Mastiff

HISTORY

The Mastiff is a giant-breed dog with a long history. Most people are first attracted to this breed by its massiveness, but do not realize that with a large dog may come large problems. This homepage will attempt to portray the breed in an honest and accurate way to help potential owners to evaluate the suitability of a mastiff for their situation. A MASTIFF IS NOT FOR EVERYONE! They are powerful dogs and therefore need training. They tend to drool and snore loudly. Like any large breed, they are prone to joint problems such as hip dysplasia. However, if you can get past it all, Mastiffs are a joy to own. There are a few differences of opinion on where the Mastiff originated, but most agree that the British are the creators of the breed as we know it today. They were used as war dogs by the ancient Celts and accompanied their masters in to battle. When the Romans invaded Britain, they took the dogs back to Italy and used them to guard property and prisoners. In the Elizabethan Era, the Mastiff was used to fight wild animals (such as bears, tigers, etc.) for entertainment purposes. During the World Wars, Mastiffs were used to pull munitions carts on the fronts. In America, they were usually owned by plantation owners who used them to guard their property. Breeders today have bred the Mastiff for gentleness and have created an excellent companion who is large enough to deter intruders and yet gentle enough to be around children. There is Mastiff blood in many of the current breeds you see today. Breeds such as the Bullmastiff, Rottweiler, Great Dane, Newfoundland, Saint Bernard, Great Pyrenees, etc., were created using Mastiffs.

General Appearance *** The Mastiff is a large, massive, symmetrical dog with a well-knit frame. The impression is one of grandeur and dignity. Dogs are more massive throughout. Bitches should not be faulted for being somewhat smaller in all dimensions while maintaining a proportionally powerful structure. A good evaluation considers positive qualities of type and soundness with equal weight.

Size* Proportion* Substance *** Size * Dogs, minimum, 30 inches at shoulder. Bitches, minimum 27.5 inches at the shoulder. Fault * Dogs or bitches below standard. The further below standard, the greater the fault.
Proportion * Rectangular, the length of the dog from forechest to rump is somewhat longer than the height at the withers. The height of the dog should come from depth of body rather than from length of leg.
Substance * Massive, heavy-boned, with a powerful muscle structure. Great depth and breadth desirable. Fault * Lack of substance or slab-sided.

Head * In general outline giving a massive appearance when viewed from any angle. Breadth greatly to be desired.
Eyes** * Set wide apart, medium size, never too prominent.
Expression * Alert but kindly. Color of eyes brown, the darker the better, and showing no haw. Light eyes or predatory expression is undesirable.
Ears * Small in proportion to the skull, V-shaped, rounded at tips. Leather moderately thin, set widely apart at the highest points on the skull continuing the outline across the summit. They should lie close to the cheeks when in repose. Ears dark in color, the blacker the better, conforming to the color of the muzzle.
Skull * Broad and somewhat flattened between the ears, forehead slightly curved, showing marked wrinkles which are particularly distinctive when at attention. Brows (superciliary ridges) moderately raised. Muscles of the temples well developed, those of the cheeks extremely powerful. Arch across the skull a flattened curve with a furrow up the center of the forehead. This extends from between the eyes to halfway up the skull. The stop between the eyes well marked but not too abrupt. Muzzle should be half the length of the skull, thus dividing the head into three parts, one for the foreface and two for the skull. In other words, the distance from the tip of the nose to the stop is equal to one-half the distance between the stop and occiput. Circumference of the muzzle (measured midway between the eyes and the nose) to that of the head (measured before the ears) is as 3 is to 5.
Muzzle * Short, broad under the eyes and running nearly equal in width to the end of the nose. Truncated, i.e. blunt and cut off square, thus forming a right angle with the upper line of the face. Of great depth from the point of the nose to the underjaw. Underjaw broad to the end and slightly rounded. Muzzle dark in color, the blacker the better. Fault * Snippiness of the muzzle.
Nose * Broad and always dark in color, the blacker the better, with spread flat nostrils (not pointed or turned up) in profile.
Lips * Diverging at obtuse angles with the septum and sufficiently pendulous so as to show a modified square profile.
Canine Teeth * Healthy and wide apart. Jaws powerful. Scissors bite preferred, but a moderately undershot jaw should not be faulted providing the teeth are not visible when the mouth is closed.

Neck* Topline Body* Neck Powerful, very muscular, slightly arched and of medium length. The neck gradually increases in circumference as it approaches the shoulder. Neck moderately `dry' (not showing an excess of loose skin).
Topline * In profile the topline should be straight, level, firm, and not swaybacked, roached, or dropping off sharply behind the high point of the rump.
Chest * Wide, deep, rounded and well let down between the forelegs, extending at least to the elbow. Forechest should be deep and well defined, with the breast bone extending in front of the foremost part of the shoulders. Ribs well rounded. False ribs deep and well set back.
Underline * There should be a reasonable, but not exaggerated, tuck up.
Back * Muscular, powerful, and straight. When viewed from the rear, there should be a slight rounding over the rump.
Loins * Wide and muscular.
Tail * Set on moderately high and reaching to the hocks or a little below. Wide at the root, tapering to the end, hanging straight in repose, forming a slight curve, but never over the back when the dog is in motion.

Forequarters *** Shoulders * Moderately sloping, powerful and muscular, with no tendency towards looseness. Degree of front angulation to match correct rear angulation.
Legs * Straight, strong and set well apart, heavy boned.
Elbows * Parallel to body.
Pasterns * Strong and bent only slightly.
Feet * Large, round, and compact with well arched toes. Black nails preferred.

Hindquarters *** Broad, wide and muscular.
Second Thighs * Well developed, leading to a strong hock joint.
Stifle Joint * Is moderately angulated matching the front.
Rear Legs * Are wide apart and parallel when viewed from the rear. When the portion of the leg below the hock is correctly `set back' and stands perpendicular to the ground, a plumb line dropped from the rearmost point in the hindquarters will pass in front of the foot. This rules out straight hocks, and since stifle angulation varies with hock angulation, it also rules out insufficiently angulated stifles. Fault * Straight stifles.

Coat*** Outer coat straight, coarse and of moderately short length. Undercoat dense, short, and close lying. Coat should not be so long as to produce `fringe' on the belly, tail, or hind legs. Fault * Long or wavy coat.

Color*** Fawn, Apricot, or Brindle. Brindle should have fawn or apricot as a background color which should be completely covered with very dark stripes. Muzzle, ears, and nose must be dark in color, the blacker the better, with similar coat tone around the eye orbits and extending upwards between them. A small patch of white on the chest is permitted. Faults * Excessive white on the chest or white on any other part of the body. Mask, ears, or nose lacking dark pigment.

Gait *** The gait denotes power and strength. The rear legs should have drive, while the forelegs should track smoothly with good reach. In motion, the legs move straight forward; as the dog's speed increases from a walk to a trot, the feet move in toward the center line of the body to maintain balance.

Temperament *** A combination of grandeur and good nature, courage and docility. Dignity, rather than gaiety, is the Mastiff's correct demeanor. Judges should not condone shyness or viciousness. Conversely, judges should also beware of putting a premium on showiness.

Fault*** 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.

Note*** Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles fully descended into the scroum.