The Body

The body is rectangular, mesomophoric and medium sized.  Shoulders are well sloped.  Very arched ribs with a deep and wide chest.  Very well developed pectoral muscles.  Elbows separate from the body but neither turned in nor out.  Strong heavy bones.  Loin higher than withers.  Slight angulation of the rear legs.

Chest

After the head, the chest is the most important feature in defining the breed.  The chest is wide and deep with well arched ribs.  The chest should fall to at least the elbows when viewed from both the front and the side, resembling a "U" when seen from the front.  The perimeter of the chest should be at least 45% greater than the height to the withers.  

The chest falls to below the elbows

The correct chest.  Sternum decends to the elbows. Proper width.  Elbows are straight. 

An incorrect chest.  Sternum decends to the elbows.  Proper width.  Elbows are turned outward.  Penalized

Chest desends to the elbows.  Elbows are turned outward, legs are bowed and feet turn out.  Severe fault.

An incorrect chest.  Inverted (concave) chest.  Sternum is not descended to the elbows .  Chest is too narrow and without capacity.  Disqualifying fault.

Chest inverted.  Sternum not descended to the elbows.  Chest narrow.  Feet outward. Disqualifing fault.

Chest lacking width.  Sternum not descended to the elbows.  Elbows under body rather than outside of chest.  Atypical.

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Index  |  Head  |  Muzzle  |  Eyes & Ears  |  Bite

Chest & Front  |  Rear  | Topline  | Tail  |  Colors