OVERVIEW            THE ESSENCE OF THE MASTINO            STANDARD            JUDGING            MORE INFO      HISTORY
 

THE STANDARD: Muzzle
 

The Standard Says:
 

Muzzle: It is 1/3 the length of the whole head and is as broad as it is long. Viewed from the front, the muzzle is very deep with the outside borders parallel giving it a "squared" appearance. The top plane of the muzzle from stop to tip of nose is straight, but is ridged due to heavy folds of skin covering it.

Severe faults: Top plane of the muzzle curved upward or downward.

Commentary
 

The Neapolitan Mastiff is a brachycephalic breed..short-nosed. The nose is 1/2 the length of the skull, or 1/3 the whole head. It should be a square...as broad as it is long, and the muzzle itself as deep as the length. The lips, of course, must extend a considerable distance below the muzzle.

The top of the muzzle should be straight and parallel to the top of the skull. You should be seeing heavy wrinkles and folds on the muzzle, which will give it a ridged appearance.

(illustrations taken from Il Mastino Napoletano by G. Vandoni)

SEVERE FAULTS: TOP PLANE OF THE MUZZLE CURVED UPWARD OR DOWNWARD

We don't want a Bulldog appearance, nor a Hound appearance. We do see both faults in the show ring and it is very unhappy-making to us when a judge doesn't recognize the fault and puts a dog up with this problem. A muzzle curved upwards typically will also have a severe underbite. A muzzle curved downwards will often have a longer muzzle, and an overbite.

Click NEXT to see the "Lips and Bite" topic

Click PREV to return to the "Ears, Skull, Stop, Nose" topic

(c) 2001 United States Neapolitan Mastiff Club All rights Reserved