FOREQUARTERS - Straight limbs when viewed from the front and side; forequarters well balanced in relation to the body, and the various parts of the forequarters are well proportioned with each other. Shoulder: Long, sloping with powerful muscles.  Must be really free in movement.  In length measures about one quarter of the height at the withers.  Its angulations below the horizontal is from 50 to 60 degrees. Upperarm:  Set close to the body in its upper two thirds, with powerful muscles.  Its angulation below the horizontal varies between 55 and 60 degrees; its length measures about 30% of the height at the withers. Its position is more or less parallel with the median plane of the body.  The angle where the scapula and humerus meet varies between 105 and 120 degrees. Elbows: Normally close to the chest, they are covered with a soft, loose skin. Their position must be parallel to the median plane of the body; the point of the elbow must be on an imaginary vertical line form the the shoulder blade. The angle formed by the junction of the humerus and the radius varies between 145 and 150 degrees. Forearm: Straight and vertical, heavily boned. Its length is slightly more than the length of the upperarm, whilst being a little less than a third of the height at the withers. Pastern joint or wrist (carpus): Extends the vertical line of the forearm. Strong, clean, smooth and of good thickness; the pisiform bone at its back edge is clearly visible. Pastern (metacarpus): Its length must never be less than one sixth of the foreleg measured from the ground to elbow. It is lean with a minimum of sub-cutaneous tissue. Seen from the side, slopes slightly towards the front.
BODY - Solidly constructed, its length (measured from point of shoulder to buttocks) is one eighteenth greater than the height at the withers. Topline:Straight from behind the withers to the rump where it becomes somewhat sloping. Withers: Slightly above the topline; wide because of the distance separating the shoulder blades. Back: Straight in profile, length is about 32% of the height at the withers. The loin which merges perfectly with the topline has a slightly curved profile with well developed muscles. The length of the loin is one fifth of the height at the withers, and its width is nearly equal to its length. Rump/Croup: Wide, strong and well muscled. Its slope from the hip to the tail set is 20 degrees, increasing to 30 degrees and more if we refer to the ileum-ischium line; that is why the rump of the Maremma and Abruzzes shepherd dog must be qualified as sloping. Chest: Ample, descending to the level of the elbows, deep and well rounded at mid-height. Its circumference must be one quarter greater than the height at the withers; its maximum width at mid-height must be at least 32% of the height at the withers, then decreases progressively downwards, whilst retaining a good width in the sternal region. Underline: Its lower line, from the sternum forward, rises very slightly toward the flanks, in such a way that the belly is slightly drawn up.
HINDQUARTERS - Seen as a whole: Limbs are straight when seen from behind and the side. The general aspect is in proportion with the body, and the various parts of the hindquarters are in harmony with each other. Upper Thigh: Long, wide with prominent muscles and the rear edge slightly convex. Its width, measured from edge to edge, is three quarters of its length. It is slightly angulated from top to bottom and rear to front; the angle of the femur with the hip-bone is about 100 degrees. Lower Thigh: Its length which is a little shorter than the upper thigh, is 32.5% of the height at the withers. Its angulation below the horizontal is about 60 degrees. Strong bone, muscles lean and the groove in the leg well marked. Stifle: Set perfectly in the vertical line of the hind leg, turns neither in nor out. The angle of the femur and tibia is rather open and varies between 135 and 140 degrees. Hock Joint: Quite thick, with broad lateral faces. The angle varies between 140 and 150 degrees. Rear Pastern (metatarsal): Strong, lean and broad.  Its length is 31% of the height at the withers.  Dewclaws must be removed.