, but not giving the appearance of being round. They are of medium size and preferable dark. Wall or odd eyes are permissible only in harlequins.

 The ears are triangular, of medium size, set high on the skull and folded forward, but not pendulous.

         The teeth are level.  Jaws are strong with a perfect, regular and complete scissor bite, with the

              upper teeth closely overlapping the lower teeth and set square to the jaws.  

The neck is long, well arched, clean and free from loose skin. It is held up and is well set in the shoulders, with the junction of the head and neck well defined.

 The shoulders are muscular, not loaded, well sloped back, with elbows well under the body. The forelegs are perfectly strait with big flat bone.

 The body is very deep, with brisket reaching elbow. The ribs are well sprung and the belly is well drawn up.

 The hindquarters are extremely muscular, giving strength and galloping power. The second thigh is long and well developed with good turn of stifle, with hocks set low, turning neither in nor out.

 The feet are cat-like, turning neither in nor out. The toes are well arched and close and the nails strong and curved. The nails are preferably dark in all colours except harlequins where light is permissible.

 The tail is thick at the root, tapering towards the end, reaching to or just below the hocks. Carried in strait line level with the back when the dog is moving and slightly curved towards the end, but never curling or carried over the back.

 Movement is lithe, springy and free, covering the ground well. The hocks move freely with driving action and the head is carried high.

The coat is short, dense and sleek looking.

 An adult dog has a height of 76 cms (30 ins) and a minimum weight of 54 kilos (120 lbs).

 An adult bitch has a height of 71 cms (28 INS) and a minimum weight of 46 kilos (100 lbs).

 Colours:

Black is black.

 Fawn: varies from lightest buff to deepest orange, dark shadings on head and ears acceptable, eyes and nails preferably dark.

 Brindle: must be striped, ground colour from lightest buff to deepest orange, stripes always black, eyes and nails preferably dark, dark shadings on head and ears acceptable.

 Blue: varies from light grey to deep slate; the nose and eyes may be blue.

 In all above colours, white is only permissible on chest and feet, but not desirable even there. The nose is always black, except in blues and harlequins. The eyes and nails are preferably dark.

 Mantle: black and white with a solid black blanket extending over the body. Ideally, black skull with white muzzle, white blaze optional, whole white collar preferred, a white chest, white on part or whole of the forelegs and hindlegs, white tipped black tail. Nose always black, eyes and nails preferably black.

 Harlequin: pure white underground with preferably all black or all blue patches, having the appearance of being torn. Light nails permissible. In harlequins, wall eyes, pink noses or butterfly noses are permissible but not desirable.