Branchiero Siciliano

		Branchiero Siciliano
		He is not recognized by the F.C.I.


Origin			Italy (Sicily)
Translation			Francis Vandersteen
This breed is also known as			Il Cane del Macellaio

Brief historical summary

The Branchiero is more or less identical to the Cane Corso, except for the smooth coat.

General appearance

Branchieros are large, solid and vigorous, yet elegant dogs. Its clean contours reveal powerful muscles.

Important proportions

Somewhat longer than it is tall. The length of the head is 36% of the height at the withers.

Behaviour / temperament

A guardian of property, family and livestock, in the past it was used to watch over livestock and hunt big game.

Head
Cranial region
Head		Broad, typically molossoid, with slight convergence of the upper longitudinal axes of the skull and muzzle.
Skull		Broad, its width at the zygomatic arches equals or exceeds its length. Its convex anterior part flattens out quite a bit from the forehead to the occiput. A median frontal furrow is visible.
Stop		Marked.

Facial region
Nose		Black and voluminous, with large, open nostrils. It lies in the same plane as the muzzle.
Muzzle		Strong, square, noticeably shorter than the skull, in a ratio of about 1 to 2; the anterior face of the muzzle is flat; its lateral faces are parallel; the muzzle is as wide as it is long.
Lips		The moderately pendulous upper lips cover the lower jaw, so that they determine the lower profile of the muzzle.
Nasal bridge		Viewed from the side, the muzzle is straight.
Jaws and teeth		The jaws are very wide and thick, with curved mandibular arms. The teeth are slightly undershot. Articulation is permitted, but not desired.
Eyes		Medium-sized, slightly flush, close to oval in shape and front-facing. The eyelids are close to the eyeball. The iris is as dark as possible according to coat color. The eyes are lively and attentive.
Ears		Triangular, hanging, broad at the base, well above the zygomatic arches. Often shortened into an equilateral triangle.

Neck

Strong, muscular, as long as the head.

Body
Body		Slightly longer than the height at the withers. Solidly built, but not stocky.
Withers		Pronounced, higher than the croup.
Back		Straight, very muscular and firm.
Loin		Short and strong.
Croup		Long and broad, slightly sloping.
Chest		Thorax well developed in all three dimensions. Descends to elbow level.

Tail

Set rather high, very thick at the root. Amputated at the fourth vertebra. When the dog is in action, it rises, but never vertically or curled.

Limbs

Forequarters
Shoulders		Long, sloping, very muscular.
Upper arm		Powerful.
Forearm		Straight and very strong.
Pastern		Elastic.

Hindquarters
Upper thigh		Long, broad, convex posterior thigh line.
Lower thigh		Dry, not fleshy.
Metatarsus		Broad, sinewy.
Hock		Moderately angulated.

Gait and movement

Extended walk, extended trot; preferred gait is trot.

Skin

Fairly thick and fairly well laid over the underlying layers.

Coat
Hair		Short, glossy and very close with a thin undercoat.
Colour		Black, lead-gray, slate-gray, light gray, light fawn; cherry-red, dark fawn; brindle (stripes on a fawn or gray background in various shades). Fawn and brindle dogs have a black or gray mask on the muzzle, which must not extend beyond the eye line. A small white patch is permitted on the chest, toes and muzzle.

Size and weight
Height at withers		For males from 64 to 68 cm and for females from 60 to 64 cm with a tolerance of 2 cm more or less.
Weight		For males 45 to 50 kg and for females 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 and its effect upon the health and welfare of the dog and its ability to perform its traditional work.
• Faults listed should be in degree of seriousness.

Serious faults

Upper axes of skull and muzzle parallel or too convergent; convergence of lateral faces of muzzle.

Partial depigmentation of the nose.

Scissor bite; pronounced undershot bite.

Tail erect or ring-shaped.

Subject trotting permanently from amble.

Size above or below indicated limits.

Disqualifying faults

Divergence of craniofacial axes.

Totally depigmented nose.

Concave or convex muzzle.

Overshot mouth.

Partial or total depigmentation of eyelids; strabismus.

Anourie or brachyourie (tail docked or not).

Semi-long, short, feathered coat.

All colors not specified in the standard; large white patches.

NB :

• Any dog clearly showing physical or behavioural abnormalities shall be disqualified.
• The above mentioned faults when occurring to a highly marked degree or frequently are disqualifying.
• Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles fully descended into the scrotum.
• Only functionally and clinically healthy dogs, with breed typical conformation should be used for breeding.

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Branchiero Siciliano