Short and massive, with the cranium being very wide at the level of the zygomatic arches (cheekbones). The length of the head is about 3/10 the height at the withers. The skin is abundant, with wrinkles and folds, the most typical of which, and the best delineated, is the fold which extends from the external angle of the eyelids to the external angle of the lips. The upper longitudinal axes of the cranium and the muzzle are parallel.

Standard says, ``short and massive...

...with a skull wide at level of zygomatic arches- cheekbones

 

 

Next, says...``its length is about 3/10 of the height at the withers.``. This part is very clear.

 

 
Then ``Ample skin with wrinkles and folds``...

 

 

...of which the most typical and the best marked goes from the outer palpebral angle down to the lip angle``all of this is quite clear and resembleand finishing this part...

 
...``The upper longitudinal axes of the skull and the muzzle are parallel ``this to is very clear and important, and any deviations, divergence or convergence, show as, track of ``strange blood``...

 

CRANIAL REGION:

The cranium is wide, flat in particular between the ears, and slightly convex at the frontal part. The width between the cheekbones is greater than half the length of the head. The zygomatic arches (cheekbones) are very prominent, but covered with flat muscles. The brow is very developed. The frontal furrow is marked. The occiput is barely apparent.


The skull is wide, flat, particularly between the ears, and, seen from the front, slightly convex in its fore part.

The bizygomatic width is more than half the length of the head. The zygomatic arches are very prominent, but with flat muscles.



The protuberances of the frontal bones are well developed; the frontal furrow is marked; ...



...the occipital crest is hardly visible.

 

 

STOP: Very defined.

FACIAL REGION:

Nose

As an extension of the top line of the muzzle, it should not protrude beyond the anterior vertical plane of the lips. It should be voluminous, with well opened, large nostrils. The color is in rapport with that of the coat color; i.e. black in black subjects, dark grey-brown in dogs of other colors, and brown in mahogany coats.


Set in the prolongation of the muzzle, must not protrude beyond the outer vertical line of the lips ...


...must be voluminous with large, well opened nostrils.

 


Well opened, which is very important for good, healthy breathing. Our Neo, does not have the  reduced nose as the  bulldog, Bordeaux, or Bull Mastiff, so should not have any problem with breathing , or hearts or any deviations in nose. Nose is quite long, in summer to make air cooler  for in side or in winter-hotter. As grip for ``O CANE E PRESO`` is most powerful on certain proportions, 2-1, nothing can disturbs it as nostrils are WELL OPENED.

 

 

Its colour is according to the colour of the coat: black for the black subjects, dark grey-brown in dogs of other colours, and chestnut for brown coats. The good colour of nose is the first sign of good pigmentations.

 

Muzzle

It is very wide and deep; its length corresponds to that of the bridge of the nose, and should be equal to 1/3 of the length of the head. The lateral borders are parallel so that from the front, the muzzle appears to be practically square.

 
  It is very wide and  deep...

 

...its length corresponds to that of the fore-face and must be equal to the third of the length of the head. The lateral sides are parallel (between them), so that, seen from the front, the shape of the muzzle is practically square.

 

Lips

I heavy, thick, and abundant. The upper lips, viewed from the front, make at their point of junction, an upside down "V". The lower, lateral border of the muzzle is formed by the upper lips. The lowest part of the lower border is the labial commissure, with its visible mucosa, and situated in line with the vertical drop from the external angle of the eye.


Fleshy, thick and full; upper lips, seen from the front, form an inverted "V" at their meeting point. This is extremely important, and every one knows, how an upside down ``v``looks. This is a very important part of what makes the Mastino a guard and defense dog par excellence. With out this ``shape`` there's no functionality and effectiveness. NO DOUBT . 

 

The lower lateral profile of the muzzle is shaped by the upper lips; their lowest part is the corner of the lips, with visible mucous membranes, situated on the vertical from the external angle of the eye.
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So the proper shape of good lips should be part of this effectiveness, in any occasions, not ``red polygon`` for demodex or staphylococcus, as imperative think, to posses if wish to win some modern show.

When the Mastino is ``living`` eating or should bite,there should be no troubles...  


Jaws

Strong, with jawbones which are sturdy, and dental arcades which meet perfectly. The mandible (lower jaw) must be well developed in width.


Powerful with strong jaw bones and dental arches joining perfectly.


Teeth

White, properly developed, well aligned, and complete in number. They should meet either in a scissors bite (that is, the upper incisors cover over the lower incisors with a narrow contact), or they should articulate in a pincer bite ( that is, the upper incisors contact the lower incisors with the free borders of the upper and lower teeth meeting end to end). The teeth are rooted evenly in the jaws.

 



White, well developed, regularly aligned and complete in number.

Scissor bite, i.e. upper incisors closely overlapping the lower ones in close contact, set straight to the jaw, or pincer bite, i.e. upper incisors meet edge to edge with the lower incisors.

 

Eyes

Situated in the same frontal plane, they are set wide apart. The palpebral opening is almost round. The eyeball is set back slightly. The color of the iris is normally a little darker than the coat color. The eye color may, however, be lighter with coats of a diluted color. 

Set on an equal frontal level, well apart one from the other; rather round, slightly deep set. Compared with the coat colour, the colour of the iris is darker. The eye may nevertheless be lighter in coats of diluted shades.

 

Ears

Small in comparison to the build of the dog, and triangular in shape. They are flat, held tight to the cheeks, and attached above the zygomatic arches (cheekbones). When they are cropped, they have the shape of an almost equilateral triangle.