Phenotype Guide

These pages are  designed to be a guide in the understanding of correct and incorrect phenotype in the Dogo Canario though the use of illustrations and photographs where applicable.  We hope that you will develop both an understanding of typical breed features as well as serious faults of the breed, including how to identify a dog of impure breeding.

 Normal Morphology

1. cranium

2. face

3. stop

4. nose

5. lips

6. corner of lips

7. profile of the face

8. eyes

9. lids

10. ear

11. occipital crest

12. mastoid

13. frontal sinus

14. neck

15. upper border of the neck

16. jowl

17. withers

18. dorsum

19. loin

20. croup

21. angle of the rump

22. shoulder

1. distal shoulder

2. tip of sternum

3. arm

4. elbow

5. forearm

6. carpal

7. metacarpal

8. toes

9. chest

10. ribs

11. flank

12. abdomen

13. groin

14. thigh

15. peak of the buttocks

16. knee

17. leg

18. hock

19. metatarsal

20. dorsolumbar line

21. tail

Measuring Proportions

1. Continuation of the facial line
2. Continuation of the cranial line
3. Cranial facial angle
4. Cylindrical neck
5. The perimeter of the thorax is equal to the height of the withers plus 45%
6. Withers

7. Height to the bottom of the chest is 50% of the height to the withers
8. Length of the shoulders
9. The length of the body is equal to the height at the withers plus 18 or 20%
10. Height of the croup
11. The dorsolumbar line is straight, ascending lightly toward the croup
12. Height to the hock.  the hocks are low