Page 30 - ShowSight Presents The Bullmastiff

OfficialStandard for the
BUL L MASTIFF
COURTESY THE AMERICAN KENNEL CLUB
General Appearance: That of a symmetrical animal, show- ing great strength, endurance, and alertness; powerfully built but active. The foundation breeding was 6 0 percent Mastiff and 4 0 percent Bulldog. The breed was developed in England by gamekeepers for protection against poach- ers.
Size, Proportion, Substance: Size - Dogs, 2 5 to 2 7 inches at the withers, and 1 1 0 to 1 3 0 pounds weight. Bitches, 2 4 to26 inchesatthewithers,and100 to120 poundsweight. Other things being equal, the more substantial dog within these limits is favored. Proportion - The length from tip of breastbone to rear of thigh exceeds the height from withers to ground only slightly, resulting in a nearly square appear- ance.
Head : Expression - Keen, alert, and intelli-
gent. Eyes - Dark and of medium size. Ears
- V-shaped and carried close to the cheeks,
set on wide and high, level with occiput
and cheeks, giving a square appearance to
the skull; darker in color than the body
and medium in size. Skull - Large, with a
fair amount of wrinkle when alert; broad,
with cheeks well developed. Forehead flat.
Stop-Moderate. Muzzle - Broad and deep;
its length, in comparison with that of the
entire head, approximately as 1 is to 3 . Lack of foreface with nostrils set on top of muzzle is a reversion to the Bulldog and is very undesirable. A dark muzzle is prefer- able. Nose - Black, with nostrils large and broad. Flews - Not too pendulous. Bite - Preferably level or slightly under- shot. Canine teeth large and set wide apart.
Neck, Topline, Body: Neck - Slightly arched, of moderate length, very muscular, and almost equal in circumference to the skull. Topline - Straight and level between withers and loin. Body - Compact. Chest wide and deep, with ribs well sprung and well set down between the forelegs. Back- Short, giving the impression of a well balanced dog. Loin- Wide, muscular, and slightly arched, with fair depth of flank. Tail - Set on high, strong at the root, and tapering to the hocks. It may be straight or curved, but never carried hound fashion.
Forequarters: Shoulders - muscular but not loaded, and slightly sloping. Forelegs-straight, well boned, and set well apart; elbows turned neither in nor out. Pasterns straight, feet of medium size, with round toes well arched. Pads thick and tough, nails black.
Hindquarters: Broad and muscular, with well developed second thigh denoting power, but not cumbersome. Moderate angulation at hocks. Cowhocks and splay feet are serious faults.
Coat: Short and dense, giving good weather protection. Color: Red, fawn, or brindle. Except for a very small white
spot on the chest, white marking is considered a fault.
Gait: Free, smooth, and powerful. When viewed from the side, reach and drive indicate maximum use of the dog's moderate angulation. Back remains level and firm. Coming and going, the dog moves in a straight line. Feet tend to
converge under the body, without crossing over, as speed increases. There is no twist- ing in or out at the joints.
Temperament: Fearless and confident yet docile. The dog combines the reliability, intelligence, and willingness to please required in a dependable family compan- ion and protector.
Approved February 8, 1992 Effective March 31, 1992
SHOWSIGHT MAGAZINE, DECEMBER 2017 • 259