FCI BREED STANDARD
Translation
Dr. Antonio Morsiani , Dr. J.M. Paschoud and Prof. R. Triquet
Origin
Italy
Date of publication of the original valid standard
12.03.1999
Utilization
Guard, protection, police and tracking dog.
Classification F.C.I.
Group 2 Pinscher and Schnauzer, Molossian and Swiss Mountain-and Cattledogs. Section 2.2 Molossian, Mountain type. Without working trial
Brief Historical Summary
Its direct ancestor is the old Roman Molossian. Formerly scattered all over Italy, in the recent past, the breed was only prevalent in the Province Apulia and in the adjacent regions of Southern Italy. His name derives from the Latin "cohors", which means "protector, guardian of the farmyard".
General Appearance
Medium to large-sized. Robust and sturdy, nevertheless elegant. Lean, powerful muscles.
Important Proportions
The length of the head reaches 36% of the height at withers. The dog is somewhat longer than high.
Behavior/Temperament
Guardian of property, family and livestock; extremely agile and responsive. In the past, it has been used for herding cattle and hunting big game.
Head
Large and typically molossoid. The upper longitudinal axes of the skull and the muzzle converge slightly.
Cranial Region
Skull
Wide, at the zygomatic arches its width is equal to or greater than its length. convex in front, it becomes fairly flat behind the forehead as far as the occiput. The medio-frontal furrow is visible.
Stop
Marked
Facial Region
Nose
Black and large with ample, open nostrils, on the same line as the nasal bridge.
Muzzle
Noticeably shorter than the skull (ratio muzzle: skull approximately 1:2). Strong, square: the front part of the muzzle is flat; the lateral surfaces are parallel; the muzzle is as wide as long. The profile of the nasal bridge is straight.
Lips
The upper lips hang moderately and cover the mandible, so that the lower profile of the muzzle is determined by the lips.
Jaws/Teeth
Jaws very large, thick and curved. Slightly undershot. Level bite acceptable, but not sought after.
Eyes
Medium-sized, ovoid, looking directly forward, slightly protruding. Eyelids close fitting. Color of iris as dark as possible depending from the color of the coat. expression keen and attentive.
Ears
Triangular, drooping, with a wide set on high above the zygomatic arches. Often cropped in the shape of an equilateral triangle.
Neck
strong, muscular, as long as the head.
Body
The body is somewhat longer than the height at the withers. sturdily built, but not squat.
Withers
pronounced, rising above the level of the croup.
Back
Rectilinear, very muscular and firm.
Loins
short and strong
Croup
Long, wide, slightly inclined
Chest
Well developed in three dimensions, reaches to the elbow
Tail
Set on fairly high; very thick at the root. The tail is docked at the fourth vertebra. In action carried high, but never curled nor erect.
Forequarters
Shoulder
Long, oblique, very muscular
Upper Arm
Strong
Forearm
Straight, very strong
Carpal Joint and Pasterns
Elastic
Forefeet
Cat feet.
Hindquarters
Upper Thigh
Long, wide, back line of thigh convex
Lower Thigh
strong, not fleshy
Hocks
Moderately angulated
Metatarsals
Thick and sinewy
Hindfeet
Slightly less compact than the forefeet.
Gait/Movement
Long stride, extended trot. The preferred gait is the trot.
Skin
Fairly thick, rather close fitting
Coat
Hair
Short, shiny, very dense with a light undercoat.
Color
black, lead-grey, slate-grey, light grey, light fawn: stag red and dark fawn; brindle (stripes on different shades of fawn or grey); in fawn colored and brindle dogs the clack or grey mask on the muzzle should not go beyond the line of the eyes. A small white patch on the chest, on the tips of the feet and on the bridge of the nose is acceptable.
Size and Weight
Height at Wither
Males from 64 to 68 cm; females from 60 to 64 cm. Tolerance of 2 cm more or less.
Weight
males from 45 to 50 Kg; females from 40 to 45 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
Axes of muzzle and skull parallel or too converging; lateral surfaces of the muzzle converging
Partial depigmentation of the nose
Scissor bite; pronounced undershot mouth
Ring-tail, tail in vertical position
Permanent amble when trotting
Over-or undersize
Eliminating Faults
Axes of muzzle and skull diverging
Total depigmentation of the nose
Bridge of nose very hollow, rams's nose
Overshot mouth
Partial or complete palpebral depigmentation. Wall eye; strabism.
Tailless, short tail (docked or not)
Semi-long, smooth or fringed hair
All colors not indicated in the standard: large white patches.
N.B.
Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles fully descended.