FCI Standard: N° 45 / 5.5.2003 / GB; II. group; section 3; Without working trial

Orgin: Switzerland

Utilization: Originally used as a guard-, draught-and cattle dog on farms in the Canton Bern, today also family dog and versatile working dog.

General apperance: Longhaired, tricoloured, strong and agile working dog, of above medium size, with sturdily built limbs; harmonious and well balanced

IMPORTANT PROPORTIONS:

	Length of body (measured from the point of the shoulder to the point of the buttock) = 9 : 10.
	Rather compact than elongated.
	Ideal relation of height at withers : depth of chest = 2 : 1.

TEMPERAMENT: Self-confident, attentive, vigilant, fearless in every day situations; good-natured and devoted to his own people, self-assured and placid towards strangers ; of medium temperament, docile.

HEAD: Strong. In size balanced to general appearance, not too massive
Skull: Viewed from the front and in profile little rounded.  Frontal furrow hardly marked.
Stop:Well defined, but without being too pronounced.
Nose: Black.
Muzzle: Strong, of medium length; nasal bridge straight.
Lips: Close fitting; black.
Jaws/Teeth: Strong, complete scissor bite (molars 3 (M3) are not taken into consideration).  Pincer bite accepted.
Eyes: Dark brown, almond-shaped, with close fitting eyelids.  Neither too deep-set nor prominent.  Loose eyelids are faulty.
Ears: Medium-sized, set high, triangular in shape, slightly rounded at the tips, in repose hanging flat and close to the head.  When alert, the rear part of the set-on is raised while the front edge of the ear remains close to the head.

NECK: Strong, muscular, of medium length.

BODY:
Topline: From the neck running slightly downwards to the withers in a harmonious line, then running on straight and level. 
Back: Firm, straight and level.
Loins: Broad and strong; seen from above slightly less broad than the chest.
Chest: Broad and deep, reaching to the elbows; forechest distinctly developed; ribcage of wide-oval section extending as well back as possible.
Underline/belly: Slightly rising from chest to hindquarters 

TAIL: Bushy, reaching at least to the hocks; hanging straight down when at rest; carried level with back or slightly above when moving.

LIMBS: strong bones.

FOREQUARTERS: Forelegs seen from the front straight and parallel, standing rather wide apart.
Shoulders: Shoulder blade long, strong and well laid back, forming a not too obtuse angle with the upper arm, well attached to the chest, well muscled.
Upper arm: Long, set oblique.
Elbows: Close fitting; neither turned in nor out.
Forearm: Strong, straight.
Forefeet: Short, roundish; with well-knit, well-arched toes.  Turned neither in nor out

HINDQUARTERS: Seen from the rear straight and parallel, not too close.
Upper thigh: Long, broad, strong and well muscled.
Lower thigh: Long and oblique.
Hind feet: Slightly less arched than forefeet, turned neither in nor out.

GAIT/MOVMENT: Sound and balanced movement in all gaits covering a lot of ground; free stride reaching well out in front, with good drive from behind; at the trot, coming and going, legs moving forward in a straight line.

HAIR: Long, shining, straight or slightly wavy.

COLOUR: Jet black main colour with rich tan markings on the cheeks, above the eyes, on all four legs and on the chest, and with white markings as follows:

	Clean white symmetrical markings on the head : blaze extending towards the nose on both sides to a muzzle band; the blaze should not reach the tan markings above the eyes, and the white muzzle band should not extend beyond the corners of the mouth.
	Moderately broad, unbroken white marking on throat and chest.
	Desirable : white feet, white tip of tail.
	Tolerated : small white patch on nape of neck.

SIZE:
 Height and withers:
Males:   64-70 cm 
Ideal size: betwen 66-68 cm
Females: 58-66 cm
Ideal size: betwen 60-63 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.

	Unsure behaviour.
	Fine bones.
	Irregular set of the incisors provided that the bite remains correct.
	Absence of any other theeth than 2 PM1 (premolars 1); the M3 (molars 3) are not taken into consideration.
	Coat: Distinctly curly coat.

Faults of colour and markings:

	Absence of white on head.
	Blaze too large and/or muzzle band reaching noticeably beyond the corners of the mouth.
	White collar.
	Large white patch on nape of neck (maximum diameter more than 6 cm).
	White anal patch (maximum size 6 cm).
	White markings on forelegs reaching distinctly beyond half-way of pasterns (“boots”).
	Disturbingly asymmetrical white markings on head and/or chest.
	Black ticks and stripes within the white on the chest.
	“Dirty” white (strong spots of pigmentation).
	Black coat with a touch of brown or red.

ELIMINATING FAULTS:

	Aggressive, anxious or distinctly shy.
	Split nose.
	Undershot or overshot mouth, wry mouth.
	One or two blue eyes (wall eye).
	Entropion, ectropion.
	Kinky tail, ring tail.
	Short coat, double coat (Stockhaar).
	Other than tricoloured coat.
	Other main colour than black.

Any dog clearly showing physical or behavioural abnormalities shall be disqualified.

N.B.: Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles fully descended into the scrotum.

Source: http://www.fci.be