Page 48 - ShowSight Presents The Bullmastiff
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she is not petite, but substantial relative to her slightly smaller size.
More is Not Always More
The emphasis on substance often leads to the false assumption—among judges and fanciers alike—that when it comes to the Bullmastiff, bigger is better. This notion fails to consider another recurring and cru- cial concept in the Bullmastiff standard: moderation. A focus on moderation tempers the tendency to breed the extreme charac- teristics of either the Bulldog or the mastiff into the Bullmastiff. It takes into consider- ation the purpose for which the Bullmastiff was bred—to knock and hold down poach- ers on nineteenth-century English estates— and the corresponding need for a dog that was strong, powerful, agile, quick and mod- erate. The call for moderation in the stan- dard is evident in both the size parameters as well the description of physical charac- teristics. The top of the standard for males is 130 pounds; females are to be no larger than 120 pounds. This is significantly less than the recommended sizes of giant breeds such as the Great Dane, mastiff and St. Ber- nard. A correct Bullmastiff should never approach these weight categories; unfortu- nately, many of them do. This meandering into “giant” territory is often the result of a long back and the extra weight necessary to produce substance in a long-coupled dog. A compact, moderate dog that weighs 130 pounds is all the Bullmastiff necessary to handle the job it was bred to do.
The standard also calls for a moder- ate stop, moderate angulation, a slightly arched neck of moderate length, a topline
that is “straight and level” and firm when moving, flews that are “not too pendulous” and a skull that exhibits a fair amount of wrinkle “when alert.” These character- istics—individually and collectively— describe a dog that is not exaggerated in any manner. It depicts a dog that is clean, solid, tight and sound. Thinking of the Bullmastiff as a moderate rather than giant breed will help you to disregard the dogs that are too big, too sloppy, too long and too overdone.
Confidence is Key
As Richard Beauchamp wrote in Solv- ing the Mysteries of Breed Type, “Every- thing in the Bullmastiff standard assures us of a dog that will stand its ground and protect at all costs.” Thus temperament may be considered the ultimate indicator of Bullmastiff breed type. The standard describes the Bullmastiff as “fearless and confident, yet docile.” Bullmastiff expres- sion is referred to as “keen, alert and intel- ligent.” Breed function is defined as “a dependable family companion and protec- tor.” These collective traits were necessary for the job the Bullmastiff was originally bred to do and are appropriate for the duties it instinctively takes on today. These qualities should be taken into consider- ation when assessing the Bullmastiff in the ring as well as when approaching the individual dog for examination. Do not let the friendliness of most Bullmastiffs dissuade you from thinking of the breed as a formidable guard. Although much of the “sharpness” has been bred out of the modern Bullmastiff, one should never for-
get the original working function of the breed and treat the Bullmastiff with atten- tiveness, courtesy and most important of all, respect. Thus you should never get in a Bullmastiff’s face, nor should you give it a playful slap on the rump. As it is not uncommon for males in particular to be dog aggressive, one should not pack the dogs in the ring too tightly.
Despite the briefness and liberal nature of the Bullmastiff standard, it is not in any way inadequate or incomplete. By examining it closely for recurring themes and points of emphasis, one can get a very secure sense of what to look for when judg- ing the Bullmastiff. If, after reading the standard, you are able to picture a dog that is confident and alert, square in head and body, moderate, powerful and substantial and balanced front and rear, you are on your way to recognizing the quintessential characteristics of Bullmastiff breed type.
BIO
Chris Lezotte, with husband Alan Kalter, has bred or owned over 150 Bull- mastiff champions since 1986 under the HappyLegs prefix. Chris has served the American Bullmastiff Association as sec- retary and Bulletin editor. She is cur- rently on the board of the Great Lakes Bullmastiff Association and Ann Arbor Kennel Club. She has judged Futurity and Sweepstakes at regional and national spe- cialties and was the breeder judge at the 2012 ABA National Specialty Top Twenty event. Chris and Alan and a dozen Bull- mastiffs reside on 18 acres just outside Ann Arbor, Michigan.
“Although much of the ‘sharpness’ has been bred out of the modern Bullmastiff,
ONE SHOULD NEVER FORGET THE
ORIGINAL WORKING FUNCTION OF THE BREED
and treat the Bullmastiff with attentiveness, courtesy and most important of all, respect.”
