|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
BULLMASTIFF
The
Bullmastiff breed, as its name suggests, is a
combination of the Mastiff and the Bulldog.
Therefore, crosses were made of the Bulldog and
Mastiff until a ratio of 60% Mastiff and 40% Bulldog
was achieved. This type of dog, eventually called
the Bullmastiff, served the needs of the gamekeeper
very well.
It was created in
England in the mid-1800s; the only guarding breed to
originate in England. At the time of its creation,
there were many large estates in England, the owners
of which frowned upon the game in their estates
being poached. The Bullmastiff earned its keep as a
gamekeeper’s able assistant. They patrolled the
country estates of the wealthy landowners and were
trained to warn the gamekeeper of poachers. The dog
could track a man in the forest at night and work
quietly. Brindle was the desired color of the
original dogs used in England because of it being
very hard to see in a forest at night. The
bullmastiff would run down the poacher, threw him to
the ground, and hold him without harm until the
gamekeeper came. For this kind of job, they needed
to be very intelligent, territorial and very
powerful. Traits originally sought in an estates
Bullmastiff puppy population have now become the
norm for this breed.
As the
large estates were broken up and the need for the
Bullmastiff dwindled, they be came family pets and
companions.
So the Bullmastiff
today typically has the following traits:
The
bullmastiff is a member of the working group in
the AKC Kennel club.
The following is the AKC Bullmastiff Breed Standard.
General Appearance
That of a symmetrical animal, showing great
strength, endurance, and alertness; powerfully built
but active. The foundation breeding was 60% Mastiff
and 40% Bulldog. The breed was developed in England
by gamekeepers for protection against poachers.
Size, Proportion, Substance
Size--Dogs, 25 to 27 inches at the withers,
and 110 to 130 pounds weight. Bitches, 24 to 26
inches at the withers, and 100 to 120 pounds weight.
Other things being equal, the more substantial dog
within these limits is favored. Proportion--The
length from tip of breastbone to rear of thigh
exceeds the height from withers to ground only
slightly, resulting in a nearly square appearance.
Head
Expression--Keen,
alert, and intelligent. Eyes Dark and of
medium size. Ears--V-shaped and carried close
to the cheeks, set on wide and high, level with
occiput and cheeks, giving a square appearance to
the skull; darker in color than the body and medium
in size. Skull Large, with a fair amount of
wrinkle when alert; broad, with cheeks well
developed. Forehead flat. Stop--Moderate.
Muzzle--Broad and deep; its length, in
comparison with that of the entire head,
approximately as 1 is to 3. Lack of foreface with
nostrils set on top of muzzle is a reversion to the
Bulldog and is very undesirable. A dark muzzle is
preferable. Nose--Black, with nostrils large
and broad. Flews--Not too pendulous. Bite--Preferably
level or slightly undershot. Canine teeth large and
set wide apart.
Neck, Topline, Body
Neck--Slightly arched, of moderate length,
very muscular, and almost equal in circumference to
the skull. Topline--Straight and level
between withers and loin. Body--Compact.
Chest wide and deep, with ribs well sprung and well
set down between the forelegs. Back--Short,
giving the impression of a well balanced dog.
Loin--Wide, muscular, and slightly arched, with
fair depth of flank. Tail--Set on high,
strong at the root, and tapering to the hocks. It
may be straight or curved, but never carried hound
fashion.
Forequarters
Shoulders--muscular but not loaded, and
slightly sloping. Forelegs--straight, well
boned, and set well apart; elbows turned neither in
nor out. Pasterns straight, feet of medium
size, with round toes well arched. Pads thick
and tough, nails black.
Hindquarters
Broad and muscular, with well developed second thigh
denoting power, but not cumbersome. Moderate
angulation at hocks. Cowhocks and splay feet are
serious faults.
Coat
Short and dense, giving good weather protection.
Color
Red, fawn, or brindle. Except for a very small white
spot on the chest, white marking is considered a
fault.
Gait
Free, smooth, and powerful. When viewed from the
side, reach and drive indicate maximum use of the
dog's moderate angulation. Back remains level and
firm. Coming and going, the dog moves in a straight
line. Feet tend to converge under the body, without
crossing over, as speed increases. There is no
twisting in or out at the joints.
Temperament
Fearless and confident yet docile. The dog combines
the reliability, intelligence, and willingness to
please required in a dependable family companion and
protector.
Approved February 8, 1992
Effective
March 31, 1992
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Dennis Hess
1055 Mt. Pleasant Road
Buncombe, IL 62912
(618)833-8877
We reserve the right to refuse any sale.
|
|
|
|
