UTILIZATION: Originally watch- and draught dog.  Nowadays also companion, guard- and family dog.

CLASSIFICATION F.C.I.: Group 2
Pinscher and Schnauzer-Molossoid breeds-Swiss Mountain-and Cattle Dogs and other breeds.
Section 3: Swiss Mountain- and Cattle Dogs. Without working trial.

GENERAL APPEARANCE:  A tricolour, sturdy, heavy boned and well muscled dog.  In spite of his size and weight, he presents endurance and agility.  The difference between the sexes is distinctly obvious.

Male and female : Apollo Gentle Guy v.d. Dovondolin & Amber vom Försterrain

Vilin Karantanski-good developed, strong, wide chest

IMPORTANT PROPORTIONS:
Body length (measured from the point of the shoulder to the point of the buttock) to height at withers=10 : 9.
Depth of chest to height at withers =  1 : 2.
Length of skull to length of muzzle  =  1 : 1.
Width of skull to width of muzzle  =  2 : 1.

Multi.CH. Klark: good proportions of body, straight top line, slightly raised underline, nice angulation

Alive and Kicking v.d. Dovondolin, correct front

BEHAVIOUR/TEMPERAMENT: Self-confident, alert, watchful and fearless in everyday situations. Good-natured and devoted towards people familiar to him.  Self-assured with strangers. Medium temperament.

HEAD: Strong corresponding to the body, but not heavy. Dogs stronger in head than bitches.

CRANIAL REGION:
Skull: Flat and broad. The frontal furrow beginning at the stop gradually runs out towards the top.
Stop: Hardly pronounced.

Excellent head, a little bit too developed lower lips

Incorrect pigmentation of nose and lips

"Winter nose"

FACIAL REGION:
Nose:  Black
Muzzle: Strong, longer than its depth. Must not be pointed, seen either from above or in profile. Nasal bridge straight, without furrow.
Lips: Barely developed, well fitting. Black pigmentated. Not pendulous.
Jaw/Teeth: Strong jaws; complete, strong and regular scissor bite. The absence of two teeth (premolar 1 and/or premolar 2) is tolerated.  Absence of the molars 3 (M3) is not taken into account.
Eyes: Almond-shaped, of medium size, neither deep set nor protruding. Hazel to chestnut brown, with alert, friendly expression. Lids close fitting. Eye rims dark.
Ears: Of medium size, triangular and set on fairly high. In repose hanging flat and close to the cheeks, but raised forward when attentive.  Well covered with hair, both inside and outside.
Neck: Strong, muscular, rather thick-set. Without dewlap.

	COLOURS ON THE HEAD A: White blaze should not reach the tan markings above the eyes. B: White on the muzzle should not extend beyond the corners of the mouth C: White, moderately broad, unbroaken marking running down from the throat to the chest

BODY
Body: Slightly longer than its height at the withers.
Back: Moderately long, strong and straight.
Loins: Broad and well muscled.
Croup: Long and broad.  Gently sloping.  Never higher than the withers or abruptly slanting.
Chest: Strong, broad, reaching to the elbows.  Seen in cross section, the ribcage is roundish oval shaped, neither flat nor barrel-shaped.  Forechest well developed.
Belly and underline: Belly and flanks barely tucked up.

TAIL: Set-on harmoniously following the croup, fairly heavy and reaching to the hocks.  Pendulous in repose; when alert and in movement carried higher and slightly curved upwards, but never curled or tilted over the back.

LIMBS
FOREQUARTER: Straight and parallel when seen from the front, set rather broad.
Shoulders: Shoulder blade long, strong, well laid back, close-fitting to the body and well muscled, forming a not too obtuse angle with the upper arm. 
Forearm: Heavy boned and straight.
Pasterns: Firm, seen from the front in straight line with the forearm; seen from the side almost vertical.
HINDQUARTERS: Straight and not too close when seen from the back.  Metatarsus and feet turning neither in nor out.  Dewclaws must be removed except in countries where their removal is forbidden by law.
Upper thigh: Fairly long, broad, strong and well muscled.
Stifle: Forming a distinctly obtuse angle.
Lower thigh: Fairly long.
Hock: Strong and well angulated.
Feet: Strong, pointing straight ahead, with well-knit, well arched toes and strong nails.

Breezy Ridge Maximus: level top line, correct tail carriage, good drive

Bad top line, incorrect tail carriage (curled)

GAIT/MOVEMENT: In all gaits, balanced movement with good reach. Free stride reaching well out in front with good drive from the hindquarters.  At the trot, coming and going, legs moving forward in a straight line.

COAT
HAIR: Double coat consisting of thick, outer coat of medium length and dense undercoat.  The latter as dark grey or black as possible.  Short outer coat permissible if there is undercoat.
COLOUR: Typically tricolour.  Main colour black with symmetrical, reddish-brown (tan) markings and clean white markings.  The reddish-brown colour is situated between the black and the white markings on the cheeks, above the eyes, on the inside of the ears, on both sides of the forechest, on all four legs and underneath the tail.  The white markings are on the head (blaze and muzzle), running down unbroken from the throat to the chest, also on the feet and the tip of the tail.  Between the blaze and the reddish-brown markings above the eyes, a band of black should remain.  A white patch on the neck or a white collar around the neck are tolerated.

Non typical colouration-too much white on head and legs

Correctly colourated puppy

Blue eye -eliminating fault, which excludes dog from breeding

SIZE:
Height at withers for males:  65 - 72 cm,
Height at withers for bitches: 60 - 68 cm.

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.

ELIMINATING FAULTS: