The American Molossus- Standard
General appearance-The American Molossus is a resurrection of the ancient Mesopotamian/ Sumarian Guard dog. A heavy-boned, massive, muscular, intimidating dog bred for close quarter guarding of their property and owner(s). He is characterized by his extreme and intimidating stature, square head, loose skin on both his head and over his entire body, abundant, hanging wrinkles and folds on the head with pendulous lips and dewlap. What stands out about the American Molossus is his intimidating barbaric appearance, incredible head and imposing size and attitude. Due to his massive structure, his characteristic movement is rolling and powerful, not flashy and prancy. This dog is not athletic but built for shear terror by appearance.
Size, Proportion, Substance Heavy boned dog, massive in substance, rectangular in proportion. Length of body is 10% - 15% greater than height.
 
Height: Dogs: 31-35 inches, Bitches: 27 to 32 inches.
 
Weight Average weight of mature Dogs: 200 pounds; Bitches: 150 pounds; but greater weight is usual and preferable as long as correct proportion and function are maintained.
 
The absence of massiveness is to be so severely penalized as to eliminate from competition.
 
Head-Large in comparison to the body and very square. The top of the head should be square with extensive wrinkling and pendulous lips which blend into an ample dewlap. Toplines of cranium and the muzzle must be parallel. The face is made up of heavy wrinkles and folds. Required folds are on the top of the head above the eyebrows, those extending from the outside margin of the eyelids to the dewlap, and from under the lower lids to the outer edges of the lips. Eyes Set deep and almost hidden beneath drooping upper lids. Lower lids droop to reveal haw.. Severe Faults - Toplines of the cranium and muzzle not parallel, no stop or wrinkling to the point of no longer able to see Disqualifications - Absence of wrinkles and folds. Expression - Concerned  at rest, intimidating when alert. 
Ears: Set well above the cheekbones. May be cropped or uncropped, but are usually cropped and preferred. Crop standard is complete with an exception of a very small triangle only for the correct look and health reasons. 
 
Skull: Wide flat between the ears, slightly arched at the frontal part, and covered with wrinkled skin. The width of the cranium between the cheekbones is
 
 
approximately equal to its length from occiput stop. The brow is very developed. Frontal furrow is marked. Occiput is barely apparent.
 
Stop: Very defined, forming a right angle at the junction of muzzle and frontal bones, and the sloping back at a greater angle where the frontal bones meet the frontal
 
 
furrow of the forehead. Nose:
 
Large with well-opened nostrils, and in color the same as the coat. The nose is an extension of the topline of the muzzle and should not protrude beyond nor
 
 
recede behind the front plane of the muzzle.
 
•   Severe Faults: Incomplete pigmentation of the nose.
 
Muzzle: It is 1/3 the length of the whole head and is broad and short. Viewed from the front, the muzzle is very deep with the outside borders parallel giving it a
 
 
"squared" appearance. The top plane of the muzzle from stop to tip of nose is straight, but is ridged due to heavy folds of skin covering it.
 
•   Severe Faults: Top plane of the muzzle curved upward or downward.
 
 
 
Lips: Heavy, thick, and long, the upper lips join beneath the nostrils to form an inverted "V". The upper lips form the lower, outer borders of the muzzle, and the lowest
 
 
part of these borders is made by the corners of the lips. The corners turn outward to reveal the flews, and are in line with the outside corners of the eyes.
 
Neck, Topline and Body-Neck- powerful, very muscular and of medium length. The neck gradually increases in circumference as it approaches the shoulder. Topline - In profile the topline should be straight, level, and firm, not swaybacked or roached slight dropping off behind the high point of the rump exceptable. Chest very wide, deep, barrel like with a large ribcage extending at least to the elbow or below. Ribs are long and well sprung. Chest - Broad and deep, well muscled. Underline and tuckup - The underline of the abdomen is practically horizontal. There is little or no tuckup. Back muscular and powerful. When viewed from the rear, there should be taper from wide shoulders tapering down to the rear. Loins wide and muscular.The length of the dog, measured from the point of the shoulder to the point of buttock is 10 to 15 percent greater than the height of the dog measured from the highest point of the shoulder to the ground. Back - Wide and strong. Loin - Well-muscled, and harmoniously joined
to the back. Croup - Wide, strong, muscular and slightly sloped. The top of the croup rises slightly and is level with and can be above the highest point of the shoulder.
Forelegs- Heavily built, muscular, and in balance with the hindquarters. Shoulders - Long, wellmuscled and powerful. Upper arms - Strongly muscled, powerful. In length, almost 1/3 the height of the dog. Elbows - Covered with abundant and loose skin; held parallel or just above the ribcage, neither tied in nor loose. Forelegs - Thick, straight, heavy bone, well muscled, exemplifying strength. About the same length as the upper arms. Set well apart. Pasterns - Thick and flattened from front to back, moderately sloping forward from the leg. Dewclaws - Front dewclaws are not removed. Feet - Very large, round with arched, strong toes. Nails strong, curved and preferably dark-colored. Slight turn out of the front feet is exceptible as well as splayed feet but not preferred.
Coat- The coat is medium in length, coarse, dense and of uniform length and smoothness all over the body. The hairs are moderately short. Colors are black, black brindle with some white allowed but not preferred. Areas of white can exist under the chin, on the neck chest, belly, penis sheath and some on the toes. All areas should be very moderate or not at all. White in any other areas is a fault.
Hind Quarters-  Broad, wide, powerful and strong, in harmony with the forequarters. Thighs - Second thigh developed, about the same length as the forearms, broad, muscular. Stifles - Moderate angle, strong. Legs - Heavy and thick boned, well-muscled. Slightly shorter than thigh bones. Hocks - Powerful and long. Rear pasterns (metatarsus) - Heavy thick bones. Viewed from the side, they are perpendicular to the ground. Viewed from the rear, parallel to each other.  Hind feet - Same as the front feet but slightly smaller. Stifles can be moderate.
Tail: Set on slightly lower than the topline, wide and thick at the root, tapering gradually toward the tip. It is docked by 1/3 or . At rest, the tail hangs straight or in slight
 
 
"S" shape. When in action, it is raised to the horizontal or a little higher than the back.
 
 
•   Severe Fault: Tail carried straight up or curved over the back. Kinked tail.
 
Gait The American Molossus movement is not flashy, but lumbering yet powerful, bear like. Normal gaits are the walk, trot, gallop, and pace. The strides are long and rolling, at the same time, powerful, characterized by a long push from the hindquarters and extension of the forelegs. Rolling motion and swaying of the body at all gaits is characteristic. Pacing in the show ring is not to be penalized. Slight paddling movement of the front feet is normal. The head is carried level with or slightly above the back. Movement should not be choppy or prancing.
 
Temperament The American Molossus is steady and loyal to his owner, not aggressive or apt to bite without reason. As a protector of his property, owners and animals, he is always watchful and does not relish intrusion by
strangers into his personal space. His attitude is calm yet wary. In the show ring he is majestic and powerful, but not showy. They are not highly energetic but move quickly in short bursts when provoked.
 
The Standard of the American Molossus was written and established on 11-23-2015 by Marcus E Curtis Copyright 11-21-2015

The American Molossus name and The American Molossus Standard may not be changed, used or modified in any way without the written approval of the Founder Marcus E Curtis