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The U.S Mastiff Breed standerd
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This page has been added to the site for our UK viewers as I am aware that many people often compare Mastiffs in the U.K to those in the U.S
Obviously we have the same breed but the standard as described does differ and I have made this information available on the site for those who may find it useful.
Mastiff : Working Group
Breed 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
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.
Effective from December 31, 1991
Editors notes : You will note that an abvious difference in the U.S standard to our own is a set minimum height. This is not included in the U.K standard.
 
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