Page 41 - ShowSight Presents The Bullmastiff

In the Bullmastiff ring, you will undoubt- edly find a variety of head types as the lib- eral Bullmastiff standard allows for a range of interpretation. However, it is important to remember that each individual element that comes together in the Bullmastiff headpiece should contribute to its square appearance. This not only applies to traits such as the broad, deep muzzle and the large skull with well-developed cheeks, which Bullmastiff breeders often refer to as a “cube on a cube,” but also to such characteristics as ear set, shape, and size, the width of the underjaw, and eye shape and placement. Rather than think of each of these attributes separately, base your assessment on the degree to which they contribute to the nearly square appearance of the bullmastiff head.
The head and muzzle should be square. Muzzle should be broad and deep, ears small and v-shaped, level with the occiput, cheeks should be well developed, flews not too pendulous, all helping to create a square appearance to the head. The rever- sion to the Bulldog is very undesirable. If a head reminds you of a Mastiff, Bull- dog, Rhodesian Ridgeback, Am Staff or Shar Pei it is very incorrect. Round and 192 • SHOWSIGHT MAGAZINE, AUGUST 2014
wrinkly skulls, too much wrinkle/roping on the muzzle, drooping flews, too severe a stop (Bulldog like) are not correct in a Bullmastiff, any more than a long, narrow muzzle or a lack of stop.
In judging the Bullmastiff we see vary- ing degrees of bites, but mainly good bites with wide underjaws and straight teeth. The evolution of the breed to a less mod- erate and more ‘bully’ appearance has led to the reversion to the more Bulldog type of bite and underjaw, which is incorrect, however the perfect bite can and should be accomplished in the best of heads.
Movement
“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.” The down and back should be closely observed for many structural faults not obvious on the go- around. We need to slow them down in the show ring. Bullmastiffs are not herd- ing dogs, and their side gait should reflect use of moderate angles. Cow hocks and splayed feet are the only serious faults mentioned in our standard and should
“THE HEAD AND
MUZZLE SHOULD
BE SQUARE.
Muzzle should be broad and deep, ears small and v-shaped, level with the occiput, cheeks should be well developed, flews not too pendulous, all helping to create a square appearance to the head.”
be penalized appropriately. Bullmastiffs should not be giant Bulldogs or Mastiffs, nor should they move like either of these breeds. Bullmastiffs should be sound coming and going, and have moderate reach and drive to accomplish a smooth, even gait. Their gait should be power- ful and deliberate. “Flashy” movement is not what is appropriate for this breed and showmanship should never override breed correctness. When evaluating breeding stock, either as a judge or a breeder, the first thing we look at is static balance in the silhouette. Unlike breeds whose bodies are longer than tall, a square dog must be built to the correct proportions and angles if it is to move correctly. We do not look at a dog’s gait in a search for beauty and flash but rather as evidence that the dog is both fit and functional for the job it was bred for. In observing how a dog moves, one evaluates the dog as a whole trying to assess the ability of the dog to do its his- toric work... and if accurate, it is usually associated with correctly constructed and athletically fit dogs.
The most efficient working dogs are those that can work the longest at their jobs with the least amount of effort.