THE MASTIFF 27 



Ears (VALUE 4). Small, thin to the touch, wide apart, set on at the 

 highest points of the sides of the skull, so as to continue the outline across the 

 summit, and lying flat and close to the cheeks when in repose. 



Eyes (VALUE 6). Small, wide apart, divided by at least the space of two 

 eyes. The stop between the eyes well marked, but not too abrupt. Colour 

 hazel-brown, the darker the better, showing no haw. 



Chest and Ribs (VALUE 8). Neck slightly arched, moderately long, 

 very muscular, and measuring in circumference about I or 2 inches less than 

 the skull before the ears. Chest wide, deep, and well let down between the 

 fore legs. Ribs arched and well rounded. False ribs deep and well set back 

 to the hips. Girth should be one- third more than the height at the shoulder. 

 Shoulder and arm slightly sloping, heavy, and muscular. 



Fore Legs and Feet (VALUE 6). Legs straight, strong, and set wide apart ; 

 bones very large. Elbows square. Pasterns upright. Feet large and round. 

 Toes well arched up. Nails black. 



Back, Loins, and Flanks (VALUE 8). Back and loins wide and muscular; 

 flat and very wide in a bitch, slightly arched in a dog. Great depth of flanks. 



Hind Legs and Feet (VALUE 10). Hind-quarters broad, wide, and muscular, 

 with well-developed second thighs. Hocks bent, wide apart, and quite squarely 

 set when standing or walking. Feet round. 



7"ail (VALUE 3). Put on high up, and reaching to the hocks, or a little 

 below them, wide at its root and tapering to the end, hanging straight in repose, 

 but forming a curve, with the end pointing upwards, but not over the back, 

 when the dog is excited. 



Coat Colour (VALUE 5). Coat short and close lying, but not loo fine over 

 the shoulders, neck, and back. Colour, apricot or silver fawn, or dark fawn- 

 brindle. In any case, muzzle, ears, and nose should be black, with black 

 round the orbits, and extending upwards between them. 



One often hears sung the praises of the cross-bred dog known 

 as the Bull-mastiff a dog that is frequently employed for service 

 with night-watchmen and gamekeepers. Some are wont to assert 

 that the animal is a more formidable foe than the Mastiff proper, 

 but they have never been able, so far as we can remember, to show 

 why. Our own contention is that, generally speaking, it is far better 

 to keep a variety that breeds true to type than a mongrel, especially 

 when the former, alike as regards size and general fitness, has 

 superior claims to the latter. Many are under the impression that 

 what is required in a night-dog is ferocity. No greater mistake 

 could be made, as those who have witnessed the work of night-dogs, 

 alike in this country and abroad, can testify. Strength, a good 

 dark colour, and the knowledge of how to floor an " undesirable " 

 are essentials in any night-dog. The first two are to be found 

 naturally in the Mastiff; while the last may be readily imparted, 

 and is, in fact, the product of skilful training. In the old days it 

 was popularly supposed that wherever a Bulldog cross was used, 

 gameness was the invariable result. Whatever may have been true 

 in respect of the Bulldog of old does not necessarily hold good of its 

 twentieth-century representative, and, therefore, until we find some 

 material advantage in possessing a much smaller cross-bred dog, 

 we shall continue to stand by the pure-bred animal. 



