Well it has been a while since I have been able to post any new information on our blog.  Luckily we have great news that has forced me out of the dark.... :-).  Gitana has had a litter born on the 31ts of December 2012.  We have 4 wonderful puppies that my wife again has been doing a great job raising in Colorado.  We had 3 girls and 1 boy.  As soon as I can get on  a computer with my pictures I will post pictures of the little ones for all to see.  If you so desire to see pics now you can go on facebook and my wife Edna has been posting some pictures on there for all to see.

Thanksgiving has been a blessing.... Puppies and family

I have now been home for 24 hours and I feel a sensation of deep sorrow I have not been here to experience the wonderful time Edna has had with the little pups. 

My lovely wife has done such a marvelous job helping Gitana bring them into this world and has also done a wonderful job raising them to this point. 

They are precious and have sure and determined personalities.  I so wish I could keep them all with us yet we all know that is not going to be something or anything I would be able to do right now not knowing were the Army will assigned me to next.   

Almira is one of the sweetest pups I have seen in a long time.  She loves to be with you and tonight she laid her head on my lap when I was outside with them and she fell right to sleep with me just petting her.  She likes her personal time were she will just stay apart from the rest of the litter and will observe them as they play, and oh yeah she likes to play with the rest and is ferocious.  She will definitely hold her own in whatever environment she finds herself.  She is big boned and has lots of skin to continue developing. 

Atreo is a sweetheart; he felts you with his gaze in an instant.  He is going to make someone a great companion.  He loves to hang around you and al he wants is for you to pet him and pay him attention.  He has a very strong personality and lets you know he is there.  Atreo also has an abundance of skin and has very well developed structure with big bones.

Alejo is one who as soon as he sees you coming he is on his way to say hi.  He likes to make sure he greets you before you even get to the rest of the puppies.  In the manner he is doing this I really think the decades of guardianship this breed has provided runs deep in him as he is protecting his siblings from the get go.  His development is great, big bones, huge paws, and great motility.

Anselmo what to say about this little guy.  He is huge, and loving.  He likes to come and give you kisses and also untie your shoes.  He has mastered how to get your laces undone even if they are double tied….  Lol    Anselmo has large paws and extremely agile.  If any of the other pups go for a walk around the backyard or even the adults go out in defense of the house he follows to see what they are doing as if he is going in reserve to help out.  FEARLESS.. has lots and lots of extra skin and large paws as well as incredible development in the bone structure. 

Alvira is extremely adventurous.  She loves to go off on the property and seek out the wonder at that moment.  This morning when I let them out she ventured to what I am sure to them seems like the end of the world which is about 400 meters and came back with this huge tumbleweed.  I would not be exaggerating if I would say it was twice her size.  Has the look of a soldier who is looking out for his brothers in arms.  Alvira is always watching out for everyone else, that is if she is not eating, or playing with the rest of the litter.  She is going to do a great job at guarding and being in charge of protecting her family.  Alvira also as a great development in her bone structure and lots of skin.

Ambrosio is mischievous.  He loves to get into everything his siblings are doing and loves to wake them up and harass them.  He really is a character and likes to give you his paw to get your attention.  Another of his primary virtues is he loves to be around people but he also likes to sit back when he is not abusing his sleeping brothers and sisters and watch what is going on.  He is going to be a great dog and companion.  He is big, big boned, large pawed, and loving.

All in all these pups are developing great.  They take after both mom and dad.  They have a great development in the bone structure and have large paws and great jaws and bites.  Some have the same markings as Leon as a puppy at this stage and some have even the same triangular marking on their tails like Gitana as a puppy.  Even now as puppies when sound asleep they become alert when something Blessed again to bring Leon into our life’s and again when Gitana came into our lives.  These little guys are a blessing that have allowed me to share what I have had in our lives and I hope they bring the same joy to the new families they will be going to. 

My lovely wife sent me some new pictures of the pups on thier 8th week..... here they are

Week Seven!!!!!!!!

Well the pups have been developing wonderfully.  Their energy levels have jumped of the scale and they are up and around playing all the time.  We have them at this time pretty much house broken to were the only see an accident maybe once a day and with all six of them it is hard to catch the one that might be missing the mark... :-).

 The puppies were weighed last weekend and they were all over 20lbs.  Their appetite is great; we dewormed them, and gave them their shots so they are doing awesome.  Some are looking as if they will be great for show and definitely for breeding.  But being the proud grandpa I will say I have my 2 favorites.  One male and one female to me have, and are the best of the litter.  They take after not only their dad but also after both their fathers fathers.  They are big boned; double dew clawed and behaves the same.  They are very independent yet still very much part of the pack.  When they go outside they will hang around the rest of the group and will eventually stray away and explore, after relaxing just outside the boundaries of where the others are and taking on a very much overseer role just like they have done for years as a large breed guardian, than they will come back into the group and will make sure everyone to include mom and dad and aunty Siesta are all there and alright.  These two little ones will be the hardest of all to see go.  Although anyone who has ever breed knows and understands how hard it is to let any one of your little ones leave the nest............

Puppies

Well the puppies are now 4 weeks old and are doing great.  The Mama (Gitana) is also doing great and has allowed our other female (Siesta) to integrate with them.  They have been outside playing and the little guys are now moving around pretty independently as of now.  Edna has been running around trying to keep up with them as they are exploring and having fun leaving little presents everywhere for here,, ( I wish I was there to help out).  Leon the Papa has started to not be as confused about what these little guys are running around, and has been more interactive with the pups.  They are fully mobile and can see as extremely well now.  They are testing every aspect of the envelope.  We even had our favorite trying to growl at Edna the first time she pull him of the teat to put one of smaller pups on to eat.  They are wonderful, and many remind us of what Leon was when we got him from Spain a few years back.  Our hearts melt everyday with their antics and it will break the day we must place them with their new families…… till than we will love each and every one with all of our souls and kisses.

Breed Standard

General Description:

Dog of great size, massive and well-proportioned.

Very powerful and well muscled. Compact skeleton.

Very large head and body with medium lous.

Affectionate, gentle and noble, is a dog with great steadiness when confronted with enemies, especially

when defending and guarding property and livestock.

His bark is hoarse, deep and low, with great intensity, audible at considerable distance.

This is a very intelligent dog with its own particular beauty. His expression manifests both qualities.

His behavior demonstrates that he is a dog sure of himself, who proportions his strength as he realizes

his enormous strength.

b) Height at the withers:

There's no maximum height allowance, although preference is given to dogs of greater height as

long as their proportions are harmonious.

Minimum Limits:

Males: 77 cm. (31")

Females: 72 cm. (29")

Considerably greater height is desirable, with males preferably measuring over 80 cm. (32") and females

over 75 cm. (30").

c) Formation:

Longitudinal diameter superior to height at the withers. Functional harmony and good proportions are

desired, both at rest and in movement.

d) Usefulness:

This is a breed for livestock guarding and defending. Excessively timid, cowardly or unbalanced

dogs should not be used for reproduction. The breed is intimately related to seasonal migration,

especially of sheep, which it has accompanied since the middle ages, defending from wolves and other

predators throughout all seasons and migrations in different locations. Today, the Spanish Mastiff

accompanies innumerable flocks, both stationary and migratory, fulfilling his ancestral function. The

breed also guards properties, farms and persons.

II. HEAD

a) General Description:

Large, strong and wide base. Relationship between length of skull and foreface should be 6/4. The

ensemble skull-foreface, seen from above, should be square and uniform, without marked lessening between

the base of the foreface and temporal bone, at side of the skull. Skull: facial lines moderately divergent.

b) Skull:

Wide, strong, with sub convex profile. Width of the skull be the same as or superior to its length.

Marked occipital.

c) Stop:

 Not too accented.

d) Foreface:

Straight in profile. Seen from the back it appears moderately rectangular, slightly narrowing towards

the nose, conserving considerable width, never sharp-pointed or snippy.

e) Nose:

Black, damp, large and wide.

f) Lips:

Upper lip should amply cover lower lip; with loose mucous membranes. Lip juncture very loose, black

pigment.

g) Teeth:

White, strong, and healthy. Canines large, sharp with good grip. Molars strong and potent. Incisors

rather small. Scissor bite. All premolars desirable.

h) Eyes:

Small in relationship to the skull, almond shaped, preferably dark, hazel color, attentive expression,

noble, soft and intelligent, with severe expression towards an unknown person.

k) Eyelids:

Heavy skin, black pigment. The lower eyelid allows part of the conjunctive to be seen.

j) Ears:

Medium drop ears, triangular in form, flat, placed above the line of the eyes. At rest, falling flat

against the cheeks, not too close to the skull. At attention, separated from the face with upper third

partially erect. They should not be cropped.

k) Palate:

Black, with marked crests.

III. NECK.

Lone shaped, wide, strong, muscular, flexible. Skin heavy and loose. Well-developed double dewlap.

IV. BODY

a) Overall appearance:

rectangular, strong and robust, very powerful, but flexible and agile.

b) Withers:

Well marked.

c) Back:

Powerful, muscular. Ribs well spaced and rounded, never flat. Relationship height at the withers -

minimum thorax perimeter to be approximately 1/3. Loins long, wide and powerful, Narrowing at the flank.

d) Croup:

Wide and strong. Approximately 50* slope in relation to the top line and a horizontal line to the floor.

Height at the croup equal to height al the withers.

e) Top line:

Straight, horizontal, even in movement.

f) Chest:

Wide, deep, muscular and powerful. Marked brisket.

g) Abdomen and flanks:

Moderate tuck up, low, wide flanks.

V. TAIL

Very wide base, medium tail set. Strong, flexible and well coated, hair longer that on the rest of the

body. At rest it is carried low reaching to the hocks, sometimes slightly curved in the last

quarter. When excited or running, raised saber like, curled at the end, but never totally doubled or

resting on croup.

VI. FOREQUARTERS

a) Legs

Absolutely straight down to the pasterns. Straight and parallel from the front. Length of the forearm

to be triple that of the pastern. Strong in bone with powerful metacarpus.

b) Shoulders:

Oblique, very muscular. Shoulder blade longer than upper arm.

c) Scapula humerous angle:

Close to 125*

d) Metacarpus:

Seen from the side, very slight inclination. It is actually the continuation of the forearm. Strong bones.

e) Feet:

Tight by feet. Digits strong, high and well arched.  Nails and pads robust and hard. Moderate

Inter digital membrane, with hair.

VII. HINDQUARTERS

a) Overall appearance:

Powerful, muscular, moderate angulations. Ample articular angles, legs and feet neither in nor out.

Straight hocks. Legs should be capable of drive with ease, force and elegance.

b) Thighs:

Strong and muscular.

c) Pelvis:

Femur angle close to 100*.

d) Legs:

Long, muscular and strong bone.

e) Angle: femur - tibia:

Close to 120*.

f) Hocks:

Strong, parallel with clear view of the tendon.

g) Hock angle:

Open. Close to l30*.

h) Feet:

Cat feet, slightly oval. May or may not have dewclaws, which can be single or double. Removal of

dewclaws is admitted.

VIII. GAIT.

Preferred gait is the trot. It must be harmonious, powerful, with no tendency to lateral movement.

Without pacing.

IX. SKIN.

Elastic, thick, abundant and of a rosy color, with darker pigmentations. All mucous membranes must be black.

X. COAT.

Thick, heavy, semi long, smooth, over all the body to the inter digital spaces. Two types of coat over the back and undercoat over ribs and flanks. Shorter on the legs and longer and silkier on the tail.

XI. COAT COLOR.

All colors admitted. Uniform coat color is preferred; yellows, fawns, reds and blacks, wolf color. Also combined colors: brindles, white mark on chest, and dappled