1985
2010
1985
2010Breed standard of the : Spanish Mastiff
Mastin Español (Spanish Mastiff).
Synonym:
León Mastiff, Extremadura Mastiff, La Mancha Mastiff.
Locatio:
On the whole Spain, especially in mountains and mountain passes, Asturias,
León and Cantabria, Extremadura, and generally in all those mountain passes
and regions affected by seasonal live stock migration. Exceptions to this
distribution are zones of Aragon Pyranees and Navarra, and migratory zones
of the Monegros, localities of the Pyraneean Mastiff.
Subspecies:
Molozoide, Type " B ".
I. GENERAL APPEARANCE AND CHARACTER.
a) General Description:
Dog of great size, massive and well-proportioned. Very powerful and well
muscled. Compact skeleton. Very large head and body with medium lous.
Affectionate, gentle and noble, is a dog with great steadiness when
confronted with enemies,especially when defending and guarding property and
livestock. His bark es hoarse, deep and low, with great intensity, audible
at considerable distance. This is a very
intelligent dog with its own particular beauty. His expression manifests
both qualities. His behaviour
demonstrates that he is a dog sure of himself, who proportions his strength
as he realizes his enormous strength.
b) Height at the withers:
There's no maximun height allowance, although preference is given to dogs of
greater height as long as their proportions are harmonious.
Minimum Limits:
Males: 77 cm. (31")
Females: 72 cm. (29")
Considerably greater height is desirable, with males preferably measuring
over 80 cm. (32") and females over 75 cm. (30").
c) Formation:
Longitudinal diameter superior to height at the withers. Functional harmony
and good proportions are desired, both at rest and in movement.
d) Usefulness:
This is a breed for livestock guarding and defending. Excessively timid,
cowardly or unbalanced dogs should not be used for reproduction. The breed
is intimately related to seasonal migration, especially of sheep, which it
has accompanied since the middleages, defending from wolves and other
predators throughout all seasons and migrations in different locations.
Today, the Spanish Mastiff accompanies innumerable flocks, both stationary
and migratory, fulfilling his ancestral function. The breed also guards
properties, farms and persons.
II. HEAD.
a) General Description:
- Large, strong and wide base. Relationship between length of skull and
foreface should be 6/4. The ensemble skull-foreface, seen from above, should
be square and uniform, without marked lessening between the base of the
foreface and temporal bone, at side of the skull. Skull–facial lines
moderately divergent.
Wide, strong, with subconvex profile. Width of the skull be the same as or
superior to its length. Marked occiput.
c) Stop:
Not too accented.
d) Foreface:
Straight in profile. Seen from the back it appears moderately rectangular,
slightly narrowing towards the nose, conserving considerable width, never
sharp-pointed or snipy.
e) Nose:
Black, damp, large and wide.
f) Lips:
Upper lip should amply cover lower lip; with loose mucous membranes. Lip
juncture very loose, black pigment.
g) Teeth:
White, strong, and healthy. Canines large, sharp with good grip. Molars
strong and potent. Incisors rather small. Scissor bite. All premolars
desirable.
h) Eyes:
Small in relationship to the skull, almond shaped, preferably dark, hazel
colour, attentive expression, noble, soft and intelligent, with severe
expression towards an unknown person.
k) Eyelids:
Heavy skin, black pigment. The lower eyelid allows part of the conjuctive to
be seen.
j) Ears:
Medium drop ears, triangular in form, flat, placed above the line of the
eyes. At rest, falling flat against the cheecks, not too close to the skull.
At attention, separated from the face with upper third partially erect. They
should not be cropped.
k) Palate:
Black, with marked crests.
III. NECK.
Lone shaped, wide, strong, muscular, flexible. Skin heavy and loose.
Well-developed double dewlap.
IV. BODY.
a) Overall appearance:
rectangular, strong and robust, very powerfull, but flexible and agile.
b) Withers:
Well marked.
c) Back:
Powerful, muscular. Ribs well spaced and rounded, never flat. Relationship
height at the withers - minimun thorax perimeter to be approximately 1/3.
Loins long, wide and powerful, Narrowing at the flank.
d) Croup:
Wide and strong. Approximately 50º slope in relation to the topline and a
horizontal line to the floor. Height at the croup equal to height al the
withers.
e) Topline:
Straight, horizontal, even in movement.
f) Chest:
Wide, deep, muscular and powerful. Marked brisket.
g) Abdomen and flanks:
Moderate tuck up, low, wide flanks.
V. TAIL.
Very wide base, medium tailset. Strong, flexible and well coated, hair
longer that on the rest of the body. At rest it is carried low reaching to
the hocks, sometimes slightly curved in the last quarter. When excited or
running, raised saberlike, curled at the end, but never totally doubled or
resting on croup.
VI. FOREQUARTERS.
a) Legs
Absolutely straight down to the pasterns. Straight and parallel from the
front. Length of the forearm to be triple that of the pastern. Strong in
bone with powerful metacarpus.
b) Shoulders:
Oblique, very muscular. Shoulder blade longer than upper arm.
c) Scapula humerus angle:
Close to 125º
d) Metacarpus:
Seen from the side, very slight inclination. It is actually the continuation
of the forearm. Strong bones.
e) Feet:
Tight by feet. Digits strong, high and well arched. Nails and pads robust
and hard. Moderate interdigital membrane, with hair.
VII. HINDQUARTERS.
a) Overall appearance:
Powerful, muscular, moderate angulation. Ample articular angles, legs and
feet neither in nor out. Straight hocks. Legs should be capable of drive
with ease, force and elegance.b) Thighs: Strong and muscular
c) Pelvis:
Femur angle close to 100º.
d) Legs:
Long, muscular and strong bone.
e) Angle: femur - tibia:
Close to 120º.
f) Hocks:
Strong, parallel with clear view of the tendon.
g) Hock angle:
Open. Close to l30º.
h) Feet:
Cat feet, slightly oval. May or may not have dewclaws, which can be single
or double. Removal of dewclaws is admitted.
VIII. GAIT.
Preferred gait is the trot. It must be harmonious, powerful, with no
tendency to lateral movement. Without pacing.
IX. SKIN.
Elastic, thick, abundant and of a rosy colour, with darker pigmentations.
All mucous membranes must be black.
X. COAT.
Thick, heavy, semilong, smooth,over all the body to the interdigital spaces.
Two types of coat over the back and undercoat over ribs and flanks. Shorter
on the legs and longer and silkier on the tail.
XI. COAT COLOUR.
All colours admitted. Uniform coat colour is preferred; yellows, fawns, reds
and blacks, wolf colour. Also combined colours: brindles, white mark on
chest, and dappled.
XII. FAULTS.
a) Slight:
Profile of foreface sheeplike, without excess. Lack of one or few premolars.
Level bite. Topline weak, distorted or waving in movement. Weak posterns or
feet. Timidity, not excessively accentuated.
b) Serious: (exclude the rating of "Excellent"Snipy foreface.
Moderately overshot mouth. Absence of several premolars or canines, unless
due to accident. Sweptback. Height at the croup noticibly superior to height
at the withers. Legs weak or not straight. Weaving movement. Cowhocks in
movement or stationary. Coat wavy, curled and overly long. Ear cropping or
tail docking. Entropion or ectropion in excess. Poor temperament. Excessive
timidity or exaggerated agressiveness. Fragile or lymphatic. Tail carried
over back. c) Disqualifications:
(Ineligible for confirmation of purebred and biotype).
Divided nose. Any grade of undershot mouth Excessively overshot. Nose and
mucous membranes dispigmented and accompanied by light eyes. Monorquidism
and cryptorchidism.
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