The plateau is wide and flat with prominent musculature.
The face gradually blends with the scull and may be with or without a black mask.

* The stop is visible but not prominent.
* The section between the eyes is well filled.
* The nose is completely black with large, widely spaced nostrils.
* The nasal bone is straight and parallel to the line of the cranial roof.
* The nasal bone is deep, broad and tapers slightly towards the front.
* The nasal bone is between 8 and 10cm long and is in proportion to the head.
* The top lip is loose and fleshy and does not hang past the bottom jaw.
* The top lip (under the nose) covers the bottom lip.
* The bottom lip is not too loose and fleshy, with no excessive lip.
* The jaws are strong, deep and broad and taper slightly towards the front.
* The teeth are white, well developed, correctly spaced and complete, with an obvious
* An obvious excessive under- or over bite is unacceptable.
* The color of the eyes can be any shade of brown.
* The eyes are set on the same horizontal level.
* The eyes are widely spaced.
* The eyelids are firm and well pigmented and have no structural deviations
* The earflaps are medium sized, obviously V-shaped and in proportion to the head.
* The earflaps are set quite high and wide. When attentive, the top of the earflaps must
form a straight line with the plateau.
* The bottom edge of the earflap is in line with the dentition.

The neck forms a noticeable muscular arch with a high attachment at the shoulders.

* The neck is of average length and in proportion to the rest of the dog.
* The neck forms a unit with the head and shoulders.
* The neck is strong and muscular with a firm attachment at the head. This attachment
gradually broadens towards the shoulders.
*The dewlap is loose from under the chin and becomes taut between the forelegs.
*Bitches appear more feminine due to supple musculature.

The forequarter is strong and muscular.

* The shoulders are well attached, with well-defined musculature and correct angulation.
* The chest is strong and muscular.
* The chest is broad and placed deep between the forelegs.
* The upper arms are muscular
* The elbows are parallel with the body.
* The forelegs are thick, strong, with well-defined musculature and are perfectly vertical
as seen from the front and the side.
* The front pasterns are short, thick and strong and are in proportion to the length of the forelegs.
* The front pasterns are a vertical extension of the forelegs as seen from the front and the side.
* The forepaws are large, well padded and ball shaped with strong, curved, black toenails.
* The forepaws point straight forward.