Standard
MAREMMA AND THE ABBRUZES SHEEPDOG
(Cane da Pastore Maremmano-Abruzzese)
ORIGIN: Italy.
UTILIZATION: Shepherd dog used mainly for the protection of flocks and guarding of properties.
CLASSIFICATION F.C.I.:>Group 1 Sheepdogs and cattledogs
except Swiss cattledogs.
Section 1 Sheepdogs.
Without working trial.
BRIEF HISTORICAL SUMMARY: This ancient breed of dogs who guard flocks comes from shepherd dogs actually still used in the Abruzzes where the breeding of sheep is still thriving even in
these days, and sheepdogs which existed yesteryear in the region of the Tuscan
Maremma and in that of Latium. Most especially since 1860, the seasonal moving
of livestock from one region to another has favoured the developing of a natural
crossing of those two primitive breeds.
GENERAL APPEARANCE: The Maremma and Abruzzes shepherd dog is a big dog, strongly built of a rustic
appearance, at the same time majestic and really typical. On the whole his
shape, of average proportions, is that of a heavy dog, whose body is longer than
the height at the withers; is balanced as much in size (heterometry = normal
proportions between the size and different parts of the body) as to the profiles
(alloidism = concordance between the profiles of the head and the body).
IMPORTANT PROPORTIONS: The length of the head reaches the 4/10 of the height at the withers; the
length of the muzzle is 1/10th less than that of the skull; the body
length is more by 1/18th than the height at the withers.
Depth of thorax is
slightly less than half the height at the withers. (For instance : for a dog of
68 cm the depth is about 32 cm).
BEHAVIOUR AND TEMPERAMENT
: His principal function as a guard and defense dog of flocks and property in
general, asserts itself in the manner he accomplishes these tasks, with
perception, he can also show a devoted attachment to his master and all his
entourage.
HEAD
: On the whole, the head is large and flat, of conical shape, reminiscing of
that of a polar bear.
CRANIAL REGION
:
Skull
: Is of great width with lateral sides slightly bulging. In profile, is also
convex. The upper longitudinal axes of the skull and muzzle are slightly
divergent, which makes the profile of the head slightly convex.
The superciliary arches are
moderately marked. The medio-frontal furrow line is slightly marked. The
occipital crest is only just visible.
Stop
: The frontal-nasal depression only just accentuated and the frontal-nasal angle
is always very open.
FACIAL REGION
:
Nose
: Rather big, in line of the muzzle, with large well-opened nostrils, moist and
cool, coloured black. In profile must not protrude beyond the front marginal of
the lips.
Muzzle
: Its length is by 1/10th less than that of the skull. Its depth,
measured at the level of the corner of the lips, must reach half its length.
Its width decreases progressively according to the convergence of the lateral
sides of the muzzle towards the front, but nevertheless keeping a flat fore
surface. The suborbital region is slightly chiselled.
Lips
: Seen from the front, the upper lips, at their junction point, determine by
their lower edge a semicircle of very short radius. Slightly developed, they
barely cover the teeth of the jaw, and, therefore, the corner of the lips is
only lightly accentuated.
Consequently the lower lateral
profile is only defined by the lips in its fore part, in its rear part it is
defined by the lower jaw and the corner of the lips. The rims of the lips are
black.
Jaws
: Look strong, normally developed, with incisors set straight, well aligned of
good size and complete in number.
Teeth
: White, strong – scissor bite.
Cheeks
: Moderately visible.
Eyes
: Not large in relation to the size of the dog; the iris is of an ocre colour or
chestnut brown. The eye, in lateral position, is neither deep set nor
protruding. Lively and attentive expression. Eyelid opening is almond shaped,
with black eyelid rims.
Ears
: Set very high over the zygomatic arches, they are hanging but very mobile.
Triangular shape (in V), their extremities forming a narrow point never rounded;
they are small in relation to the size of the dog. For a medium size dog their
length must not go beyond 12 cm. The ear attachment is of medium width.
Cropped ears tolerated only in dogs really used as herd dogs.
NECK
: Upper profile moderately arched. Its length does not go beyond the 8/10 of
the length of the head, which means that the neck is always shorter than the
head. It is thick, very strong muscular and always without dewlap; covered with
long and dense hair forming a collar particularly obvious in males.
BODY
: Solidly constructed, its length is more by 1/18 than the height at the
withers.
Top line
: Straight from withers to rump where it becomes somewhat sloping.
Withers
: Slightly above from the topline; wide because of the distance separating the
shoulder blades.
Back
: Straight in profile, length reaches about 32% of the height at the withers.
The loin which merges perfectly with the topline has a slightly curved profile
with well developed muscled in width. The loin reaches in length 1/5 of the
height at the withers and its width is nearly equal.
Croup
: Wide, strong and well muscled. Its inclination from the hip to the tail set
is of 20° increasing to 30° and more if we refer to the ileum-ischium line; that
is why the rump of the Maremma and Abruzzes shepherd dog must be qualified as
sloping.
Chest
: Ample, descending to level of elbows, deep and well-rounded at mid-height.
Its circumference must be more than ¼ of the height at the withers; its maximum
width at mid-height must reach at least the 32% of the height at the withers,
then decreases progressively downwards while retaining a good width in the
sternal region. Its depth must reach half the height at the withers. The ribs
are well sprung and oblique with inter-costal spaces of good width; the last
false ribs are long, oblique and well opened.
Underline and Belly
: The sternum-ventral profile is characterised by a long sternal line in the
shape of an arc of a circle of very big radius rising slightly towards the
belly.
TAIL
: Low set due to the sloping rump, in normal stand reaching below the level of
the hock. Hanging when dog stationary; carried level with back line with a
rather strongly hooked extremity when the dog is in action. Well furnished with
dense hairs without fringes.
LIMBS
FOREQUARTERS
: Straight limbs from the front and in profile; forequarters well balanced in
relation to the body, and the various parts of the forequarters are well
proportioned between them.
Shoulders
: Long, oblique with powerful muscles. Must be really free in movement. In
length measures about ¼ of the height at the withers. Its obliqueness below the
horizontal is of 50° to 60°.
Upperarm
: Set close to the body in its upper two thirds, with powerful muscles. Its
obliqueness below the horizontal varies between 55° and 60°; its length measures
about the 30% of the height at the withers. Its position is more or less
parallel with the median plane of the body. The scapula-humeral angle varies
between 105° and 120°.
Elbows
: Normally close to the chest, they are covered with a soft loose skin. Their
position must be parallel to the median plane of the body; the point of the
elbow must be on an imaginary vertical line starting at the rear angle of the
shoulder blade. The opening of the humeral-radial angle varies between 145° and
150°.
Forearm
: Straight, and vertical, heavily boned. Its length is slightly more than the
length of the upperarm, while being a little less of a third of the height at
the withers. The front leg from ground to elbow measures 52,8% of the height at
the withers.
Carpus (Carpal joint)
: In extension of the vertical of the forearm. Strong, clean, smooth and of
good thickness; the pisiform bone is clearly protruding.
Metacarpus (Pastern):
Its length must never be less to 1/6 of the foreleg measured from ground to
elbow. It is lean with a minimum of sub-cutaneous tissue. Seen in profile is
slightly oblique towards the front.
Feet
: Large, of roundish shape, well closed toes, covered with short thick hair,
nails preferably black. Chestnut colour is tolerated.
HINDQUARTERS
: Seen as a whole : limbs straight when seen from the behind and in profile.
The general aspect is in proportion with the body, and the various parts of the
hindquarters are harmonious.
Thigh
: Long, wide protruding muscles and a rear edge slightly convex. Its width,
measured from edge to edge, reaches ¾ of its length. It is a little oblique
from top to bottom and rear to front; the coxal-femoral (hip bone) angle is
about 100°.
Second thigh
: Its length, a little shorter than the thigh, corresponds to 32,5% of the
height at the withers. Its obliqueness below the horizontal is about 60°.
Strong bone, muscles lean and the groove in the leg well marked.
Knee
: Perfectly in the vertical of the limb, without internal or external rotation.
The fermoral-tibial angle rather well opened, varies between 135° and 140°.
Hock joint
: Quite thick, with broad lateral faces. The angle opening varies between 140°
and 150°.
Metatarsus (Rear pastern)
: Strong, lean and broad. Its length reaches 30,9% of the height at the
withers. Eventual dewclaws must be eliminated.
Feet
: Like the front but more oval.
GAIT/MOVEMENT
: Walk and extended trot.
SKIN
: Tight to all parts of the body; rather thick. Black pigmentation of the
mucous membranes, third eyelids as well as the central and toe pads.
COAT
HAIR
: Very well furnished. Hair long, rather harsh to the touch, closer to straight
horse hair, flat to the body; slight wave is tolerated. The hairs form an
important collar around the neck and fringes of limited length on the edge of
the hindquarters. But the hair is short on the muzzle, on the skull, the ears
and front edge of the limbs. On the body the length of the hair reaches 8 cm.
The undercoat is only in winter abundant.
COLOUR
: Solid white. Shades of ivory, pale orange or lemon are tolerated but only in
certain limits.
SIZE AND WEIGHT
:
Height at the withers
: Males : 65 to 73 cm. Females : 60 to 68 cm.
Weight
: Males : 35 to 45 kg. Females : 30 to 40 kg.
FAULTS
: Any departure from the
foregoing points should be considered a fault and the seriousness with which the
fault should be regarded should be in exact proportion to its degree.
SEVERE FAULTS
:
-
Head
: Cranial-facial axes convergent, accentuated and disfiguring prognathism.
-
Tail
: Rolled over the back.
-
Gait
: Dog which paces continuously.
-
Size
: Over or below the limits fixed by the standard.
ELIMINATING FAULTS
:
-
Aggressive or
overly shy.
-
Nose
: Completely depigmented.
-
Muzzle
: Definitely convex or concave.
-
Eyes
: Moderate or bilateral depigmentation of the eyelids. Wall eye. Bilaterally
cross-eyed.
-
Jaws
: Undershot mouth.
-
Tail
: Tailless or short tail, whether congenital or docked.
-
Coat
: Curly.
-
Colour:
Isabella coat; well defined patches or Isabella or ivory colour. Black
shadings.
Any dog clearly showing physical or
behavioural abnormalities shall be disqualified.
N.B.
: Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles fully descended into
the scrotum.
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