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Breed
Standard (Canadian)*
*As reported
by the C.K.C.
Official Canadian Breed Standard for the Bullmastiff
Note: Faults are classified as Serious or Minor,
indicated as (S) and (M) respectively. Note the minor faults are
either points which would not of themselves contribute to
unsoundness in the dog, or are the result of poor conditioning,
which might be controlled, and are not likely to be hereditary.
Origin and Purpose
The Bullmastiff was developed in England by gamekeepers for
protection against poachers. The foundation breeding for the
modern purebred was 60 per cent Mastiff and 40 per cent Bulldog.
It is a guard and companion dog, and should be loyal, obedient,
and thus suitable for training.
General Appearance
The Bullmastiff is a powerfully built, symmetrical dog, showing
great strength and activity, but not cumbersome; upstanding and
compact in appearance, with breadth and depth of skull and body,
the latter set on strong, sturdy well-boned legs. The height
measured vertically from the ground to the highest point of the
withers, should nearly equal the length measured horizontally from
the forechest to the rear part of the upper thigh, and should
slightly exceed the height at the hips. Bitches are feminine in
appearance, of somewhat lighter bone structure than the male, but
should still convey strength.
Faults: (S) Lack of balance. Poor or light bone
structure. (M) Lack of muscular development. Ranginess.
Temperament
The Bullmastiff should be bold, fearless and courageous, a
dependable guard dog; alert and intelligent.
Faults: (S) Viciousness. Shyness. (Such dogs should
not be used for breeding.) (M) Apathy and sluggishness.
Size
Height at the highest point of the withers — Dogs:
25-27 in (63-69 cm). Bitches 24-26 in (61-66 cm).
Weight — Dogs: 110-130 lbs (50-59 kg). Bitches
100-120 lbs (45-55 kg).
It is important that weight be in proportion to height and bone
structure, to ensure balance.
Faults: (S) Over maximum height. Under minimum height.
(M) Over maximum weight. Under minimum weight.
Coat and Colour
Coat short and dense, giving good weather protection.
Faults: (S) Long, soft coat. (M) "Staring" coat, which
means poor condition.
Colour: any shade of red, fawn or brindle, but the
colour must be pure and clear. A small white marking on chest is
permissible but not desirable.
Faults: (S) White markings other than on the chest (M)
Black shading on body, legs or tail (of reds and fawns)
Head
The skull should be large, equal in breadth, length and depth,
with fair amount of wrinkle when the dog is interested; well
developed cheeks. The skull in circumference may measure the
height of the dog. Forehead flat, with furrow between the eyes.
Stop definite.
Muzzle should be short, broad and deep, in the same
proportion as the skull. The distance from the tip of the nose to
the stop should not exceed one-third of the length from the tip of
the nose to the center occiput. Broad under the eyes and nearly
parallel in width to the end of the nose: blunt and cut off
square, appearing in profile in a plane parallel to the line of
the skull. A black mask is essential. The nose should be black,
flat and broad with widely spreading nostrils when viewed from the
front. Flews not too pendulous. The lower jaw broad.
Faults: (S) Muzzle too long, too narrow, pointed or
lacking in depth. Muzzle too short; nostrils set on top; nose
pointed, upturned or laid back; lower jaw narrow. (M) Lack of
wrinkle. Flews too pendulous.
Teeth preferably level bite or slightly undershot.
Canine teeth large and set wide apart; other teeth strong, even
and well placed.
Faults: (S) Teeth overshot. Teeth more than a 1/4 in
(.6 cm) undershot. Wry mouth. (M) Irregular or poorly place
teeth. Small teeth.
Eyes dark or hazel, and of medium size; set apart the
width of the muzzle.
Faults: (M) Light eyes. Eyes too close together, too
large, too small.
Ears V-shaped and carried close to the cheeks; set on
wide and high, level with the occiput, giving a square appearance
to the skull which is most important. They should be darker in
colour than the body, and the point of the ear when alert, should
be level with the eye.
Neck
Well arched of moderate length, very muscular, and almost equal
in circumference to the skull
Forequarters
Proper angulation and proportionate bone lengths of the
forequarters are very important. The shoulder bone should slope
forward and downward from the withers at an angle of 45 degrees
from the vertical. The humerus (upper arm) should form a right
angle with the shoulder bone, 45 degrees from the vertical. The
shoulder bone and the humerus should be approximately equal in
length. The length of the foreleg from the ground to the elbow
should be little more than half the distance from the ground to
the withers, approximately 52 per cent. The shoulders and upper
arms should be muscular and powerful, but not overloaded. Forelegs
powerful, with round heavy bone, vertical and parallel to each
other, set well apart; elbows set close to the body. Pasterns
straight and strong. Feet of medium size, not turning in or out,
with round toes, well arched. Pads thick and tough. Nails black.
Faults: (S) Lack of proportion in bone. Shoulder too
steep. Shoulders overloaded. Elbows turned in or out. Lack of
bone in forelegs. Forelegs bowed. Weak pasterns. Splayed feet.
(M) Feet turned in or out. White nails.
Body and Tail
Body compact. Chest wide and deep, with ribs well sprung
and well set down between the forelegs. Back short and level.
Loins wide, muscular; croup slightly arched, with fair depth of
flank.
Faults: (S) Body too long. Shallow chest. Narrow
chest. Lack of ribspring. Sway back. Roach back. Tip of hip bone
higher than withers. (M) Too much tuck-up
Tail set on high, strong at the root and tapering to the
hocks. It may be carried straight or curved.
Faults: (S) Screw tail. Crank tail. Tail set too low.
(M) Tail carried hound fashion. Too long or too short. Too
heavily coated.
Hindquarters
It is important that structure, angulation, and proportionate
bone lengths of the hindquarters be in balance with the
forequarters. The pelvis (hip bone) should slope backward and
downward from the spine at an angle of 30 degrees. The femur
(upper thigh bone) should form a right angle with the pelvis. The
lower thigh bone (stifle) should set at an angle of 45 degrees to
the vertical. The pelvis and femur should be approximately equal
in length. The ratio of the lengths of the femur, to the
tibia/fibula, to the hock should be approximately as 4:5:3. The
length of the lower leg, from the ground to the hock joint, should
be little less than 30% of the distance from the ground to the top
of the hip bones. The lower leg should be vertical to the ground.
The hip should be broad, in balance with shoulders and rib cage.
Hind legs strong and muscular, with well developed second thighs,
denoting power and activity, but not cumbersome, set parallel to
each other and well apart, in balance with forelegs and body. Feet
as in forequarters.
Faults: (S) Lack of proportion in bone. Poor
angulation at hip bone. Narrow hip structure. Stifle too
straight or over-angulated. Cowhocks. Bowed hind legs. Splay
feet. (M) Feet turned in or out. White nails.
Gait
The gait should be free, balanced and vigorous. When viewed
from the side the dog should have good reach in the forequarters
and good driving power in the hindquarters. The back should be
level and firm, indicating good transmission from back to front.
When viewed from the front (coming towards) or from the rear
(going away), at a moderate pace, the dog shall track in two
parallel lines, neither too close together nor too far apart, so
place as to give a strong well-balanced movement. The toes (fore
and hind) should point straight ahead.
Direction to Exhibitors and Judges
The dog should be moved in the ring at a sufficient speed to
show fluidity of movement, and not a slow walk.
Faults: (S) Rolling, paddling or weaving when gaited.
Any crossing movement either front or rear. Stilted or
restricted movement. (Dogs with structural weakness as evidenced
by poor movement should not be used for breeding.)
Disqualifications
Liver mask. No mask. Yellow eyes.
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Knatchbull
Bullmastiffs
Ontario, Canada
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