Modern Molosser

29/02/2024

I don't usually pay a lot of attention to South American politics, but Argentina's new president and his "Mastiff Cabinet" are fascinating ... Truth sure is stranger than fiction!

https://www.modernmolosser.com/javier-milei-new-president-of-argentina-has-five-cloned-mastiffs-that-he-calls-his-advisors

22/02/2024

Here's our deep dive on how the Dogue de Bordeaux went crop-less!

https://www.modernmolosser.com/changing-social-norms-extinguished-cropped-dogue-de-bordeaux-craze-in-britain-almost-before-it-started-paving-way-for-natural-ear-postwar-mastiff-with-focus-on-companionship

04/02/2024

A recent British study found several factors affect lifespan -- including size and head proportions -- and had some surprising statistics for individual Molosser breeds.

Please feel free to post photos of your veteran and senior Molossers in the comments below!

https://www.modernmolosser.com/british-study-finds-size-cephalic-index-head-proportions-affect-lifespan

Subscribe and get instant access to Molosser stories and videos that you simply won’t find anywhere else. You can read Modern Molosser on your computer, e-reader, smart phone — or all of them!

28/01/2024

Named after a Roman emperor infamous for his extravagance, the Neapolitan Mastiff Caligola di Ponzano reached the pinnacle of dog-show accomplishment: Best in Show at the World Dog Show.

We'd like to hear your opinion:

Was Caligola di Ponzano the greatest Neapolitan Mastiff of all time?

Why or why not?

Subscribe and get instant access to Molosser stories and videos that you simply won’t find anywhere else. You can read Modern Molosser on your computer, e-reader, smart phone — or all of them!

26/01/2024

Almost seven years ago, Modern Molosser ran a story about a controversial Mastiff cross-breeding experiment in Australia. I always wondered what happened to those "Greiffs" -- Greyhound-Mastiff crosses -- and now I can tell you.

You can read our update at https://www.modernmolosser.com/jennifer-perry-gammondwood-reports-on-outcome-of-her-controversial-backcross-experiment-crossing-mastiff-with-greyhound.

(And the original story is here: https://www.modernmolosser.com/greydogge-crossbreeding-mastiff-with-greyhound)

A disclaimer: While this back-cross project is not something I endorse, I don't believe in censoring ideas. Many purebred Mastiff breeders disagreed with this project, and that's understandable and reasonable.

But that doesn't negate the fact that it happened, and so, I felt compelled to cover it. As always, you make up your own mind.

Subscribe and get instant access to Molosser stories and videos that you simply won’t find anywhere else. You can read Modern Molosser on your computer, e-reader, smart phone — or all of them!

18/12/2023

Don't miss this lovely read on Mastiff temperament!

https://www.modernmolosser.com/evenness-discernment-give-Mastiff-its-unique-temperament-among-Molossers

Subscribe and get instant access to Molosser stories and videos that you simply won’t find anywhere else. You can read Modern Molosser on your computer, e-reader, smart phone — or all of them!

04/12/2023

Congratulations to Canadian Dogue de Bordeaux fanciers on receiving enough votes to become fully recognized by the Canadian Kennel Club!

27/11/2023

Molossers and Sighthounds are polar opposites -- or are they?

https://www.modernmolosser.com/sighthound-influence-in-molossers-including-dogo-argentino-cane-corso-not-as-far-fetched-as-you-think

Subscribe and get instant access to Molosser stories and videos that you simply won’t find anywhere else. You can read Modern Molosser on your computer, e-reader, smart phone — or all of them!

06/11/2023

It’s BRINDLE-a-go-go!

We’ve posted no fewer than FOUR stories about brindle to the Modern Molosser website at www.modernmolosser.com …

1
BRINDLE BASICS: Who Knew Stripes Could Be So Complicated?
From blue brindles to reverse brindles, here’s how this striped pattern manifests in Molossers.
https://www.modernmolosser.com/from-blue-brindles-to-reverse-brindles-here-is-how-brindling-stripes-striping-manifests-in-molossers

2
WHAT IS SEAL, And Why Haven't You Noticed It Before?
This color is almost never discussed, but is widespread in a number of Molosser breeds, most notably the Cane Corso.
https://www.modernmolosser.com/mysterious-color-known-as-seal-gives-red-cast-to-brindle-solid-black-Molossers-like-cane-corso-neapolitan-mastiff-boerboel

3
GENETICS OF SEAL BRINDLE In The Cane Corso … Probably
While no one truly understands how this color pattern works, here is a genetics buff’s educated guess.
https://www.modernmolosser.com/genetics-lesson-what-is-seal-brindle-in-cane-corso-Stefanie-Henneboehl

4
WHAT IS CHESTNUT BRINDLE, Exactly?
Decoding the Cane Corso’s peculiar color lingo.
https://www.modernmolosser.com/deciphering-cane-corso-terms-like-chestnut-brindle-black-brindle-reverse-brindle

14/10/2023

Our latest stories uses Goldilocks and the Three Bears to explain hypotype and hyptertype. Here's to Molossers that are "just right"!

https://www.modernmolosser.com/definition-of-hypertype-hypotype-in-molossers-learning-when-more-is-not-more

Subscribe and get instant access to Molosser stories and videos that you simply won’t find anywhere else. You can read Modern Molosser on your computer, e-reader, smart phone — or all of them!

06/10/2023

How are Molosser judges minted and made in AKC? Read our explainer ...

https://www.modernmolosser.com/how-molosser-judges-are-made-in-american-kennel-club-system

Subscribe and get instant access to Molosser stories and videos that you simply won’t find anywhere else. You can read Modern Molosser on your computer, e-reader, smart phone — or all of them!

30/09/2023

The color schism in the Boerboel recently set Facebook ablaze. But all’s well that ends well.

https://www.modernmolosser.com/disqualifying-color-black-boerboel-entered-in-akc-show-creates-stir

Subscribe and get instant access to Molosser stories and videos that you simply won’t find anywhere else. You can read Modern Molosser on your computer, e-reader, smart phone — or all of them!

12/09/2023

Pet that dawg!

434 likes, 14 comments. “Lindsey just wants to pet that dog 🥺”

12/09/2023

Arbitrary and unnecessary ... 😡

Here are the four dog breeds that are banned in the UK amid calls to add the American XL Bully to the list of illegal to own

07/09/2023

Our newest story describes how the AKC standard for the Dogo Argentino was drafted.

But it also includes some important concepts about type that would benefit breeders, judges and basically anyone who admires this powerfully elegant breed ...

https://www.modernmolosser.com/daniel-dhulst-talks-about-crafting-AKC-dogo-argentino-standard-in-spirit-of-original-written-by-breed-creator-antonio-nores-martinez

(Been enjoying our stories and now you've hit the paywall? Click/tap the link below and use the code LOVEMM for $5 off an annual subscription.)

Subscribe and get instant access to Molosser stories and videos that you simply won’t find anywhere else. You can read Modern Molosser on your computer, e-reader, smart phone — or all of them!

03/09/2023

In our inbox this morning is a Wall Street Journal story about a Vero Beach, Florida, home now on the market for $27 million.

https://www.wsj.com/real-estate/luxury-homes/vero-beach-home-lists-for-27-million-31e5e9db

WWW.ONESOTHEBYSREALTY.COM/REAL-ESTATE/510---512-RIVER-DRIVE-VERO-BEACH-FL-32963/270354/141063706

The Molosser angle? The property’s late owner, Andrew Edmonds, renovated it to accommodate his 15 rescue Mastiffs.

Edmonds had a dedicated “dog room,” and one of the three garages was given to parking his “dog limousine,” a retrofitted Cadillac with inserts in the floor to the dogs could lie down comfortably. The entire 2.2-acre estate was fenced so the dogs could roam at will.

The more we read, the more we realized that Edmonds probably didn’t own 15 Mastiffs simultaneously. Instead, he likely had a pair or two over the four decades he lived in the waterfront estate.

Still, it made us think:

How have you changed your home or vehicle to accommodate your Molosser mania?

Post your photos in the comments below.

31/08/2023

In anticipation of the Pyrenean Mastiff joining the AKC Miscellaneous class next year, here is a new story about this little-known Molosser:

https://www.modernmolosser.com/pyrenean-mastiff-livestock-guardian-of-aragon-spain-joins-akc-miscellaneous-group-june-2024

And here's our earlier interview with well-known judge Rafael Malo Alcrudo, who as a young man drove around his native Aragon, Spain, trying to find examples of the then-dwindling breed:

https://www.modernmolosser.com/rafael-malo-alcrudo-on-the-pyrenean-mastiff

And if you love Rafa like we love Rafa, then you can't miss our most-favorite-ever video, in which he compares breed standards to music:

https://www.modernmolosser.com/if-molossers-were-songs-what-kind-of-music-would-they-be

Subscribe and get instant access to Molosser stories and videos that you simply won’t find anywhere else. You can read Modern Molosser on your computer, e-reader, smart phone — or all of them!

26/08/2023

Fulvo? Formentino? Frumentino? ... What The F?

If you are a Cane Corso enthusiast, you need to get a grip on this trio of F words.

https://www.modernmolosser.com/defining-three-italian-F-words-used-in-cane-corso-fulvo-formentino-frumentino

21/08/2023

Diamonds are a girl's best friend. But almost century ago, Bullmastiffs filled that role for diamond miners in southern Africa.

https://www.modernmolosser.com/bullmastiffs-were-once-guard-dogs-of-choice-in-de-beers-diamond-mines-south-africa

16/08/2023

It’s a natural tendency to immerse ourselves in our chosen breed, to the exclusion of all others. But it's important to know what influences from other breeds can bedevil our own.

https://www.modernmolosser.com/key-to-understanding-type-in-your-molosser-is-learning-about-related-breeds

Subscribe and get instant access to Molosser stories and videos that you simply won’t find anywhere else. You can read Modern Molosser on your computer, e-reader, smart phone — or all of them!

04/08/2023

Come to Corso or Dogo country ... A look at rusticity in these two Molosser breeds, with apologies to the Marlboro Man.

https://www.modernmolosser.com/look-to-marlboro-man-to-understand-rusticity-in-rustic-breeds-like-dogo-argentino-cane-corso-maybe-even-dogue-de-bordeaux

Subscribe and get instant access to Molosser stories and videos that you simply won’t find anywhere else. You can read Modern Molosser on your computer, e-reader, smart phone — or all of them!

28/07/2023

High in the rear: Here's why it happens -- and who is to blame!

https://www.modernmolosser.com/high-in-rear-is-common-rearquarter-problem-in-molossers-why-it-happens-how-it-can-be-improved

Subscribe and get instant access to Molosser stories and videos that you simply won’t find anywhere else. You can read Modern Molosser on your computer, e-reader, smart phone — or all of them!

28/06/2023

Let's talk about Molosser rears!

https://www.modernmolosser.com/proportions-of-rearquarters-longer-femur-shorter-tibia-fibula-is-fundamental-element-of-type-in-molossers

Modern Molosser is a global article archive devoted to the majestic breeds known as the Molossers.

23/06/2023

This video of a mega-matted Tibetan Mastiff being groomed went viral. But what does this say about correct TM coats?

https://www.modernmolosser.com/tik-tok-video-on-severely-matted-pelted-tibetan-mastiff-prompts-discussion-on-correct-double-coat

17/06/2023

https://www.modernmolosser.com/denise-flaim-shares-comments-on-2023-westminster-kennel-club-molosser-breeds-neapolitan-mastiff-cane-corso-boerboel-dogue-de-bordeaux-dogo-argentino

Comments on some of the Molosser Best of Breed winners at the 2023 Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show.