Spaanse Dog 

Mastin Espanol

 

    

 

History   

Like the Tibetan Mastiff, both are hardy mountain dogs. They should not be confused with the numerous mountain herding & protection dogs which are not Mastiffs but shepherd dogs. The Spanish Mastiff has many names in Spain, depending on the area. Like the Mastin Leones (Mastiff of Leon), Mastin Extremo ( Mastiff of Extremadura), Mastin Manchego (Mastiff of la Mancha) or Mastin Castillo (Mastiff of Castiliana).  For its size and weight the Spanish Mastiff is surprisingly fast and agile. An asset for a dog who have to protect livestock against wolves and bears. Together with a good amount of courage these traits are carefully bred in the Spanish Mastiff over a very long period. The origin of the Mastin Español- his real name is not clear. The most important period in the history of the Spanish Mastiff was during the times of the "Mesta" This was the seasonal migration of the Merino sheep between the summer- and Winter range. This was an event on an enormous scale and distance (up to 850km/515 mi) In a count of a Mesta in the year 1526 no less than 3.453.168 sheep were involved. Excluding approx. 40.000 shepherds and no less than 18.000 Spanish Mastiff for protection! Not counted in this were the shepherd dogs who formed the inner circle around the sheep. The shepherds in the middle and the outer circle was formed by the Mastiffs. It seemed that the wolves mostly attacked at night and in sufficient numbers to increase their success. The result was often a high number of injuries and casualties on both sides. The wolves focused their attack at a single point of the flock and it depended on the ferocity and courage of the Mastiffs on that particular site how much damage was done before other Mastiffs and shepherds rushed in. But also bears and thieves tried their luck. Around the 18th century the Mestas became smaller and smaller. And the last Mestas were cancelled in 1936-1939 because of the Spanish civil war. The use as livestock protection dog became more rare as the large flocks of Merino sheep vanished and the dog was more used for home protection, large game hunting (wild boar, wolf and bear) and even in the army to protect military installations. Their numbers dropped dramatically and with no main purpose left the breed became rare. In the early 1970 the breed was re-discovered and an active Spanish Mastiff club in Spain set strict standards and rules. Since then the breed improved a lot and became more popular. Today the Spanish Mastiff is more and more appreciated as a trustful protector of the family, and at the same time a great pet.

 

                                                                                                                        

 
General appearance   Its a dog of great size, hypermetric and medium proportions. Well balanced,very powerful and muscular. Compact bone structure. Massive head and a body covered with a semi-long coat. Robust, effectionate, kind and nole, it is a dog very determined when facing harmful (dangerus) animals and in front of strangers, especially when he has the opportunity to defend and protect farms or cattle. His bark is raucous, low pitched and deep, very sonorous, audible from a considerable distance. He is a very intelligent dog, not without beauty, whose expression manifests both these qualities. In his behaviour, one can see that it is a dog sure of himself, determining his strength because he is aware of his enormous power.

 

Height at the withers    There is no upper limit of size, the subjects of greatest size being the ones most highly thought off providing they are of harmonious proportions.

Minimum size * Males  77 cm. **  Females  72 cm.

It is desirable that these measurements be amply exceeded; the size in males should be over 80 cm., and the females over 75 cm.

Neck * Trunk shaped, broad, solid, muscled, flexible. Skin thick and loose. Double dewlap amply developed.

 

Conformation    Sublong line structure. Longer than high. Most important are balance and functional harmony in the dog standing as well as on the move.

Utilization * Guard and defense. Must be avoided for reproduction those subjects which are very timid, frightened or unbalanced. The breed is closely related to the seasonal moving of the live stock, and especially the merino livestock which he already accompanied at the time of the "Mesta" (association, in the Middle-age, of breeders of wandering herds) by guarding them from wolves and other predators, all along their journey from one location to another and on the grazing pastures, in all seasons and sites. Actually he accompanies numerous herds, wheether sedentary or wandering by fulfilling his ancestral task. He performs in the same way the function of guard and protector of farms, people and properties in general.

 

Head  Description of the ensemble of the head: Big, strong, and shaped like a truncated pyramid with broad basis. The relation between the length of the skull and that of the muzzle must be of 6/4. he whole of the skull and muzzle, seen from above, must be square and well linked, without a very marked diminution of width between the base of the muzzle and the temporal bones. The facial-cranial axes are moderately divergent. Skull * Broad, strong, sub-convex profile. The width of the skull should be equal or superior to its length. Frontal sinus accentuated. Occipital crest marked. Stop* Slightly sloping. Not very accentuated.  Muzzle* Straight in profile. Seen from above, it appears moderately rectangular, tapering slighttly (in width) towards the nose, skull still keeping an appreciable width. In no case shoud it be pointed. Nose * Black, wet, big an broad. Lips * The upper lip largely covering the lower lip; the lower lip, with visible mucous, forms a very loose labial comissure. The cucous membranes must be black. Teeth * White, solid and sound. Big, pointed canines assuring of good hold on prey. Molars solid and powerful. Incisors rather small, articulated in scissor bite. All premolars are present.  Eyes * Small in comparison with the skull, almond shaped, preferably dark, of hazel colour. The look is attentive, noble, soft and intelligent, very hard in front of strangers. Eyelids* Of thick tissue, with black pigmentation. The lower lid allows a part of the conjunctiva to be seen. Ears* Of medium size and hanging; triangular shape, flat. Attached above the eye-line. At rest, hanging and close to the cheeks, without being too close to the skull. In attention, they come away from the muzzle and are partially pricked, in their top third part. They must not be cropped.  Palate  Black, with well marked ridges.

 

Body     Seen as a whole: Rectangular. Stocky and robust, showing great power; yet supple and agile. Withers* Well marked. Back * Powerful, muscled. Ribs with wide inter-costal spaces, rounded not flat. The minimum thoracic perimeter exceeds by about 1/3 the height of the withers. Loin long, broad and powerful; its dimensions decreasing down towards the flank. Rump * Broad and solid. Its inclination on the dorsal-lumbar line and on the horizontal to the ground is of some 45º. The height at the rump is equal to the height at the withers. Dorsal-lumbar line: Straight, horizontal; including while on the move. Chest * Broad, deep, muscled and powerful. The point of the sternum marked.  Belly and flanks: Belly very moderately tucked-up; the flank let down and very ample.  Tail.   Very thick at its root and set at medium height. Solid, supple and covered with hair longer than that of the rest of the body. At rest is carried low, just reaching the hock; sometimes forms a curve in its last quarter. When the dog is moving or animated, he will raise it sabre fashion, with a curve at its tip, but never curved in all its length nor carried over the rump.

 

Forequarters    View of the ensemble: perfectly vertical limbs. Seen from the front: straight and parallel. The length of the forearm should be the triple that of the pastern (metacarpus). Bone structure solid, with powerful metacarpus. Shoulders * oblique, very muscular. Much longer than the forearm.

Scapular-humeral angle * Near the 100º.

Upper Arm: strong, of similar length to that of the shoulder-blade.

Humeral-radial angle * close to 125º.

Forearm * solid, with vertical bone. Elbows close to the thorax.

Pastern * in profile: slightly oblique. Is practically in the extension of the forearm. Solid bone.

Feet * cat feet. Toes close, solid, well knuckled-up. Nails and pads strong and resistant. Interdigital membranes of medium development and covered with hair.

 

Hindquarters    Seen as a whole * powerful, muscular. Lateral view: adequate angulations, big articular angles. Correct limbs, from the front and in profile. Hocks not deviated. They must be capable of transmitting the impulsion to the dog with ease, strength and elegance.

Thighs* solid and muscular.

Femoral-coxal angle * nearly 100º.

Lower thighs * long, muscular and solid bone structure.

Femoral-tibial angle* nearly 120º.

Hocks * Well marked, with the Achilles tendon clearly visible.

Angle of the hock * open. Close to 130º.

Feet * cat feet, very slightly oval. Dewclaws present or not, may be simple or double; their removal is permitted.

 

Movement     The preferred gait is the trot, which must be harmonious, powerful, without tendency towards lateral rolling. No ambling.

Skin.  Elastic, thick, abundant and pink coloured, with darker pigmentations. All mucous membranes must be black.

Coat hair *   Dense, thick, medium length, smooth, distributed all over the body down to the interdigital spaces. Two types of coat are distinguished; covering coat on the back and another protecting type on the ribcage and the flanks. Shorter on the legs, longer and silky on the tall.

Colour *  Indifferent. The colours most appreciated being self-coloured (one-coloured), like yellow, fawn, red, black, wolf colour and deer-colour. Also appreciated: these colours combined, brindle or particoloured.

 

Faults Any departure from the foregoing points should be considered a fault and tghe seriousness with which the fault is regarded should be in exact proportion to its degree.

Slight faults * Aquiline muzzle, without excess. Lack of any premolar. Pincer bite. Weakk lumbar-dorsal line, having lost its straight line and undulating on the move. Pasterns and feet weak, without excess. Timidity not too accentuated.

Serious faults ** Pointed muzzle. Moderately overshot mouth. Absence of various molars or canines, not from traumatic origin. Sway back. Height at the rump noticeably superior to the height at the withers. Incorrect legs, weak or deviated. Lateral displacement of the legs when moving. Cow-hocked either standing or moving. Wavy coat, curly or of excessive length. Cropping of ears or docking of tail. Excessive entropion or ectropion: Unbalanced temperament, excessive timidity or exaggerated aggressiveness. Exaggerated frail or lethargic appearance. Tail resting on the rump.

Eliminating faults * Split nose. Undershot mouth of whatever degree. Excessively overshot. Depigmented nose or mucous membranes together with light eyes.

 

Faults   Any departure from the foregoing points should be considered a fault and the seriousnes with which the fault should be regarded should be exact proportion to its degree.

Note ***  Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles fully decended into the scrotum.

 

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