Origin
Portugal
Date of publication
of the original
valid standard
04-11-2008 Utilization Guard dog for property and livestock. F.C.I. Classification Group 2 – Pinscher and Schnauzer, Molossoid breeds, Swiss
Mountain and Cattle Dogs.
Section 2.2. – Molossoid breeds, Mountain type. Without working
trial. Height and Weight Height at the withers:
Males: 66-74 cm.
Females: 64-70 cm. Weight: Males: 45-60 Kg.
Females: 35-50 Kg.
Brief Historical Summary It is believed to descend from molosser dogs from the Middle
East. On account of their size and courage they were used by tribes
whose livelihood depended on livestock husbandry, thus performing a
crucial role for this type of community.
With the beginning of the transhumance, which implies temporary
displacement of large flocks, it was noticed that they were exposed
to many dangers during their long journeys. On their route to the
mountains in the summer and back to the plains in the winter, flocks
were always accompanied by large dogs, which lead to the latter
being spread along the route from region to region. Thus is
explained the appearance of this powerful dog, in the Alentejo
plains, which has been called Alentejo Mastiff since the end of
the 19th century.
Behaviour/Temperament
An excellent farm and estate watch dog, it is also a very useful
livestock protector, more vigilant at night, being very serious when
guarding territory or any other property entrusted to it.
It has a calm and confident expression, neither aggressive nor shy.
General Appearance Large sized dog, powerful, rustic, sober and calm. Outlines in
head slightly convex, the general structure is rather longer than
high (sub-longilinear).
Important Proportions Rectangular (Sub-longilinear), with height at withers slightly
inferior to body length.
Skull width and head length should have a relation of 1/2. Muzzle
and skull length should have a relation of 2/3.
Chest depth should be slightly less than half the height at withers.
Head Voluminous tending to massive, in proportion to the size of the
dog; wide at the rear of the skull, narrower and less convex in the
forehead. The superior cranium-facial axes are moderately divergent.
Cranial Region Skull: Broad; rounded in both the longitudinal and transversal
axes; superciliary arches not prominent; slight frontal furrow
between and over the eyes; occipital protuberance not too
pronounced; well muscled sides of the skull.
Stop: Not pronounced.
Facial Region Nose: Oval, with tip slightly downwards and towards the rear
part of muzzle; black coloured well open nostrils.
Muzzle: Nasal bridge straight, its cross section arched. The muzzle
has a wide and high base, tapering moderately towards the nose and
is shorter than the skull.
Lips: Black, slightly rounded in front, overlapping, well cut; of
medium thickness; showing a slight curve in the inferior profile.
Jaws/Teeth: Strong and well developed; scissors bite, pincer bite
accepted.
Cheeks: Slightly evident with prominent masseteric area.
Eyes: Small; elliptical; set almost level with the foreface; brown
(preferably dark); dark pigmented lids; firm and adherent to the
eyes. With a calm expression.
Ears: Medium set-on, with low mobility, folded and hanging. Small,
with a narrow base and length equal to or slightly more than the
width; Triangular and rounded at the tip. At attention they remain
folded, rising at the base and folding vertically.
Neck Well set into the shoulders; straight; short; strong; with even,
single, longitudinal dewlap, proportioned to the size.
Body Strong, well muscled, slightly longer than the height at the
withers, voluminous.
Top line: Straight, almost level; a slight slope from fore to rear
is tolerated.
Withers: Not prominent, well connected to the neck.
Back: Slightly sloping tending to horizontal.
Loin: Of medium length; straight and broad, well muscled.
Croup: Slightly sloping; of medium length; broad and muscled, in
relation to the substance.
Chest: Broad; well let down to, or slightly below the elbow.
Fore chest: Broad, but not too evident.
Ribs: Well sprung; slightly inclined towards to the back.
Underline and belly: Almost horizontal sternum; belly not tucked up,
following the line of the sternum.
Tail Set on at medium height following the croup; thick at the base,
may be slightly curved or turned up at the tip, but no kink, long;
at rest hangs down reaching at least the hock, preferably below it,
in action it may rise and curl without resting on the top line.
Forequarters Strong, wide apart, upright when seen from front and from
profile.
Shoulder: Strong; of medium length; well developed and muscled,
approximately 105º scapula-humerus angle.
Upper arm: Strong; of medium length; inclined and muscled.
Elbow: Close to the thorax, neither turning in nor out;
humerus-radius angle between 130º and 135º.
Forearm: Vertical; long; strong and well muscled.
Carpus (Pastern joint): Thick; with good joints.
Metacarpus (Pastern): Of medium length; thick; slightly sloping.
Forefeet: Toes thick, tight (not splayed) and slightly arched
(rounded); strong nails, coloured according to the coat colour; pads
thick and tough. Hindquarters Strong, wide apart, upright when seen from back and profile.
Thigh: Long; broad; well muscled but not exaggerated; hip-femur
angle approximately 105º.
Stifle joint: Strong joint; in line with the body without turning
out; femur-tibia angle between 125º and 130º.
Second thigh: Strong; moderately inclined; of medium length; well
muscled.
Hock: Strong; lean, of medium height; tibia-tarsus angle
approximately 140º.
Metatarsus (rear pastern): Thick, of medium length, set at medium
height; very slightly sloping; may have single or double dewclaws.
Hind feet: Toes thick, tight (not splayed) and slightly arched;
strong nails, coloured according to the coat colour; pads thick and
tough.
Gait/Movement Heavy, slow, roll without exaggeration.
Skin Thick, rather close fitting; internal mucous membranes partially
or totally pigmented with black, external mucous membranes fully
pigmented.
Coat HAIR: Short or of medium length, this being preferred; thick,
straight and dense, evenly spread down to between toes.
COLOUR: Black, wolf grey, fawn or yellow, with or without brindling,
always with white markings; or white with patches of these colours.
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.
Behaviour: Shyness.
Appearance: Bad overall condition, thinness or obesity.
Muzzle: Long, narrow, slightly curved in profile, with vertically
truncated nose.
Backline: Carp or saddle back.
Croup: Long, too sloping down, narrow.
Tail: High or low set.
Limbs: Cow hocked or too wide in the front; incorrect angulation and
lack of uprightness of pasterns.
Feet: Disproportioned to the body size, splayed or hare feet.
Coat: In poor condition; long hair; wire or wavy hair.
Severe Faults General Appearance: Light build or lymphatic.
Head: Not proportioned to the size, lack of volume, pronounced stop,
flat and narrow skull, parallel longitudinal superior cranium-facial
axes.
Eyes: Light coloured, not elliptical, slanted, lids not very
adherent to the eyeball.
Ears: Big, rounded, not folded, not hanging, partially cropped.
Neck: Absence of dewlap; too folded or double dewlap.
Chest: Narrow and flat ribs.
Tail: Curled when at rest, hook at the tip; short. Docked.
Mucous membranes: Partial external lack of pigmentation of the
mouth, eyelids, lips and nose.
Height: Males: less than 66 cm or more than 75 cm. Females: less
than 64 cm or more than 71 cm.
Eliminating Faults Behaviour: Aggressive or overly shy.
Type: Atypical.
General appearance: Extremely light in build or very lymphatic.
Head: Very narrow and long.
Muzzle: Too long; convex profile.
Jaws: Undershot or overshot.
Eyes: Too light, of different sizes and colour.
Ears: Very bad set, excessively big and round.
Tail: Anurous.
Mucous membranes: Total lack of pigmentation (albinism) of the
mouth, lips and nose.
Coat: Too short.
Notes: Any dog clearly showing physical or behavioural abnormalities
shall be disqualified.
N.B.: Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles fully
descended into the scrotum.