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, 27˝ 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
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