BREED STANDARDS

Welcome to the Breed standard page.  Here you are going to find some GREAT information about the "True" mastiff.   It's size and proportions. We will attempt to as well cover some of the "Myths" about bloodlines and size. The 300 + lbs dogs, through out the pages in this section.  I will also make a few Notations into the Descriptions to call to your attention some of the mis-conceptions That are being represented of the breed today.

The breed standard has change some bit since the original standard. The Mastiff Club of America, the parent breed club in the US for the Mastiff.  Has the right to and Did request The A.K.C  ( The American Kennel Club ) change the breed standard. Which indeed was done to fit the size of the Mastiff being bred in the U.S.A. today. and a some what decrease in standard from the original breed standard . 

While it seems there are a 1000's theories How the mastiff got "down sized" or why. It truthfully is anyone's guess. In my opinion it was to fit the standards of the breeders and what they ( the majority ) were producing, as they were not meeting the original breed standard anymore. But again, How and why we ever left the "True mastiff" behind,  Has baffled me for years.

One of the variations causing today  inconsistent look in the mastiff is complete out cross breeding ( dogs totally unrelated in any way ) Vs Line breeding to stay uniform in stuture. You can find more on  Outcross Vs line breeding on the breeding  myth pages.

Some of the throw back is from the original mastiff going extent and some have said Saints ( fluffy mastiffs ) and Danes  ( taller leaner looking mastiffs ) were bred in to bring back the breed. Some claim Breeders purposely breed in Danes etc, to make the mastiff taller and larger bodied. On symbolic sign of this throw back is Dane looking mastiff and long hair ( saint gene ) teddy bear or AKA fluffy mastiffs. While there are many myths one will never know the truth because we were not there. So only can we guess. More in depth on this can be found on the mastiff history pages.

However with as many years ago as that was, some claim is still manifest. ( gene pool throw back )

More and more breeders are evaluating the mastiff line and are turning to the line breed inbreed to stay with in the "true" mastiff make up. with the England based lines. Which brings me to the inbreed myth. It will not give you retarded genetic puppies unless you have retarded genetic parents.

You may also compare the 2 side by side in the split page of Breed Standard Comp.