General report

To me “Bucks” is the most important Mastiff show in the world, because of its numbers and because of its orientation (type of Mastiff and kind of judge). This invitation became even more special as I was the first non-British European to officiate at Bucks. To be able to judge this show in the same year I received the Golden Needle award from the Dutch Kennel Club for being qualified for 25 years as a judge (and for doing quite a bit more for the Dutch dog game in those years, I was allowed to understand) was the best possible anniversary present I could get, even more so as the Mastiff was the first breed I got qualified for. Before I go into detail I can already tell you that I enjoyed every minute of the show and the average quality was as such that it has given me new/extra inspiration in breeding and judging my breed.  

There were quite a few Mastiffs I will never forget, but there was at least one person for whom counts the same, what a lady, such a character that I would not mind to take her with me around the world as my private ring steward – a rare combination of authority, efficiency, empathy and last but not least humour. It sounds a bit over the top perhaps, but she could be my American Mum, she tried hard, anyway. I keep an AKC-hat she insisted me to wear to protect my delicate forehead as a nice souvenir. Bless you Ruth Winston.  

When making some general remarks about the entry, I would like to make a difference between the champion class and the classes “before.” There is not a great deal of difference between the “normal” classes in America and wherever you go in the world. That means the same amount of variation of type, and in every class only a few dogs that one would consider excellent specimens of the breed – excellent meaning the highest grading according to the FCI system, of championship quality in other words. So no difference there. Still I was happily surprised, especially in males, to find a satisfying number that combined what is so difficult to get: classic type, balance and soundness in body and mind.   

The champion class was a feast in numbers – only in America – but also in overall quality, as a purebred dog I mean. Never have I come across so many dogs in such splendid condition, plenty of muscle – amount and tone – the result of what must be plenty of exercise (hopefully thanks to free runs and plays), and without carrying too much weight (read “fat”). Having said that, there were quite a few who I considered on the lean side, who could do with more “show condition”, but it is no discussion of course what is better for the dog concerned. The condition was as such that I would love to organize a trip for a bus load of European breeders and judges to show what a Mastiff should be like in that respect, the opposite of the couch potatoes too many seem to prefer.  

Another quality, American Mastiff champions excel in is silhouettes, first and for all given by great toplines. Overbuilt bodies and or week backs were seen in a very small number only. I cannot tell you how pleased I was that there were hardly any Mastiffs with a sloping topline either, which in most cases is not only a symptom of disharmony of angulation between the front- and hindquarters, but it is also wrong type wise. And there were many with the desired length of body. Not only in numbers but also percentage wise your Mastiffs really score on this so important aspect of Mastiff type. Even in heads there were plenty with the desired amount of stop and length of muzzle; I was quite surprised to be honest. But when seeing the heads front on, it proved to be a different story. So many were just not broad enough. The balance in width between muzzle and skull was often there, no worries, but the width of the total head was lacking in many entries. One might argue that there is a difference between the Kennel Club/FCI and AKC standards in this respect, but I want to stick to my observation: In too many dogs there was not enough width in the head as a whole. What counts for the width of heads also counts for the width of bodies: only a small number showed the desired width, which again, stamps Mastiff type. Clean fronts with well placed elbows I scored many, no worries there, but between those elbows…  

There is no room for arguing about the difference in standard text between KC/FCI and AKC regarding the amount of wrinkles. I have to say I whole-heartedly belong to the English school in this respect, but I prepared myself well (I like to think, anyway), following the American standard, and so accepting more at Bucks than what I would in other countries. Even with this higher tolerance level, I still saw too many Mastiffs with (far) too much wrinkle. There were even a few that would have been much better off in the Neapolitan Mastiff ring. Regretfully, America is not the only country where one sees Mastiffs with too much wrinkle. I consider it problem-number one when talking about Mastiff heads.   

Staying with wrinkles for a bit longer, there is another difference between the U.S. and the Old World, and that is the way heads are presented. So many exhibitors at Bucks seemed to be so proud of all that wrinkling that they forced it to the front of the skull. By doing so, one not only gives the Mastiff a foreign look skin wise, but it also gives the head far more cheek. Cheek is first and foremost a Bullmastiff characteristic, and is a nightmare in Mastiffs, as it takes away the gentle, angular lines and the noble expression so essential in the true Mastiff. Never before had I to put so much effort in “cleaning” the skulls, so that I could appreciate what was really there. Almost every time I had to come to the conclusion: normal amount of cheek, luckily.      

Problem number two is the size, shape and placement of eye. I saw this in the Mastiff entry at Bucks as well. To put it short: Far too many Mastiffs had large, round, even protruding eyes, enough for half a week of nightmares, as far as I am concerned. I know, a Mastiff does not walk on his head, let alone his eyes, but one may not forget that of all Mastiff breeds, the (Old English) Mastiff suffers the most in expression if the eye is not typical. A Neapolitan Mastiff expression is first and foremost dictated by parallel lines, wrinkles and lips. In a Dogue the Bordeaux, the eyebrow, stop, nose placement and chin mark are more important than the eye for his expression. In a Bullmastiff it is dictated by square dryness and strength, accentuated by that extra development of cheek and (please!) finished off by a small ear, which is as important as the right expression of eye. And in the Mastiff, with his more modest head characteristics, compared to the other Mastiff breeds mentioned above, it is his eye that will give the first impression of breed type, first and lasting impression.  

To end my general remarks I want to say something about an aspect the breed does not score that greatly, but the entry at Bucks proved to be the opposite as there were so many that were able to move well, balanced, with at least a decent drive and length of stride. The vast majority kept their topline, with pride and joy – really nice to witness. (There were the odd few who proved to be unsound on the day, but that was not the result of bad construction or overall weakness, but something else which could not be considered breed specific.) American breeders and judges have to be praised for this achievement, but still I would have liked to see more Mastiffs that move typical as well. A Mastiff on the move can be a breathtaking experience, but it’s only a well-proportioned Mastiff who will show it, in other words a Mastiff with the desired length, depth and width of body, like my BOB and Best of Winners. They proved to be more than balanced and sound on the move, with that extra length of stride and that impression of a slow motion film.     

The two Mastiffs I ended up with I will never forget. My Best Bitch (Ch. Audrey Farm’s All ‘N’ A Flurry) came out of Veterans. Most gorgeous lady, so true to type, so feminine with a most beautiful face, superb silhouette given by textbook body proportions and faultless construction. She also puzzled me, this more than superb condition as I have never seen before in a veteran Mastiff or whatever Molosser breed… as a breeder you immediately think: she has not suffered in any way… no puppies…? Tragedy…? Anyway, here is my BOB, I thought, but that was before the champions came in.  

As soon as I spotted my eventual Best Dog (Ch. Landondale’s Beyond Yankee Blu), I had déjà vu like thoughts, going back to what I consider, based on my own experiences that is, the best era of Mastiffs in its country of origin, the 1980s. There were quite a few real nice males entered at Bucks, also in the winners of the former classes, but he stood out. I have to say that it was for the first time I put up a Mastiff of this size with all my pleasure, meaning that he excels in body proportions (although not giving the finished picture yet), which normally is so extremely hard to get in a dog of his size. Because of this novelty for me and because of his highly typical movement – “slow motion” – I choose him as my BOB.   

Ending up with these two most gorgeous Mastiffs was for me a grand ending of a most special judging day. Thank you ever so much for this rare opportunity.

BOB: Ch Landondale’s Beyond Yankee Blu.
High quality masculine dog of lovely type, impressive size and superb length of body. Massive head piece, superb skull shape and stop, small dark eye with most gentle expression, nice wrinkles, blunt muzzle with large nostrils. Excellent top and underline, massive bone, strong feet, nice width between the legs, not finished in body yet but his ribs are impressive in length for sure, superb loins and hindquarters, textbook tail set and carriage, excellent quality of muscles, especially on first and second thigh. Excellent condition. Highly typical on the move; balanced, with a nice length of stride and plenty of drive. 

 BOS: Ch. Audrey Farm’s All ‘N’ A Flurry.
Truly feminine bitch in a superb condition not showing her age at all, lovely type, textbook silhouette, hard to fault, so well balanced. Feminine head with a lovely face – excellent stop and shape of forehead, beautifully placed dark small gentle eyes, large nostrils, textbook wrinkling, short blunt muzzle. Nice bone, excellent angulated and broad set front and hindquarters, plenty of fore chest and ribs, lovely top and underline, excellent tail set, typical coat, well muscled throughout. Balanced and correct on the move.

Best of Winners: Lexington’s Uncle Mugsy.
Quality dog who despite his young age (12 months) looks very nicely balanced already, true to type with a lovely length of body, clean cut throughout. His head development represents his young age, but with an excellent balance between muzzle and skull, superb stop, excellent wrinkling, lovely shaped small sufficient dark eye. Nice bone and feet, excellent angulated front and hindquarters, lovely fore chest, top and underline, superb tail set, so well put together and in a dry hard muscled condition, excellent coat. After he was used to his handler he was able to show his most impressive type of movement, long “slow” strides and sound as bell. 

Winners Bitch: Bellawoods AintNoDoubtAboutIt. 
Truly feminine bitch of nice type, plenty of substance - excellent length, depth and width of body. Nice skull shape, decent stop, sufficient strength of muzzle, sufficient small and dark eye. Decent bone, plenty of fore chest, lovely spring of ribs, broad set well muscled hindquarters, condition a bit rich. When standing she showed a rather weak top line now and then, but on the move she showed a different picture luckily, with an impressive length of stride even.

Award of Merit: Ch Eastwinds Comfortably Numb.
Quality dog, masculine, very nicely balanced, extra strongly build. Massive head with lovely small expressive eye, plenty of stop, short muzzle with sufficient work under the eye, fore head rather round, excellent wrinkling and ear carriage. Lovely bone and depth of body, superb top line, hard muscled throughout, lovely condition. Impressive on the move, effortlessly, a true athlete. Superbly handled.

Award of Merit: Ch Fantasy GB Crossfire Hurricane.
Excellent type, masculine dog, strongly build throughout. Well-developed head, excellent in all parts, noble expression. Impressive depth and width of sufficient long body, nice fore chest and spring of ribs, excellent top and underline, decent bone, could do with more pigment. Moves with a nice length of stride in front, behind with sufficient drive and length of stride.

Award of Merit: Ch Braveheart’s Lethal Weapon.
Classic picture, masculine dog with lovely headpiece and nice length of body. Impressive head, truly excellent in all parts – extra quality of wrinkles, eyes and nostrils giving textbook expression. Decent bone, excellent top line, angulation front behind balanced, excellent length of ribs, could do with more spring and depth, kept in a lean condition, hard muscled throughout, does not show his age at all. Highly typical on the move.