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The head is strong and must be in balance with other proportions
of the dog and in keeping with its general conformation. The
broad skull is slightly curved between the ears, flattening
to a slight but definite stop. The cheeks are muscular, neither
coarse nor prominent with the underjaw strong, deep and well
developed. The foreface is broad and well filled in under the
eyes, tapering gradually to form a medium length, deep powerful
muzzle with the skull and muzzle on parallel planes. The lips
are tight and clean. Nose black.
The head must be balanced, wedge shaped with a broad skull
and muscular The breadth between the ears should be approximately
1/4 of the dog's overall height. The head should be in three
equal parts. The muzzle from tip of nose to stop is one part,
the stop to the occiput is one part and the ear from base to
tip is one part. From tip of erect ear to erect ear should be
2 parts. You are not looking for an equilateral triangle but
a clean wedge measuring1.5 to 1.
The skull and muzzle must be on parallel planes.
The stop is not 90 degrees but a slight break between the eyes.
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When observing the head from the front, there should
be no falling away under the eye, or big heavy cheeks.
You should see a clean wedge. Far to often one hears breeders
and judges refer to the ACD as “must have a big head”.
This is incorrect. The standard calls for the head in
balance with the dog, NOT a big head.
Problems that are very evident are prominent stops, domed
skulls, short muzzles, equilateral triangle shaped heads,
boxed heads and heads that are too small or too large
in proportion to the dog.
“Kaleski writes”. The head must taper to a
point at muzzle meaning that the least weight is at the
business end, ensuring that the dog can get his bite in
quickly and drop out of danger, on the same principle
as the boxer using light gloves instead of heavy ones
- his hitting is much quicker. He must be full under the
eye, ensuring that the muscles which move the lower jaw
are very strong, which is very necessary, as they correspond
to the biceps of a boxer and give the dog power to do
his work. A dog deficient there cannot continue biting
long; his jaw muscles become tired. Strong and muscular
in the jaws is vital for if there is a deficiency here,
when a shod horse kicks a dog he has his jaw broken because
there is no cushion of muscle to protect the bone; hence,
if injured, he is useless.
The neck is extremely strong, powerful, muscular, and
of medium length broadening to blend into the body and
free from throatiness. In male dogs it is common to see
heavier coat on the neck resembling a ruff.
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