Italian Standard of the
(Valid
from January 1st 1990)
Translation
performed from Gianni
Vullo
COUNTRY
OF ORIGIN: Italy.
UTILIZATION: A shepherd dog used mainly for the protection of
flocks and guarding of properties.
F.C.I. CLASSIFICATION: 1° Group, 1^ Section, sheepdogs submitted not to
utility exercises.
BRIEF
HISTORICAL SIGNS: This ancient breed of dogs
who guard flocks emanates from the shepherd dogs actually still used in the
Abruzzo where the breeding of sheep is still thriving even in these days and
sheepdogs which existed yesteryear in the region of the Tuscan-Latial Maremma.
With the transhumance of the flocks from one region to another, a natural
crossing began of those two primitive breeds, most especially after 1860.
F.C.I.
STANDARD: n. 25.
GENERAL
APPEARANCE OF THE DOG: The Maremmano-Abruzzese
Sheepdog is a dog of big massive structure, a strongly built dog, of a rustic
appearance, at the same time majestic and distinguished. His general
conformation is that of a heavy mesomorph, with the body longer than the height
at the withers; balanced in the shape (heterometric) and relatively harmonious
in profile (alloidism).
IMPORTANT
PROPORTIONS: The length of the head is
equal to 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
- TEMPERAMENT: His principal function as
a guard and defence dog of flocks and property in general asserts itself in the
manner he accomplishes these tasks with perception, courage and decision.
Although proud and not inclined to submission, he also shows a devoted
attachment to his master and all his entourage.
HEAD: On the whole, the head is large and flat, of conical
shape, reminiscent of that of a polar bear.
SKULL: Is of great width with lateral sides slightly
bulging. In profile, is also convex The upper longitudinal axis of the skull
and muzzle are slightly divergent which makes the profile of the head slightly
convex. The superciliary arches are moderately marked. The medial-frontal
furrow is slightly marked. The occipital crest is only just visible.
STOP: The frontal-nasal depression is only just accentuated
and the frontal-nasal angle is always very open.
REGION
OF THE FACE.
Nose
leather and nose: Rather big, in line of the muzzle, with large well-opened
nostrils, moist and cool, coloured black. In profile must not extend beyond the
front vertical line of the lips; its forward face is on the same vertical plane
as the forward face of the muzzle.
Muzzle:
Its length is 1/10th less than that of the skull. Its depth or its
height, 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 sub orbital 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.
Cheeks:
Moderately visible.
Teeth:
White, strong scissor bite.
EYES: Not large in relation to the size of the dog, the
iris is of an ochre colour or chestnut brown. The eye, in lateral position, is
neither deep set nor protruding. Expression lively and attentive. Eyelid opening
is almond shaped, with black eyelid rims.
EARS: Set very high over the zygomatic ridges, they are
hanging but very mobile. Triangular in shape (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 in males a great ruff.
BODY: Solidly constructed, its length is greater by 1/18
than the height at the withers.
TOP
LINE: Straight from withers to
rump that is somewhat sloping.
WITHERS: Slightly above from the top line: 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 top line, has
a slightly curved profile with well-developed muscles in width. The loin
reaches in length 1/5 of the height at the withers and its width is nearly
equal to its length.
RUMP: 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
iliac-ischiatic line, this is because the rump of the Maremmano-Abruzzese
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 1/4 more than the height at the withers and its maximum width at
mid-height must reach at least 32% of the height at the withers, then decrease 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 and the last false ribs are long, oblique and
well opened.
UNDER
LINE: The sternum-ventral
profile is characterized by a long
sternal region in the shape of an
arc of a circle of very big radius rising slightly towards the belly.
TAIL: Considering the sloping rump, the tail set is placed
low and, when the dog stands normally, the tail goes beyond the points of the
hocks; hanging when the dog is 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.
FOREQUARTERS.
General
examination: 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.
Shoulder:
Long, oblique, with powerful muscles. Must be really free in movement. In
length, measures about 1/4 of the height at the withers. Its obliqueness below
the horizontal is of 50 to 60.
Upper
arm: 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 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:
Is on a straight and vertical line, and is heavily boned. Its length is
slightly more than the length of the humerus, while being a little less than
1/3 of the height at the withers. The front leg from ground to elbow measures
52.8% of the height at the withers.
Pastern
joint: In extension of the vertical of the forearm. Strong, lean, smooth and of
good thickness; the pisiform bone is clearly
protruding.
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-skin 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.
General
examination: Limbs straight when seen from the behind and in profile. The
general aspect is in proportion with the body, and every part of the leg is in
proportion to every other part of the hindquarter.
Thigh:
Long, wide with protruding muscles and a rear edge slightly convex. Its width
(measured from edge to edge) reaches 3/4 of its length is a little oblique from
top to bottom and from rear to front. The coxal-femora (hipbone) angle is about
100
Second
thigh: Its length is a little shorter than the thigh, and 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 deviation.
The femoral-tibial angle is slightly open and varies between 135 and 140.
Hock:
Its height is 30.9 % of the height at the withers. With broad lateral faces.
Quite thick. The tibio-metatarsal angle opening varies between 140 and 150.
Metatarsal:
Strong, lean and broad. Its length depends on the height of the hock. Eventual
dewclaws must be eliminated.
Feet:
Like the front feet, but more oval.
GAIT
AND MOVEMENT: Long footstep and extended
trot.
SKIN: Well adherent to the muscles in all parts of the
body. Rather thick. Black pigmentation of the mucous membranes and of the
scleroses, as well as the central and toe pads.
COAT.
Hair:
Very well furnished, long, rather harsh to the touch, well adherent to the
body; a light wave is tolerated. The hairs form an important collar around the
neck and fringes of limited length on the back edge of the limbs. But the hair
is short on the muzzle, on the skull, on the ears and on the front edge of the
limbs. The hair is semivitreous. On the body the length of the hair reaches 8
cm. The undercoat is only abundant in winter.
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. Males should have two apparently
normal testicles fully descended into the scrotum.
FAULTS: Any departure from the foregoing constitutes a fault
which, when judging, must be penalized according to its seriousness and its
extension, like the dog which paces and the uncut dewclaws.
ELIMINATING
FAULTS.
Head:
Convergent cranial-facial axis, accentuated and disfiguring overshot mouth.
Tail:
Curled over the back.
Size:
Over or below the fixed limits.
Gait:
Continuous ambling.
DISQUALIFYING
FAULTS.
Nose:
Total depigmentation.
Bridge
of nose: Exaggeratedly arched or concave.
Eyes:
Depigmentation of the eyelid of one or both eyes. Blue eye. Bilaterally
cross-eyed.
Jaws:
Undershot mouth.
Testicles:
Cryptorchidism, mono-orchidism, evident and incomplete development of one or
both testicles.
Tail:
Lack of tail or brachyurism, either congenital or artificial.
Hair:
Curly.
Colour:
Beige coat. Well defined patches of beige or ivory colour. Black shadings.
Translation
performed from Gianni
Vullo owner of the Loro Del Piana kennel