Transmontano Mastiff

		Transmontano Mastiff
		FCI standard Nº 368

Origin		Trás-os-Montes – Portugal
Group		Group 2 Pinscher and Schnauzer, Molossoid breeds, Swiss Mountain and Cattle Dogs
Section		Section 2.2 Molossoid breeds, Mountain type
Working		Without working trial
Acceptance on a provisional basis by the FCI		Wednesday 26 February 2020
Publication of the official valid standard		Wednesday 26 February 2020
Last update		Friday 27 March 2020
En français, cette race se dit		Mâtin Transmontano
Diese Norm ist in deutscher Sprache sichtbar		Transmontano-Hirtenhund
En español, esta raza se dice		Mastín Transmontano
In het Nederlands, wordt dit ras gezegd		Cão de Gado Transmontano
In his country of origin, his name is		Cão de Gado Transmontano

Usage

Livestock guarding dog for sheep and goat flocks.

Brief historical summary

The origin of this breed is common to the history of all Iberian mastiffs and its evolution is linked with Peninsular transhumance routes. It is a companion of the shepherd with specific duties in guarding against wolf attacks, since ever abundant in thearea. In remote times, this dog settled in the Portuguese highlands, namely in Trás-os-Montes. In this mountainous area, characterized by steep pastures of difficult road access, the breed adjusted to the region’s conditions and sheep and goat flocks that, traditionally, graze in these areas, evolving until it its morphological traits were defined, in perfect symbiosis with the environment and with the work demanded.

General appearance

Large molossoid dog, strong and rustic, standing out by its imposing and noble look and sober expression. Square profile, with high limbs, strong bones, naturally straight and upright, slightly tucked in belly and moderate hindquarters angles. This breed shows clear sexual dimorphism, the males being notice ably higher and bulkier than females.

Important proportions

Almost square in shape; convex in profile.
Height at the withers and body length are almost equal.
The height at the elbow is noticeably higher than half the height at the withers.

Behaviour / temperament

Despite its size it is a docile but reserved dog. It is cautious without being aggressive, always calm and with a serene expression. It is an exceptional guard when protecting flocks against wolf attacks, always attentive in its duty. Lives and socializes with other males without conflict, imposing a dominance hierarchy when living in groups with breeding females, and it is normal seeing them out numbering females in flock guarding, which is never done by a single animal. In the contact with strangers, after an initial reserve, it allows handling without problems, being very sensitive to gentle treatment and attention.

Head
Cranial region
Head		Big and massive, but not too bulky in relation to the body, with convex profile and parallel longitudinal superior cranium-facial axes; a slight divergence of axes is acceptable.
Skull		Moderately wide and somewhat convex on both axes; apparent superciliary arches.
Stop		Moderate.

Facial region
Nose		Oval and big, with well open nostrils, preferably black or dark coloured.
Muzzle		Slightly shorter than the skull, with convergent cheeks and obliquely truncated; slightly convex transversally, with straight profile.
Lips		Overlaid, of regular thickness, slightly pendulous and slightly rounded, with apparent commissures and well-cut mouth. The mucous membranes are black pigmented.
Jaws and teeth		Jaws strong, well developed and well-muscled. Teeth strong and well developed. Scissors or pincer bite.
Eyes		Medium-sized and almond shaped, honey brown in colour or darker. Slanted and set semi-frontally. Black pigmented lids. Serene expression.
Ears		Medium sized, slightly longer than wide, triangular, medium-high set (above the eye line), with rounded tip and very thick. Very mobile and hanging, they may also pull back and fold vertically. In attention they fold towards the front.

Neck

Medium length, straight, strong and well-muscled; with apparent, simple, and not excessive dewlap. Loose neck skin.

Body
Body		Strong, not too voluminous, well-muscled. Height at the withers should be equal to body length.
Topline		Level.
Withers		Well marked.
Back		Short, firm, straight, wide and well-muscled.
Croup		Of medium length, moderately wide and sloping.
Chest		Wide and moderately large, well developed with moderately sprung ribs. The chest is voluminous. It reaches the elbow without passing it.
Underline and belly		Slightly uprising from sternum to belly, leading to a slightly tucked belly.

Tail

Entire and thick, well covered with hair, of medium set and size, not reaching over the hock. Hanging sabre shaped, but may curve at the tip, in motion it is carried high, sickle-shaped, may even curl.

Limbs

Forequarters
Generality		Strong, long, straight and parallel when seen from the front.
Shoulders		Long shoulder blade and average scapulo-humeralangle (110º).
Upper arm		Strong, long and well developed.
Elbows		Close to the chest, never turning out.
Forearm		Long and vertical, with cylindrical bones.
Carpal		Strong joint.
Pastern		Very upright and almost straight.
Forefeet		Strong, voluminous and round, with tight and arched toes. Thick, high and hard pads.

Hindquarters
Generality		Strong and muscled, parallel when seen from behind. Moderate femur-tibia angle.
Upper thigh		Long and well-muscled.
Lower thigh		Long and muscled.
Metatarsus		Proportioned to limb height, with simple or double dewclaws.
Hock		High, wide and strong.
Hind feet		Oval or round.

Gait and movement

Despite the size and corpulence, the gait is light, energetic, rhythmical and with great extension.

Skin

Thick texture and loose in the neck, forming simple dewlap, up tothe withers; it is much thinner on the head than on the rest of the body.

Coat
Characteristics		Thick, of medium length and abundant.
Hair		Smooth and very dense. With obvious undercoat. Shorter and thinner hair in the head, ears, muzzle and limbs.
Colour		The most common colours are white with black, yellow, fawn or wolf grey markings. The solid colours are fawn, yellow or wolf grey, brindled or not. In these colours white markings on forefeet, feet or both, as well as a white blaze on the head are commonly seen. It may be ticked in the body or have tan in the cheeks and eyebrows and anal region (tricolour).

Size and weight
Height at withers		Males: 75-85 cm, females: 68-78 cm.
Weight		Males: 60-75 Kg, females: 50-60 Kg.

Faults

• Any departure from the foregoing points should be considered a fault and the seriousness with which the fault should be regarded should be in exact proportion to its degree and its effect upon the health and welfare of the dog and its ability to perform its traditional work.
• Faults listed should be in degree of seriousness.

General faults

Muzzle pointed and funnel-shaped muzzle.

Eyes yellow, loose lids.

Neck excessive or double dewlap.

Body thin bones.

Back excessive length (longilinear).

Pasterns lack of uprightness or too sloping.

Tail with hook.

Serious faults

Head too bulky.

Skull too convex.

Convergent or excessively divergent longitudinal superior cranium-facial axes.

Muzzle too short.

Nose flesh coloured or marbled nose.

Jaws evidently undershot or overshot.

Eyes big, round or prominent.

Lack of pigmentation of the lids.

Ears of low set, excessively small or thin.

Body wide chest reaching below the elbow.

Barrel-shaped chest.

Feet splayed fore –and hind feet.

Coat not dense enough and too short in the body.

Lack of undercoat.

Colour solid black and solid white.

Disqualifying faults

Aggressive or overly shy dogs.

NB :

• Any dog clearly showing physical or behavioural abnormalities shall be disqualified.
• The above mentioned faults when occurring to a highly marked degree or frequently are disqualifying.
• Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles fully descended into the scrotum.
• Only functionally and clinically healthy dogs, with breed typical conformation should be used for breeding.

Bibliography

https://www.fci.be/

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Transmontano Mastiff