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Monique Diamond - Kilmer ~ Alanson,
MI ~ (231) 838-8805
AKC 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, Proportion, Substance
Size - Dogs, minimum, 30 inches at the shoulder. Bitches,
minimum, 27-1/2 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.
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
© Iron Gate Mastiffs 2006
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