Could he have been a show dog?

[Smokeycat]

Almost everyone that meets Kryten asks if I plan to show him when he gets older. Very few of these individuals are knowledgeable about mastiffs and there by are strictly going off his looks but it has happened enough that now I am curious. If circumstances were different, ie he had papers, could he have been a show dog? So I am asking for your opinions on how he conforms to the standard. He is strictly a pet and will never be bred and negative opinions won't change the fact that he's my little monster so please be honest and don't pull punches.

I have never tried to stack a dog and this is about as close as he naturally gets. Also ignore the red head in some of the photos he wanted his picture taken too.

 

[voidecho]

I know nothing about conforming to standards, but I'm guessing you're going to hear that it's hard to say since he really hasn't filled out all of the way yet. Plus his shoulders need to catch up to his butt.

 

[AKBull]

I'm guessing you're going to hear that it's hard to say since he really hasn't filled out all of the way yet.

This. I don't know very much about conformation and what not either. I do know a good looking pup when I see one though, you've got one.

 

[Smokeycat]

Yeah I realize that he still has a long way to go till he matures but from what I've read many people start showing their dogs around his age so there must be some way to 'see' the potential final dog. His shoulders have never quite caught up to his butt yet. Lol.

Thanks AKBull.

 

[raechiemay]

I can't help you on this one however, I love his head though. He has what I think is the perfect mastiff head. It's wide & he doesn't have the long crazy jowls.

 

[voidecho]

Lincoln looks the exact same way, so I'm not trying to be negative, but the humping in his back is the biggest "fault" I see and I wouldn't think a show dog would have that. His stomach also doesn't hang low enough for me right now. Basically he's too thin around the waist, but it could just look that way because his back is arched up.

Did you ever see this thread I posted?

http://www.mastiff-forum.com/showthread.php/6301-Examples-of-EM-Breed-Standards-(pics-of-Champions)

 

[kevinmuaythai]

If the dogs features are to standard then he has a chance. Dogs are shown as puppies to start and the judges understand their standard and take into consideration their growth. Puppy or adult that standard should still be there even though in different times they can be thinner, or lankier etc.

I dont know exactly how the judges , judge, puppies. or non adults. But I do know you can see the breeds standard in a puppy. I guess thats what the look for more then uniformity from growth.

I don't know the EMs standard but if you read it an look for those features and ignore any puppy growth, and he has them,or doesn't I assume that would be your answer.

 

[Jadotha]

Remind how old he is now?

 

[Smokeycat]

Remind how old he is now?

About 8.5 months

 

[ruby55]

He's high in the rear, but most puppies are. He also looks a little slender in the chest. But many puppies are.And your question is difficult to answer, because he's not stacked. AND most of us don't know standards. I do know that puppy matches are mostly for the puppy to get used to all the activity, being handled by a stranger (the judge), etc. No points involved.
Many puppies are examined at 8 weeks of age-yes; EIGHT WEEKS- to determine if they're show quality or not. I watched a vid of someone examining a golden retriever litter; I'll have to try & find it, so you can see what the examiner is looking for. It's not just the head size/shape, and if/how they stack; many other factors are involved. It's really pretty fascinating.

 

[Jadotha]

Well, here are my thoughts from showing other breeds, and studying EM breed standards, watching hours of videos of EM classes, etc.

A couple of my breeders have also said that a puppy demonstrates its show potential (i.e., you can see what you are going to have at the end of the day) at 8 weeks and 8 mos. I do think the latter is not exact, though, because I have noticed some bloodlines grow and mature more slowly than others. My puppy Boris is almost 7 months, and is a sturdy little block, with a flat topline, deep chest, and a very nice head that has suddenly grown wider and deeper so that his muzzle length to occiput length is correct and overall is a nice square however you view it.

However, just last month, he was teeter-tottering (hindquarters high one week, shoulder high the next), very lanky and gangly, and his muzzle looked long and snipey. Having a 'humpy' back, or conversely a 'sway' back can often be due to the teeter-totter leg growth pattern. Boris and all of my Dane puppies had 'humpy backs' at least briefly

So looking at Kryten, first of all his colour is gorgeous! It definitely looks to me as if he is in a lanky, teeter-totter growth phase. It would obviously be helpful if you could stack him, as it does look like something might possibly be not quite correct in the slope of his bum, and the way he stands with his legs well under him. On the other hand, if his shoulders and front legs are a lot shorter at the moment, this may just be a comfortable way for him to balance himself. The depth of his chest in the side pictures, and the space between his front legs, do suggest (at least to my eye) that he will develop a nice chest.

His ear set looks quite nice -- extending the line of the top of his head -- and his head already has good depth, looking at his head from the side in the 2nd top picture. He has a good stop, and I think you will find his head is going to grow and broaden very soon, as Boris's did.

So all in all, I would say it's still a bit too soon to really evaluate him, but he has a potentially nice start.

 

[ruthcatrin]

I don't know much about the EM standard, but I definetly love his head. Not liking his back, but how much of that is due to the lack of stack, and how much is the way he's growing, vs how much is just him its hard to say.

I forget, is he intact? I find that if the dog is intact past the age of 6months the average person asumes he'll be shown or bred, after all why else would you leave him intact*rolls eyes*

 

[Smokeycat]

I forget, is he intact? I find that if the dog is intact past the age of 6months the average person asumes he'll be shown or bred, after all why else would you leave him intact*rolls eyes*

He is intact.

 

[ruthcatrin]

That was what I was thinking, but wasn't sure. I love his color too, I wish I saw more brindle EM's around!

 

[Cody]

It is hard to say with the pictures.
I am not up to snuff on the EM standard, but if you could get a side picture with his back legs extended, so his rear hocks are going straight up from the floor it would help, it probably would straighten out his top line a little.
He is a very nice looking boy however