THE REDCAPO'S KENNEL - TRUE TYPE BULL-MASTIFFS Origin and Development The Brazilian Bull-Mastiff is a relative newcomer. It was developed in the 80’s by the crossing of APBT and Tosa Inu by a Kennel in south of Brazil owner by Mr. Rui Brossard. The first step of the program was focused on diluting the Tosa Inu with a narrow cross and back cross with imported dogs from Arizona and Florida. The results of that program were a strong Bulldog with a more balanced temperament for guarding flocks and property, and the cross was best known for its reputation as a fierce guard dog with the name Redcapo’s Bulldogs. The guard, hunting and cattle drives and the rusticity for Tropical environment were the strengths of the cross. The second step was made from 1990 to 1999. The focus was breeding Redcapo’s Bulldog with Mastiffs and Bullmastiffs using working types of Brazilian Mastiffs and working English Bullmastiffs. The results of that program were a well built large size of Bulldog and small size of Mastiffs with the same sort of the dogs from the pre-registry of English Bullmastiffs back to 20’s. The third step was to write a Standard and find a third party organization to register the stud dogs (pre-registry). We had chosen the World Wide Working Mollosser and Bulldog organization WMBO to keep our records and we were classified into Bandog Breeds and the new name used was Brazilian Bull-Mastiff. The last step will be the new offspring for 2007-2008 using Old Types of Bulldogs like the variety of Dogue de Bordeaux called Doguin and new lines of Redcapo’s Bulldog that fit in the standard. The focus is to add new genes to improve the future litters preserving the vigor and power, essential in any working breed. Health Matters The Brazilian Bull-Mastiff is naturally healthy – the historical background of the breed involved in the breeding selection has contributed to the well-being of the modern dog. It heals rapidly and usually consents readily to treatment-visits to the veterinarian should be minimal. The Mastiff Group (Bulldogs included) had medium sensibility to prone itchy skin, particularly in hot weather. The Brazilian environmental, hot weather, had contributed to select our dogs naturally for skin problems so we have been breeding out rose colored pigmentation on nose and forechest to avoid this. The preference for dark skin was one of the primary concerns of the breeding program. Special Care and Training These breeds were designed for the obedience enthusiast. The young Bull-Mastiff is a strong willed dog, with a hard bite, so it is essential that all puppies receive grounding in basic obedience and have close contact with children. The children must be at least 4 years old to have the maturity to deal with the young dogs of less than 5 months because the milk teeth could cause damage during some playing time. The tendency to jump on people must be avoided at any age and is something very easy to learn, when the dog is young. Because the breed has a high inclination to guard it is not recommend to enforce the use of any special training, except for professional owners. The breed is a low maintenance breed with minimal grooming requirements. The breed is intelligence, learning, scent and sensibility capabilities are remarkable and it’s something that makes them a natural guardian, distinguishing the enemy from the invited guest. The short smooth coat of the breed is easily cared for. Good nutrition is essential despite the fact that the breed has low maintenance for the size. The quantity of food required by adult dog ranges between 500-600 grams (chain condition). The breed possesses high intelligence, easily accepting any form of obedience training. The temperament makes the breed ideal for competition, and when trained to guard, it has no equal and will be the first in line to defend people and property from any danger. Adaptability Bull-Mastiffs will adapt to virtually any home environmental, provided they have company. They mix freely with others dog and children and can live happily in an urban home if they get enough exercise. In this case the dog should have a docked tail at the third vertebra (boxer tail). The famous quality of the Bull-Mastiff is the natural resistance and healthy that makes the breed adapt easily to any harsh environment in hot or cold weather from dry to high humidity. The new Standard The Standard has been written based on the average dogs and to help the novice to select the dog with the best conformation and temper required for any modern working dog. The range of some measurements is wide to permit different bloodlines so as to modify a fault by breeding to the opposite extreme. The breed mission was to deal with any guards situation required to protect the owner family without needing specific training. Brindles and Blacks less visible at night were preferred for the job. Dark fawn colors were preferred for daylight work but also all colors combined with white are allowed. Characteristics: The characteristics of the breed are those of a reliable watch dog and guard dog, efficient by day and extremely watchful by night. They should be capable of differentiating between friend or enemy. The temperament combines high spirits, power, endurance, agility and vigor. Outside his home, and if in the presence of his owner, he should show an indifference to passers by. General Appearance: Compact structure, powerfully built, meaning: strong boned, good muscular development, broad and deep chest, giving the impression of power. The tasks in guarding are to hit and down a man. The breed must have 2 lines of size and weight, lightness, especially in the bitches, and other heaviness, especially in the males. Temperament A fearless adversary to anyone who threatens his master or property. Friendliness with other animals and dogs is common. It responds very well to commands and does not constantly seek to establish dominance over the human members of its family, as many of the larger working dogs tend to do. Display a definite preference for its family, children included, but it is not a dog that gets along very well with a visitor to the home if his master is not present. Head: The head is broad, large and ranges from square to slightly roundish with some wrinkling when interested, but not in repose. The head is flat when viewed from the front, wide apart with a noticeable fair furrow on the forehead. Skull: The circumference of the skull should be approximately the height of the dog measured at the withers. Around the skull at the ears: 20-27 inches.Proportional from the nose (Muzzle) to stop and from the stop to occiput. Mouth: Slightly undershot or pincer bite preferred. Any bad mouth formation should be penalized in selecting a stud dog in the hope that this may effect an improvement. The jaw is powerful. The breed must have 2 lines of bite, range to slightly undershot to scissors bite or even, but all sort of types with canines insert proximal to normal bite with teeth never overshot. Muzzle: Muzzle is power full with large open nostrils, slightly short its desirable but no required. The muzzle is deep and broad, showing more Mastiff than Bulldog quality. The muzzle could vary 35-56% of the total size of the skull. Measuring Formula:([Nose to Stop/stop to occiput] x 100%). Minimum lenght required: Muzzle (nose to occiput): > 2,7 inches Skull (stop to occiput): >6,2 inches Those variations are required to not permit the abnormal size of the muzzle for any direction from the Bulldog or Mastiff Hound Like. The tendency to a slimly short truncated muzzle is desirable but the tendency to get it shorter is a mistake. Distinct stop and pronounced cheek muscles. Good olfactory development, passing by the breeds strains used in the program. Nose: The nose is broad with colors black or red with large nostrils, widely spreading when viewed from the front and flat not pointed. Ears: Medium size but not hound like. Slightly raised at the base and folded down close do the head, triangular with V Shape. Eyes: Dark or hazel or in the same color of the dog and of medium size, deeply set. Almond shape eye is desirable to protect the dog to any injury. Weight: 80-110 pounds (chain condition) Height at withers:23-28 inches Girthing:35-43 inches measuring from the nose to the croup (set at tail). Movement: The gallop is at an incredible speed, elastic, permitting the dog do cattle herding and hunting small animals. When trotting the dog showing smooth, sophisticated, gentlemanly and charming. Hind Quarters: Well muscled hindquarters which should be the aim of every breed. The loin are muscular, the legs are heavily boned and muscled, with large feet. Well angulations of the hind with well-turned stifle and hock. Slightly cow hocks is allowed if all the others angulations are set well and the dog look soundness with good movement. Fronts: Straight front with legs parallel correct width of chest and depth of brisket, feet pointed straight a head. Slightly out-turned feet are allowed if the dog looks soundness but are not preferable. Splay Feet a fault. Tail: Carry low and curved. Crank tail is acceptable. Docked tail is allowed if the dog going to live inside the house. Coat: Short, smooth and close. Colors are Black, Red, Fawn, any brindles or White, or any shades with white. Gait: The movement should indicate power and a sense of purpose when the dog are focus in some action such as a Cattle, Hunting or Guard will be required, showing a wide difference from the relax status. Advice: “The successful breeder is one who is not only prepared to admit mistakes, but who has the courage to take calculated risks, and where such risk prove unsatisfactory, not to repeat the mistake.” Oliff, Douglas (1988). Acknowledgments In the course of the preparation of a manuscript like this, one which requires cooperation from many individuals to produce, I would like to thank the World Wide Working Mollosser and Bulldog Organization, in particular the President, Mr. Johnny Courville, which has helped our Kennel in the US, to be recognized by the Bulldog Breeders. I would like to thank our Redcapo’s Partner that bred stud dogs for many generations in a farm Family, with natural selective work breeding program: Mr. Fernando Xavier Chaves –Animal Production Studies – Farm Sec. 18, Brazil. Written by Marcos C. Rondon Caporossi. Redcapo’s Kennel owner, 2007.