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