MASTIFFWEB.com: Standard of the breed: American style

AKC BREED STANDARD
FOR THE ENGLISH MASTIFF

AMERICAN KENNEL CLUB OFFICIAL BREED STANDARD
("AMERICAN STYLE MASTIFF")

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 27,5 inches at the shoulder. Fault: Dogs or bitches below the minimum standard. The farther below the 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 legs.
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 scull a flattened curve with a furrow up the center if the forehead. This extends from between the eyes to halfway up the skull.
Stop:
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 length of 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 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 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 to 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 preferred.

HINDQUARTERS
Broad, wide and muscular.
Second thighs:
Well developed, leading to a strong hock joint.
Stifle joint:
Moderately angulated matching the front.
Rear legs:
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 as 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 upwards 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 under 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 mastiffs correct demeanor. Judges should condone shyness or viciousness. Conversely, judges should also beware of putting a premium in showiness.

(Approved November 12, 1991)