GENERAL APPEARANCE:
Large-sized dog sturdily built, well balanced and with much substance, secondary sex characteristics strongly marked, with high nobility and dignity in modesty; constitution tough.

IMPORTANT PROPORTIONS:
The ratio of height at withers to length of body is 10:11, but the body is slightly longer in bitches than in dogs.

BEHAVIOUR AND TEMPERAMENT:
Temperament is composed, faithful, docile, and receptive.

HEAD:
The size of the skull is in proportion to the body. The forehead is broad, with defined stop and distinct furrow, but no wrinkle. The cheeks moderately developed; the nasal bridge straight, with large and black nose. In case of white coat, flesh color permitted. The muzzle moderately long and strong with broad base, tapering but not pointed; teeth strong with scissors bite; lips tight.

EYES:
Relatively small, almost triangular, set moderately apart, dark brown; the darker the better.

EARS:
Relatively small, thick, triangular, slightly rounded at tips, set moderately apart, pricked and inclining forward.

NECK:
Thick and muscular, without dewlap, in balance with head.

BODY:
Back straight and strong, and loin broad and muscular. Chest deep, forechest well developed, ribs moderately well sprung, and belly well drawn up.

TAIL:
Set on high, thick, carried vigorously curled over back; the tip nearly reaching hocks when let down.

FOREQUARTERS:
Shoulders moderately sloping and developed, forearms straight and heavy boned, elbows tight.

HINDQUARTERS:
Hind legs well developed, strong and moderately angulated.

FEET:
Thick, round, arched and tight.

GAIT:
Resilient and powerful movement.

HAIR:
Outer coat harsh and straight, undercoat soft and dense; the withers and the rump are covered with slightly longer hairs; the hair on tail is longer than on the rest of the body.

COLOUR:
Red, sesame, brindle and white. All the above-mentioned colours except white must have "URAJIRO". (URAJIRO = whitish coat on the sides of the muzzle, on the cheeks, on the underside of the jaw and the neck, on the chest, stomach, the underside of the tail, and on the inside of the legs).

SIZE:
Height at withers: dogs: 67 cm, bitches: 61 cm
There is a tolerance of 3 cm more or less.

FAULTS:
Any departure from the foregoing points should be considered a fault ant seriousness with which the fault should be regarded should be in exact proportion to its degree.
1. Black mask should be considered a fault.
2. Markings on white background to be tolerated, but absence of markings preferred.
3. Shyness.
4. Undershot or overshot mouth.
5. Spotted tongue.
6. Bitchy dogs/Doggy bitches.
7. Iris light in colour.
8. Missing teeth.
9. Short tail.

DISQUALIFYING FAULTS:
1. Ears not pricked.
2. Hanging tail.
3. Long hair (shaggy).

Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles fully descended into the scrotum.