Proportion : Off square; slightly longer than tall when measured from prosternum to rearmost point of the buttocks, and from withers to ground.

Substance - Strong substantial bone; well developed, neither refined nor coarse, and a solidly built, muscular body.

Head: massive, distinctively large, well proportioned.

Skull: In profile, it is slightly longer that the muzzle, its curvature more accentuated at the back than in the front. When viewed head-on, the top of the skull is very broad and appears domed, with a slight depression in the middle. The forehead is prominent, and has a central furrow, extending two-thirds of the distance from stop to occiput. The occiput is well defined.

Muzzle: Substantial; wider at the base than at the nose. Stop well defined.

Nose: Broad, well flared nostrils. Finely pigmented; black in dogs with black, black and white, or white coats; various tones of brown in dogs with brown coats. Discolored noses are disqualified..

Jaws: Strong and neither over nor undershot.

Teeth: Not visible when the mouth is closed. Canines strongly developed.

Lips: Thick, especially in front; no flew. Lips and mucous membranes of the roof of the mouth, under tongue, and gums are quite black, or well ticked with black in dogs with black, black and white, or white coats; various tones of brown in dogs with brown coats. Bite - Scissors or level.

Eyes: Medium in size, set well apart, and a bit obliquely. Roundish and neither prominent nor sunken. Eye rims fully pigmented with black edges in black, black and white, or white dogs; brown edges in brown dogs. Haws are not apparent.

Ears: Set well above the line of the eye. Leather is heart shaped and thin. Except for a small opening at the back, ears are held nicely against the head. Tips should not reach below the lower jaw.

Neck: Short, round, straight and held high. Strongly muscled.

Siroco do Lusiadas on the boat

 Body : Chest is broad and deep, reaching down to the elbow. Ribs are long and well-sprung to provide optimum lung capacity. Back is broad and well muscled. Croup is well formed and only slightly inclined with symmetrical hip bones hardly apparent. Loin is short and meets the croup smoothly. Abdomen well held up in a graceful line.

Tail : Not docked, thick at the base and tapering; set on slightly below the line of the back; should not reach below the hock. When the dog is attentive the tail is held in a ring, the front of which should not reach forward of the loin. The tail is of great help when swimming and diving.

Forequarters : Shoulders are well inclined and very strongly muscled. Upper arms are strong, and of regular length, parallel to the medial bodyline. Forelegs are strong and straight. Long, strongly muscled forearms. Knee is heavy-boned, wider in front than at the side. Pasterns are long and strong. Fore feet are round and rather flat. Toes neither knuckled up nor too long. Webbing between the toes is of soft skin, well covered with hair, and reaches the toe tips. Nails held up slightly off the ground. Black, brown, white and striped nails are allowed. Central pad is very thick, others normal.

Hindquarters : Powerful; well balanced with front assembly. Legs, viewed from the rear, are parallel to each other, straight and very strongly muscled. Thigh: strong and of regular length. Lower thigh : Long and strongly muscled, parallel to the medial body line. Decidedly inclined from front to back. Buttocks are well developed, long and rounded. Tendons and hocks are strong. Metatarsus long, no dewclaws. Feet similar in all respects to forefeet.

Coat : Black color is common, pure or with white patches, brown is rare and pure white is extremely rare. Profuse, thickly planted strong, healthy hair, covering the whole body, evenly, except where the forearm meets the brisket and in the groin area, where it is thinner. There are two varieties of coat: curly - compact, cylindrical curls, somewhat lusterless; wavy - fairly long, falling gently in waves, not curls, and with a slight sheen. No undercoat , mane or ruff.

Ch. Rossina at the beach

Height at the withers : Males: , 20 to 23 inches ( 50 to 57 cm). The ideal is 21'44 inches (54 cm); Females: 17 - 21 inches (42 to 52 cm). The ideal is 18'11 inches (46 cm)

Weight: Males, 41 pounds 14 ounces to 55 pounds (19 to 25 kilos); Females, 35 pounds 34 ounces to 48 pounds 6 ounces (16 to 22 kilos)

Gait Temperament : Elegant, lively steps when walking. The trot is a forward striding, light, well balanced movement. Energetic gallop.  

Life presumed: years 15

Just Me Van de Duca Vallei (Quincy's daughter), at the sea

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