CHARACTERISTICS: The Apso should give the appearance of a well-balanced, solid dog. Gay and assertive, but chary of strangers. Free and jaunty in movement.
Head and Skull: Heavy head furnishings with good fall over the eyes, good whiskers and beard.
Skull moderately narrow, falling away behind the eyes in a marked degree; not quite flat, but not domed or apple shaped.
Straight foreface, with medium stop. Nose black. Muzzle about 1.5 inches long, but not square; the length from tip of nose to be roughly one-third the total length from nose to back of skull.
Eyes: Dark. Medium sized eyes to be frontally placed, not large or full, or small and sunk. No white showing at base or top of eye.
Ears: Pendant, heavily feathered. Dark tips an asset.
Mouth: Upper incisors should close just inside the lower, i.e., a reverse scissor bite. Incisors should be nearly in a straight line. Full dentition is desirable.
Neck: Strong, well covered with a dense mane which is more pronounced in dogs than in bitches.
Forequarters: Shoulders should be well laid back. Forelegs straight, heavily furnished with hair.
Body: The length from point of shoulders to point of buttocks greater than height at withers. Well ribbed up. Level top-line. Strong loin. Well balanced and compact.
Hindquarters: Well developed with good muscle. Good angulation. Heavily furnished. The hocks when viewed from behind should be parallel and not too close together.
Feet: Round and cat-like, with good pads. Well-feathered.
Tail: High set, carried well over back and not like a pot-hook. There is often a kink at the end. Well feathered.
Coat: Top coat heavy, straight and hard, not woolly or silky, of good length. Dense under-coat.
Colours: Golden, sandy, honey, dark grizzle, slate, smoke, parti-colour, black, white or brown.
Size: Ideal height: 25.4 cm (10 in) at shoulder for dogs; bitches slightly smaller.
Note: Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles fully descended into the scrotum.