Mastiff AKC Breed Standard

Official Standard of the 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, 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.

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 preferred.

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