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THE STANDARD: Severe Faults
 

 

There are 9 severe faults outlined in the standard:

  1. Toplines of the cranium and muzzle not parallel;

  2. Whitish-blue eyes;

  3. Incomplete pigmentation of the eye rims;

  4. Incomplete pigmentation of the nose;

  5. Overshot jaw;

  6. Pronounced undershot jaw which disrupts the outline of the front plane of the muzzle;

  7. More than 2 missing teeth;

  8. Tail carried straight up or curved over the back;

  9. Kinked tail.

    10.  


    Commentary
     

     

    Seven of these nine Severe Faults relate to the Head. This is a sign of how important the Head is to the assessment of the Mastino.

     

    However, there are faults, and then there are Faults. The standard calls them all Severe Faults, but in fact, breeders rank some as more serious than others.

     

    And curiously, the order in which the faults are listed within the standard (see above) is roughly the order of seriousness...from most serious to least serious from a Breeder point-of view.

     

    And this makes sense when you remember "WHaM" and the "Big E and Little e." Consider how the seven severe faults relating to the head change the expression of the dog, and the look of the head will help you understand why this mental "prioritization" exists.

     

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