Standard for restricted breed in Victoria If you would like to receive this information/ Authorised by the Department of Primary Industries, publication in an accessible format (such as 1 Spring Street, Melbourne 3000. large print or audio) please call the Customer ISBN 978-1-74264-935-1 (Print) Service Centre on 136 186, TTY 1800 122 969, ISBN 978-1-74264-936-8 (Online) or email [email protected]. Disclaimer This publication may be of assistance to you but the Published by the Department of Primary Industries State of Victoria and its employees do not guarantee that August 2011. the publication is without flaw of any kind or is wholly appropriate for your particular purposes and therefore Updated February 2012 disclaims all liability for any error, loss or other consequence © The State of Victoria 2012. which may arise from you relying on any information in this publication. This publication is copyright. No part may be reproduced by any process except in accordance with the provisions of the For more information about DPI go to www.dpi.vic.gov.au Copyright Act 1968. or phone the Customer Service Centre on 136 186. This is an approved standard for the Note: Whilst this standard is based on a purposes of section 3(3) of the Domestic fully mature animal it would be expected Animals Act 1994. that an individual puppy would reach the prescribed height and overall balance Pursuant to section 3(1) of the Domestic desired by the age of approximately 9 Animals Act 1994 a restricted breed months. However body maturity and (RBD) is a dog that is any one of the strength would not be achieved until much following breeds – American Pit later – maybe two to three years plus. (or Pit Bull Terrier), Dogo Argentino, Fila If possible the bitch and sire should be Brasileiro, Japanese , Perro de Presa evaluated when considering the possibility Canario (or ). of a puppy meeting this standard. Under section 3(3) of the Domestic Animals Act 1994 a dog that falls within this approved standard for a breed of dog specified above is to be taken to be a dog of that breed.

Standard for restricted breed dogs in Victoria 1 Part 1 American Pit Bull Terrier (APBT, Pit Bull Terrier) A dog that meets the description of a dog General appearance & in this Part is an American Pit Bull Terrier; except a dog in respect of which the owner characteristics has one of the following certificates stating The American Pit Bull Terrier is a medium that the dog is an American Staffordshire sized dog and is strongly built with well Terrier— defined muscles. The breed is noted for its a. a pedigree certificate from the climbing ability and subsequent strength in Australian National Kennel Council; its hindquarters. b. a pedigree certificate from a member The overall outline of the breed indicates body of the Australian National Kennel it to be slightly longer in length (point of Council; shoulder to buttocks) than height (withers c. a pedigree certificate from a national to ground). Bitches may be slightly longer breed council registered with the than males. Australian National Kennel Council; A distance from withers to the elbow and d. a certificate signed by a veterinary the elbow to the ground is generally equal. practitioner (as per Victorian Government Gazette on 10th February 2012).

Figure 1

Standard for restricted breed dogs 2 in Victoria Head Figure 4 The head is proportionate to the dog. Viewed from above, the general shape of the head is that of a blunt wedge, large and broad.

Figure 2 Head profiles: Figure 5 Figure 6 Female head male head

Viewed from the side, the skull and muzzle are on parallel plains separated by a moderately deep stop. Arches over the eyes are well defined but not pronounced (refer figure 3). Skull: Large, fairly flat, broad and deep, slightly tapering towards the stop. There Figure 3 is a deep median furrow reducing in depth from stop to occiput. Cheek muscles are prominent but free of wrinkles. When the dog is alerted wrinkles will form on the forehead.

Lips: Clean and tight. Muzzle: Slightly shorter in length to the Figure 7 skull (i.e. 2:3 ratio for muzzle:skull). It is broad, deep and powerful with a slight taper to the nose and falls away slightly under the eyes (refer figure 4).

Standard for restricted breed dogs in Victoria 3 Teeth: Large and a complete scissor bite Ears: The shape and carriage of the ears i.e. upper teeth closely overlapping the will vary from dog to dog. Generally they lower teeth and set square to the jaws. are set fairly high on the skull, not large and may be half pricked or rose shaped Figure 8 (i.e. folding backwards and exposing the inner burr of the ear).

Whilst ear cropping in Victoria is a prohibited procedure, a dog should not be ruled out of being an APBT if its ears are cropped as internationally it is common in this breed.

Figure 9

Nose: Large with wide open nostrils and may be of any colour.

Eyes: Medium in size, round in shape and set low in the head – not prominent. Eyes can be all colours except blue. The eye rims are the same colour as the skin colour. Figure 10

Standard for restricted breed dogs 4 in Victoria Neck Forequarters Moderate length and with great strength, Strong forelegs, well boned and muscular tapering from the head into the shoulders. with elbows fitting close to the body. A slight arch over the crest. The neck must Viewed from the front the forelegs are set be free from loose skin or dewlap (loose, moderately well apart and in a straight line pendulous skin under the throat). to the ground.

Figure 11 Figure 12

The pasterns are short and fairly straight but with flexibility. Viewed from the side, the legs are straight with some flexibility in the pasterns.

Figure 13 Figure 14

Standard for restricted breed dogs in Victoria 5 Body Figure 16 Powerfully built with a deep chest of moderate width.

Figure 15

Forechest: Should not extend far beyond the point of shoulder or below the elbow. Well ribbed back with moderate tuck up (concave underline of the body curving upwards from end of the ribs to waist).

Back: Broad, strong, firm and level and with a slight incline at the withers.

Loin: Short and deep with a slight slope to the croup.

Standard for restricted breed dogs 6 in Victoria Hindquarters Figure 17b Strong and muscular hindquarters that are in balance with the forequarters. Thighs are well developed and muscular.

Figure 17a

The hock joint should be well bent and the rear pasterns close to the ground, perpendicular and parallel to each other.

Standard for restricted breed dogs in Victoria 7 Feet Tail The feet are round and in balance with the The tail is set in line with the back and size of the dog, well arched and tight. The tapers to a point. At rest the tail is carried pads are hard and well cushioned. Nails are low and when excited may be carried raised strong. Dewclaws may be removed. but never curled over the back. The length of the tail should reach approximately to Figure 18 the hock joint.

Figure 20

Figure 19

Standard for restricted breed dogs 8 in Victoria Coat Height and weight The coat is short, smooth, glossy and of a Height at withers harsh texture, free of undercoat. Bitches & Dogs 43 cm – 53 cm

Colours Weight Bitches & Dogs 14 kgs – 36 kgs All colours and combination of colours are acceptable, with the exception of blue The disparity between height and weight merle and pure white. White feet and is considerable and importance should be a splash of white on the chest are not placed on the overall consideration of the uncommon on solid coloured dogs. assessment of the dog rather than adhering absolutely to the guidelines on height.

Standard for restricted breed dogs in Victoria 9 Part 2 Dogo Argentino (Argentinean )

A dog that meets the description of a dog Muzzle: As long as the skull. The upper line in this Part is a Dogo Argentino. is slightly concave.

Jaws/Teeth: Strong jaws with big teeth General appearance & firmly implanted with a pincer bite, or characteristics scissor bite possible. The Dogo Argentino is a large athletic dog Nose: Large nostrils slightly elevated that has powerful muscles which stand out forwards, black pigmentation. under the consistent and elastic skin. Lips: Moderately thick, short and tight with The height at the withers is equal to the free edges. height at the croup. Cheeks: Large and relatively flat.

The depth of the thorax is half of the Eyes: Dark or hazel coloured, almond- measurement of the height at the withers. shaped.

The length of the body is slightly longer Ears: Set high, broad, thick, flat and than the height at the withers. rounded at the tip and covered with smooth hair. Whilst ear cropping in Victoria Head is a prohibited procedure, a dog should not be ruled out of being an RBD if its ears are The head looks strong and powerful, cropped as internationally it is common in without abrupt angles or distinct this breed. chiselling. Its profile shows an upper line which is: convex at the skull (because of the prominence of its masticatory muscles) Neck and nape; and slightly concave at the Medium length, strong and erect, well foreface. muscled, with a slightly convex upper line. The head joins the neck forming a strong It joins the head in a muscular arch. muscular arch.

Skull: Compact, convex in the front to back and transverse direction. The occipital bone is not very prominent. The median furrow of the skull is slightly noticeable and the stop is slightly defined.

Standard for restricted breed dogs 10 in Victoria Forequarters Hindquarters As a whole, they form a sturdy and solid Strong, sturdy and parallel. The lower structure of bones and muscles. They are thigh is generally slightly shorter than straight and vertical when seen from the the upper thigh. front or in profile. The pasterns are broad and in line with Tail the forearm, the feet rounded; with short, sturdy, very tight toes. Set medium high, sabre- shaped, thick and long and reaching to the hocks. Body Coat The length of the body (from the point of the shoulder to the point of the buttock) Uniform, short, plain and smooth to the exceeds the height at the withers. touch, with an average length of 1.5 to 2 cm. Variable density and thickness Chest: Broad and deep. Tip of the according to different climates and it may breastbone level with the tip of the present an undercoat. shoulder joint and the sternal line of the thorax is level with the elbow line. Colour Upper line: The withers and the pin bones of the croup are at the same height. Completely white although there may be a black or dark coloured patch around the eye. Back: Large and strong, with fully developed muscles forming a slight slope towards the loins. Size Loins: Strong and hidden by the developed Height at withers lumbar muscles which form a median furrow 60 - 68 cm along the spine.

Standard for restricted breed dogs in Victoria 11 Part 3 (Brazilian Mastiff, Brazilian , Cao de Fila)

A dog that meets the description of a dog Teeth: The teeth are wider than long, in this Part is a Fila Brasileiro. most likely a scissor bite but a level bite is possible. General appearance & Nose: Broad nostrils, black. characteristics Eyes: Almond shaped, medium to deep set, generally dark brown to yellow, always A large dog that is rectangular and compact in accordance to the colour of the coat. in structure. Individuals may present with drooping lower eyelids.

Head Ears: Pendant, large, thick, V-shaped. The head is big and heavy but Broad at the base and tapering to the ends proportionate to the whole body. From a with rounded tips. top view it resembles a trapezoid figure into which a pear shape is inserted. Neck Skull: A smooth curve from the stop to Strong and muscled giving the impression the occiput, which is well defined and of a short neck. Slightly curved at the especially protuberant in puppies. upper side and well detached from the Stop: From a front view it is practically skull. Dewlaps at the throat. non existent. The median groove is slight. Seen from the side, the stop is only slightly pronounced. Forequarters The length of the leg, from the ground to Muzzle: The muzzle is slightly shorter than the elbow, is much shorter than from the the skull. ground to the withers. Lips: The upper lip is thick and pendulous Forearm: Limbs parallel with straight bones and overlaps the lower lip in a curve; the and slightly sloping pasterns. lower lip is tight and firm to the teeth and from there on it is loose.

Standard for restricted breed dogs 12 in Victoria Body Feet Strong, broad and deep, and covered by Well arched toes not too close together. thick loose skin. The thorax is longer than Back feet may be a little more oval than the abdomen. the forefeet.

Chest: Deep and broad chest reaching to the level of the elbows. Coat Back: Withers are set lower than the croup. Short, smooth, dense and close to the body. After the withers, the upper line changes direction, ascending smoothly to the croup. Colour Tail Solid colours or brindles with a solid coat and dark stripes. A black mask may or may Very wide at the root, medium set, tapering not be present, and there may be white rapidly to reach the hocks. marks on the feet, chest and tip of the tail.

Limbs Size and weight Hindquarters: Less heavily boned than Height at withers forelegs. 60 - 75 cm

Weight Skin Males: minimum 50 kgs Thick, loose skin over the whole body, Bitches : minimum 40 kgs chiefly at the neck forming pronounced dewlaps that can extend to the brisket and abdomen. Some individuals present a fold at the sides of the head, also at the withers running down to the shoulders.

Standard for restricted breed dogs in Victoria 13 Part 4 Japanese Tosa (Tosa Inu, Tosa Ken, Tosa Fighting Dog, Japanese Fighting Dog, Japanese Mastiff)

A dog that meets the description of a dog Body in this Part is a Japanese Tosa. Back: Level and straight with a slightly General appearance & arched croup. characteristics Feet Large-sized dog with hanging ears, short Tightly closed. hair, a square muzzle and hanging tail thick at the root. Tail Head Thick at the root, tapering towards the tip, reaching the hocks when let down. Skull: Broad with an abrupt stop and long muzzle. Coat Teeth: Scissor bite. Short, hard and dense. Nose: Large and black. Eyes: Small, generally dark brown in colour. Colours Ears: Small, rather thin, set high on the Generally red, fawn, apricot, black, brindle. side of the skull and hanging close to May have white markings on chest and feet. the cheeks.

Neck Height Height at withers varies, females minimum Muscular, with a dewlap. height is 55 cm and males 60 cm. Forequarters Forearm: Straight, moderately long and strong.

Pastern: Slightly inclining and robust.

Standard for restricted breed dogs 14 in Victoria Part 5 Perro De Presa Canario (Presa Canario)

A dog that meets the description of a dog Lips: The upper lip is pendulous, seen from in this Part is a Perro De Presa Canario. the front, the upper and lower lips come together to form an inverted V. The inside of the lips are generally a dark colour. General appearance & Teeth: Scissor or pincer-bite and may be characteristics slightly undershot. The Perro de Presa Canario is a large dog Nose: Wide, black pigmentation. with a black mask. The body is longer Eyes: Slightly oval in shape, from medium than the height at the withers, with this to large in size. Set well apart, but neither characteristic being more noticeable in sunken nor protruding. Eyelids are black the female. and tight-fitting, never sagging. The colour varies from dark to medium brown, Head depending on the colour of the coat. Large and covered with supple, loose Ears: Medium sized, set well apart, with skin. The shape tends towards a slightly short and fine hair. They fall naturally elongated cube. on each side of the head. If folded, they do so in the shape of a rose. They are Skull: Skull-foreface proportion is 60-40%. set on slightly above eye level. Whilst The width of the skull is 3/5 of the total ear cropping in Victoria is a prohibited length of the head. The skull is slightly procedure, a dog should not be ruled out convex and the frontal bone tends to of being an RBD if its ears are cropped, as be flat. The width is almost identical to internationally it is common in this breed. the length. There is a pronounced zygomatic arch. Neck Stop: The stop is pronounced and the furrow between the frontal lobes is well Shorter than the length of the head. Skin defined and is about two thirds the size of on the underside is loose, forming a slight the skull. dewlap. Solid and straight, it tends to be cylindrical and muscular. Muzzle: Shorter than the skull, normally about 40% of the total length of the head. The width is 2/3 of that of the skull.

Standard for restricted breed dogs in Victoria 15 Forequarters Skin Elbows: The distance from elbow to ground Thick and elastic. Loose on and around about half of the height at the withers for the neck. When alert, the skin on the head males and a little less for females. forms symmetrical wrinkles which fan out from the furrow between the front lobes. Pasterns: Very solid and slightly sloping. Coat Body Short, coarse, flat with no undercoat (may Longer than the height at the withers, with have undercoat around neck and behind the a straight topline rising slightly from the thighs). Rather coarse to the touch. withers to the croup. Colours Hindquarters All shades of brindle, or fawn to sandy. May Strong and parallel, without deviation. have white marks on the chest, neck or throat, forefeet and toes of hind feet, and Feet a black mask. Cat feet with rounded toes, not too close together. Height and weight Height at withers Tail 56 to 65 cm. Weight Thick base, tapering to the tip, down to Varies. Generally not less than 50 kg for the hock. males and 40 kg for females.

Standard for restricted breed dogs 16 in Victoria www.dpi.vic.gov.au