OFFICIAL SPANISH MASTIFF STANDARD
BREED DENOMINATION.

Mastin Español (Spanish Mastiff).

Synonym:
León Mastiff, Extremadura Mastiff, La Mancha Mastiff.

Location:
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.

b) Skull:
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: