This is an interesting question, because many Mastiff (and Bullmastiff) breeder-judges point out that the brindling creates an optical illusion regarding the substance of a dog. As any woman knows, one wears black to look slim
So brindle dogs may look thinner than fawns and reds for this reason.
Fawns tend to be preferred in the show ring for a variety of reasons: Expression is harder to see on a black face ... the brindling enhances movement flaws, especially rolling ... and brindling can create an optical illusion with the angulation of a dog, making a shoulder, for example, seem straighter than it actually is.
Interestingly, there does not appear to be this brindle bias in Cane Corsos, perhaps because dark dogs in that breed are desirable ... see the current trend toward black Corsos in Europe. And because of their coloration, they too can appear more athletic and slim than their fawn and formentino cousins.
Denise
Publisher
Modern Molosser
