The Alaunte Gentile or Running  Mastiff

These should not be confused with the "heavier" gripping type of alaunte/mastiff used to go in at the kill. The alaunte gentile should be not unlike a heavy built greyhound with a strong head,broad medium lengthed muzzle, they are tall, rangey, but strong "par force" hounds.They should be athletic, well muscled, thick tight fitting coats with the ability to follow scent as well as using sight, they should have lots of drive. They are of a type, being bred for form and function and purpose not bred for looks.

Historically dog's were bred for a job, a function, sadly the dog's of today are being bred for looks and size, being cross bred with the slower, taller, heavier herding dog's of years ago, these breeders are sacrificing good quality of bone and movement, for looks, mass and heavy bone.

The alaunte gentile should be able to call upon it's great strength and speed, suppleness of joints, lightness of foot and it's endurance to get it both in and out of trouble.Today's modern mastiff breeds are now resembling "hippo's" and "elephant's" in they're construction/build where as they should be more like the wolf in it's construction/build (a predator should always be more athletic than it's prey).

I have hunted for years with all sorts of running dog's and hunted all sorts of prey but I cannot nor can any of my companions ever remember owning or breeding for "massive" bone and weight, always prefering "quality" and "flexability" of bone and "good" muscle not weight, and as such the dog becomes more athletic and flexible making it more able to take prey, less prone to injury and enabling the animal to recover much faster.

These dog's are bred without all the "excessive" bone and weight and I have produced "strong" headed, "good" boned, intelligent, athletic, greyhound bodied dog's of the alaunte gentile type, maintaining drive and a keen hunting instinct.  

Remember

"buy a Fit one not a Fat one " !