Quick Info
|
View Other Colors:
Fawn (shown), apricot, brindle |
Breed Events:
National
Specialty
|
Publications:
The Mastiff Reporter
|
Common Health Issues:
Bloat
(Gastric Torsion) |
| Life Expectancy: 10 years |
Coming Soon
|
| Breed Rescue Home Pages |
| Dogs for Adoption |
| Breeder Referral |
| Training Tips |
|
Mastiff
Breed Standards
AKC Standard:
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, Proposition, Substance
Size--Dogs, minimum, 30 inches at the shoulder. Bitches, minimum,
27½ inches at the shoulder. Fault--Dogs or bitches below
the minimum standard. The farther 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 desired.
Eyes set wide apart, medium in size, never too prominent. Expression
alert but kindly. Color of eyes brown, the darker the better, and showing
no haw. Light eyes or a predatory expression is undesirable. Ears
small in proportion to the skull, V-shaped, rounded at the tips. Leather
moderately thin, set widely apart at the highest points on the sides of
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 stop is equal to one-half the distance
between the stop and the occiput. Circumference of the muzzle (measured
midway between the eyes and 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 snipiness 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, and firm, 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 breastbone extending in front of the foremost point 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
to looseness. Degree of front angulation to match correct rear angulation.
Legs straight, strong and set wide 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
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 of 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
color tone around the eye orbits and extending upward 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.
Approved November 12, 1991
Effective December 31, 1991
Back to Top
|
|