Mastiff

AKC Group: Working

Club: Mastiff Club of America, Inc.

Corresponding Secretary : Margaret Murphy
Address: 1545 Dalbora Rd, Merritt Is, FL , 32953-7132
Website: www.mastiff.org
Club Type: Specialty

General Apperance:

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:

Size --Dogs, minimum, 30 inches at the shoulder. Bitches, minimum, 27½ 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.

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.

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.

History:

The breed commonly called "Mastiff" in English-speaking countries is more properly described as the Old English Mastiff . It is a giant shorthaired dog, with heavy head and short muzzle, which has been bred in England for two thousand years as a watchdog.

As far as the Mastiff is concerned it has a longer history than most. Caesar describes them in his account of invading Britain in 55 B.C., when they fought beside their masters against the Roman legions with such courage and power as to make a great impression.

The Mastiff is described throughout history and literature denoting it's ongoing presence throughout England. The American Mastiff Club was formed in 1879, and some time thereafter disbanded. In 1920, the first Mastiff Club of America was founded and the present Club was established in 1929.

Interesting Facts:

• The Mastiff was supposed to have originated in Asia.
  
  
• Drawings on Egyptian monuments depict typical Mastiffs dating about 3000 BC; in literature, the earliest Mastiff reference occurs 1121 BC.
  
  
• Caesar described Mastiffs in his account of invading Britain in 55 BC.
  
  
• The Mastiff was matched against human gladiators as well as against bulls, bears, lions, and tigers.
  
  
• The Mastiff entertained nobility in dog fights, and later the general public, at places like the "Westminster Pit" in London, a fashionable sporting establishment.
  
  
• The Mastiff is documented in Chaucer, who describes them as "large as steer."