The Mastiff dog breed is famously loyal,gentle, affectionate and brave, so they can make excellent family pets, if you find the right choice.

Of course, the mastiff is perfectly capable of serving as a working dog. Mastiffs make excellent guardians, and can be used if trained properly in search and rescue. Many consider buying a mastiff to enter in dog shows.

With the correct training and conditioning, Mastiffs can excel at carting, tracking, obedience, conformation showing, and weight pulling.

You have to determine exactly why you have decided on a Mastiff? Your final choice will be different depending on whether you want a companion, a co-worker, or a show dog.

Whether to buy a puppy or an adult dog depends a great deal on how much time and energy you want to put into training. Look out for mastiff puppies for sale. Choosing a mastiff puppy would mean you are responsible for training and socializing him, so if that does not appeal, a puppy is the wrong choice. You will want an older, more mature, dog.

However, if you buy an adult dog, you often don’t know how the dog was raised, how healthy it is, or how good its bloodlines are. Was the dog properly socialized as a puppy so it now reacts well to other dogs and animals? Was the dog shown love and affection during training, or anger and hitting?

If you would prefer a mature animal, but cannot ascertain the circumstances of his training, then you should look for a puppy and be prepared to put the necessary time and energy into socializing it yourself.

Mastiffs can be expensive, especially if you want a show dog. Expect to pay more if the animal has a good pedigree, or if its parents have a history of success in dog shows. In addition, the purchase price may vary depending on whether you are buying a pet or a show dog. A pet will be less expensive and will come with a no-breeding clause.

If you can be certain of his training history, a Mastiff rescue dog might be a good choice.

The expense does not finish on purchase, for as well as a hefty purchase price, you will find that Mastiffs are expensive to live with. Their food costs more, their medicine costs more, and they need bigger crates and beds than most dogs. Mastiff can mean you may even have to consider bigger personal transport if you and the family do a lot of travelling. Consider whether you are prepared to spend the money not only to purchase your Mastiff, but also to house it properly, support it and keep it healthy into its old age.

As a general rule, if a Mastiff is well socialized as a puppy, then it will get along well with other dogs as an adult. It should be as calm and patient with other dogs as it is with children. In fact, most Mastiffs love playing with small dogs. The Mastiff is peaceful and tolerant, and usually will just turn its back even if attacked. It will rarely fight unless it has to in order to protect itself or a member of the family.

If your Mastiff was unlucky and not well socialized as a puppy, then it may be aggressive toward other dogs. In this case, it is best not to place such a dog in the same family as another dog of the same sex. When your puppy matures, the two dogs will fight for dominance – it is just in their nature to behave this way.

If you are find that your Mastiff is overly aggressive, you have several options:

- Check with a dog trainer if your mastiff can be retrained – Have your vetenarian check for physical problems that could affect his behavior – If he/she is constantly fighting other dogs, consider getting the dog spayed or neutered – Try a lower protein diet no more than 18% protein

One thing you should never do is get between fighting dogs. If your Mastiff does get into a fight, the best option is for the respective owners to grab each dog by the rear legs and drag them away from each other. Naturally you would not want to try this with any strange dog. Where you have managed to separate two fighting dogs, turn your dog’s face away from the other dog ‘ if they catch sight of each other, the fight will flare up again.

The Mastiff dog breed will normally will live peaceably with other animals, even though his ancestors may have been hunters. That’s not to say that your Mastiff won’t chase a rabbit, squirrel, or cat if given the chance. However, it will quickly learn the difference and distinguish between a squirrel in the back yard and a fellow pet in its own household.

As is the case with other dogs, how your Mastiff reacts to other animals depends almost entirely on how well socialized he was as a youngster. You will soon find that you Mastiff has a unique personality, and that two puppies given similar backgrounds will still show different levels of tolerance towards other animals – some may love to chase cats; others tolerate or ignore them. A Mastiff who grows up around other animals, whether a cat in an apartment or a chicken on a farm, will likely get along well with all other animals.

So if you are bringing a Mastiff puppy into a household where there are no other animals, you should make extra efforts to visit friends and locations where you know he will meet a variety of dogs and animals. When you are looking to acquire a mature Mastiff, from a Mastiff rescue, perhaps, or a Mastiff kennels, you must verify for yourself that he knows how to behave in the company of other strange dogs and animals. Good Mastiff breeders will understand your concern.

You simply cannot afford risks to the public or other animals when you take him out in public, so before you purchase be absolutely certain that your Mastiff can behave in public.

Dog picture taken by hfb.

Mastif Tybetanski, Himaldog, Vijay of Saras, Hodowla mastifa tybetanskiego, tibetan mastiff, do khyi, Dog Show

Description: The Tibetan Mastiff is a big dog that is large boned and sturdy. This breed stands at 25-28 inches and the weight is 140-170 pounds. The head is broad, heavy, and has good strength. The muzzle is broad and square in shape. The teeth meet in a scissor or level bite. The nose is black and large. This dog has slightly slanting eyes, which are almond shaped, deep set and all shades of brown. This dog has pendent V shaped ears that hang close to the head. The Tibetan Mastiff has a muscular neck that is slightly arched; the neck has a lot of mane. The front legs are straight and the feet are cat like, and sometimes they have feathering between the toes. The double coat is vast and very thick. The coat comes in brown, black, blue- grey and can have tan markings and a range of shades of gold. They can also have white markings. Their life expectancy is 15 plus years.

History: Like all other Mastiff’s and Molossuses, throughout the world, the Tibetan Mastiff is descended from the famous Tibetan dogs. It is believed that the ancient Tibetan Mastiff was around as early as 1100BC. This went on to develop into the dog we call the Tibetan Mastiff today. This breed, for centuries, was cut off from the rest of the world in the Himalayan Mountains, of Tibet. The dog was used for guarding the villages and in some cases only one dog was guarding a whole village. This dog was locked up in the day and at night would patrol the village keeping it safe, as the men would need to work away for days at a time. It was Queen Victoria of England that had the dog first in the mid 1800’s and this set the dog status, and the gates opened to the west bring the dog from its isolation. The English wrote the standards, and breeding began in the west. The dog was imported from Nepal, India, Afghanistan and Ladakh to the USA this was in 1970’s. The Tibetan Mastiff sadly has become rare in its native country, Tibet. This dog has gained in popularity in the US. The Tibetan Mastiff was first recognized by the ACK in 2006.

Temperament: The Tibetan Mastiff has all the elements they are courageous, fearless, thoughtful, and loyal to their family and is even tempered. This breed reaches full maturity later in life than a lot of breeds but this just adds to the dog’s charm. This dog will need a firm and consistent leader and this prevents over protectiveness and wilfulness. Without a great leader, they can become territorial. This dog will love to please you and the family. They are good with children. It is best to socialize the Tibetan Mastiff well as they instinctively guard the family so introducing new things and people from an early age will help them accept new experiences. To help this breed to be stable and reach their full potential, they need good consistent training and good pack leadership form the owner and this will reduce, or eliminate, any problems. Combine daily physical exercise with mental challenges. This dog needs good heel work to reinforce the leadership status, which is that you are the Alpha. This dog will not listen if they think they are stronger minded, and see you as meek. This does not mean hitting and shouting at the dog but a natural leadership style with a calm but firm manner. This is not a breed for the first time dog owner. This dog, in the right hands, makes a wonderful family pet.

Health issues: As with a lot of large breed dogs the Tibetan Mastiff is prone to hip dysplasia. There are also ear infections, a genetic problem called CIDN Canine Inherited Demyelinative Neuropathy sadly this is fatal but is picked up in puppies as young as 7 weeks, the puppy only lives to around four months. Not a true health issue is the fact the Tibetan Mastiff joints and muscle while young need to not be overworked this is important while young and throughout the growing stage. As with any dog it is very important that you make sure they are up to date on all vaccinations, de-wormings and heart worm preventatives. It is also suggested by the majority of licensed veterinarians that you take your puppy or dog in for a check up at least twice each year.

Grooming: The Tibetan mastiff will require grooming and this for the owner is a good brushing regularly. This dog is a heavy shedder for about one month as the weather starts to warm up and then more brushing is needed and this should be daily with the shedding.

Living conditions: The Tibetan Mastiff can live in an apartment providing; there is room as this is a big dog and that the dog has plenty of daily exercise.

Our Neapolitan/Old English Mastiff Cross (Oliver). A Fantastic Dog! He is 18 months old and the most wonderful, loyal companion we could wish for.

If there was ever a gentle giant, this dog is it. The Mastiff loves everybody and everything, especially his family. They are an especially good dog with children and make an excellent dog breed for a family.

That is a bit surprising since they were originally bred as war dogs. Outfitted with saddles that carried live coal, the dogs were trained to run underneath horses so the enemy knights would fall to the ground. Once a knight was on the ground he was helpless.

At other times the Mastiff was pitted against gladiators, lions, bears and bulls. This is a far cry from the gentle and low-key dog of today who is happiest when with his family.

They are extremely loyal and should be allowed to live indoors where they can fulfill their role of devoted guardian. They only require enough room to stretch out comfortably.

These large dogs are not very active and do not need much exercise. Unlike the sporting dogs that will run and run for miles, the Mastiff is happy to just lie around the house. One walk each day or a good game is enough exercise for them.

An Ancient Dog Breed

The Mastiff originated in Great Brittain. They come from the mastiff family which is one of the oldest and most influential dog breeds. Like the mastiff family, the Mastiff is also an ancient breed that has been around since before the time of Caesar.

In the years leading up to World War II they almost disappeared in Great Brittan. Thankfully, they were a popular dog in the United States and so the breed did not completely die out. Since then their numbers have increased, and today it is the 33rd most popular dog in America.

Special Needs of a Large Dog Breed

The only drawbacks to this dog are the amount of food they require and the space they need indoors. They are not active indoors, but like to stretch out in comfort. They require very little grooming, are generally very healthy, and very easy to train.

When acquiring a Mastiff it is important to gain his respect at an early age. If the dog learns to listen and follow orders when he is a puppy, he will be very happy to obey when he is 230 pounds.

Males can reach up to 230 pounds and females can reach 170 pounds. They are a little shorter than the Irish Wolfhound but heavier. As a result of their large size it is especially important that puppies are bought from reputable breeders that do not feed puppies anything that will speed their growth. This can lead to health problems later on.

How to Choose a Good Puppy

Other things to beware of when looking for a Mastiff for a pet is to make sure the mother is older than 22 months and younger than seven years, and that the prospective owners check the parents’ hip and elbow certificates to verify that they do have hip or elbow dysplasia.

Reputable breeds will be happy to comply with any questions the buyers ask. Remember that people who really care about the breed are not breeding just for the money, but are also breeding for a pure and exceptional line.

Anyone who purchases a Mastiff will have a wonderful companion for as long as nine to eleven years. The Mastiff is definitely an excellent dog for families to consider.

I love my mastiff! Seriously, this dog has brought so much joy into my life. If you are looking to purchase a mastiff puppy of your own, then enjoy the journey and soon, you too, will be adding a lovable pet to your home.

Finding mastiff puppies for sale sounds like a daunting task, taking into account the size and rarity of the breed. In reality, finding mastiff puppies for sale is quite easy. As long as you know the right places to look and what exactly you are looking for, you are sure to stumble across something you like!

This first thing to consider is if you really want a puppy and not an adult dog. There are positives and negatives either way; it is mostly just a matter of opinion.

The main advantage to raising a mastiff puppy is that you could guide its growth, training, and overall well being. You can ensure it is properly fed and nurtured. In addition, you can be sure that all the right medications age given from birth, including heartworm medicine.

On the other hand, there is no assurance as to what your mastiff will look like as he grows and his temperament may change. These are both factors that (for the most part) you can not control. An adult mastiff usually comes housebroken and ready to go, sporting the look it will probably have the rest of its life.

Older Mastiffs typically adapt better to existing pets than a puppy would. At the same time, you have no idea how it has been raised and it can be hard to make sure all proper medications and nutrition was provided.

If you decide a puppy is the way to go, you will soon be looking for mastiff puppies for sale. Mastiff puppies for sale can be found through reputable mastiff breeders online, at special mastiff kennels or in the newspaper, but rarely so.

It is absolutely crucial that you are willing to wait before buying a mastiff puppy.

If you want to buy a mastiff puppy, you must remember that there are typically between 8-12 weeks needed with the mother dog before it can leave “the nest”. This time provides a certain psychological advantage to both the mother and puppy which is crucial to proper development.

The best of mastiff breeders ensure that all their puppies receive the necessary immunizations and chow for a long and healthy life. You shouldn’t have to worry too much. It is one of the reasons that you might consider purchasing your new puppy from a reputable breeder.

During the time you are waiting for your little fuzz ball to come home, it is important that you “mastiff-proof” your home. Like a child, a puppy is extremely curious and adventurous. If things are not off the floor and put away, your pup will find it and by the time you do it will be too late.

Mastiff puppies are a great addition to any home. Along with their overwhelming size, they have an overwhelming heart and are sure to bring lots of love and fun to your home and your family!

Dog picture taken by amalthya.

If you are considering looking for a Neapolitan Mastiff, there are definitely pros and cons that you should know about. Neapolitan Mastiffs are beautiful big dogs. They are very big, up to 170 pounds, with large flat heads, and a box-like body. They have wrinkled saggy skin around their face and neck.

Some have cropped ears and tails, but more and more owners are opting to keep them in their natural state. They come in blue, black or brown and have short, dense coats. They shed more than you’d think for such a short haired dog. Neapolitan Mastiffs can be very good companions, but there are a lot of things to consider before you take on owning one.

The Neapolitan Mastiff needs to be trained very consistently from puppy hood. They are very smart and willful. Obedience and owner dominance need to be instilled from a very young age. You need to be non-wavering in your training approach and should probably seek professional advice. Neapolitan Mastiff’s need to be socialized early and often. They are generally intolerant of other dogs.

Males are worse about tolerating other males than females are. Females tend to be a little bit more tolerant all around. Neapolitan Mastiffs are very good watch dogs. Their nature is to be protective and wary of strangers. Socialization is so important with these dogs. They need to be able to recognize who is being friendly. If they aren’t properly socialized they can become a huge biting liability.

If you have children in your home, then you need to research carefully before bringing in a Neapolitan Mastiff. If the dog has been brought up with children, then they can be good with them. This dog needs to be exposed to lots of children consistently to teach them to be tolerant.

They do not tolerate teasing or roughhousing. Serious injury or death could occur. Remember that the Neapolitan Mastiff is very protective of its family. If you raise it with only your own kids, then it may try to protect your kids from their friends and relatives, resulting in a real tragedy. Neapolitan Mastiffs are generally not recommended for homes with children mostly because children can be unpredictable.

Neapolitan Mastiffs can be very calm in nature once they reach adulthood. They are mostly quiet indoors and may bark a lot outside. They have an instinct to chase and catch other animals, so proper inclusion is necessary. They need moderate exercise, such as regular walking and occasional running. Intense exercise can seriously damage this big dog’s joints.

Neapolitan Mastiffs are susceptible to hip and elbow displasia. This risk is increased if you over-exercise your dog or encourage it to jump from high places, especially as a puppy. Eye problems are also common and include progressive retinal atrophy and cherry eye. Cherry eye is very common. It occurs when the third eyelid, responsible for tear production, becomes prolapsed, visible, inflamed and red. The usual treatment for cherry eye is surgical removal of the gland. It will usually occur early on, during puppy hood. If your Neapolitan Mastiff has to have this gland removed, be prepared for a lifetime of administering eye drops.

Once all things have been considered, you should be able to decide if the Neapolitan Mastiff is the breed for you.

Mastiffs in one form or another have been around since before written history began. Carvings from the Babylonian palace of Ashurbanipal (these carvings are on display in the British Museum) show large Mastiff-type dogs hunting lions in the desert near the Tigris River.

Mastiffs as war dogs

Phoenician merchants introduced the Mastiff to ancient Britain in the 6th century BC. The ancient Celts began using them as combat dogs who accompanied their owners into battle. This was the beginning of a long history of Mastiffs as fighters, soldiers, protectors, and watchdogs. A popular story tells that when Sir Peers Legh was injured in the Battle of Agincourt, his Mastiff stood over him and protected him for many hours while the battle raged on.

When the Romans invaded Britain around AD43, they took Mastiffs back to Italy and used them to protect property and guard prisoners, in addition to fighting in the arena. The Mastiff is said to have been Julius Caesar’s favorite dog. Kubla Khan had a kennel of 5,000 Mastiffs for hunting and war use. When Hannibal crossed the Alps, he took several battalions of war Mastiffs.

Mastiffs in Britain

Back in Britain in the 11th century, the Mastiff was one of the few breeds listed by name in The Forest Laws of King Canute, the first written laws of England. Mastiffs were recorded as being kept for protection, and the middle toes of their front feet had to be amputated so the dogs could not run swiftly enough to catch deer (which traditionally belonged to royalty).

British royals kept Mastiffs to protect their castles and estates, releasing them at night to ward off intruders. Henry VIII is said to have presented Charles V of Spain with 400 Mastiffs to be used in battle.

From the 12th through 19th centuries, Mastiffs were used for bear-baiting. This “sport,” in which dogs attacked chained-up bears, bulls, and even tigers, was especially popular during Queen Elizabeth’s time. Such fights were often staged for the queen’s entertainment.

The size of the Mastiff and its need to eat about as much food per day as an adult man made a Mastiff too costly for most common folk, except butchers, who had enough meat scraps to feed a Mastiff well. Therefore, the Mastiff was often called the “Butchers Dog.”

Mastiffs in the United States

The first Mastiff in North America was brought from Britain on the Mayflower by the Pilgrims. The breed didn’t become prominent in America until the 1800s, when Mastiffs were often found on plantations in the South as property guards.

During the World Wars, Mastiffs were commissioned to pull munitions carts at the front lines. However, their popularity was declining at the same time, partly because of their size: It was considered unpatriotic to keep a dog that ate as much in one day as a soldier. By the 1920s, Mastiffs were almost extinct in Britain, and by the end of World War II, Canada and the United States were sending Mastiffs to Britain to save the breed. Now, the breed is well-established in both continents.

From war dogs to family pets

How did Mastiffs go from hunting and fierce war dogs to the gentle pets we know today? Part of the reason is that breeders have bred the Mastiff for gentleness and have thus created an excellent companion. In addition Mastiffs are simply treated differently today. No longer are they used for barbaric practices like bear bating or lion fighting. As for being war dogs, modern warfare has made them obsolete as war dogs. Instead, Mastiffs are either kept as pets or put to use as watchdogs, guards, police or military dogs, search and rescue dogs, or as weight pullers.

Mastif Tybetanski Tibetan Mastiff International Dog Show Poznan 2009

Mastiffs are a large dog that many people think are just lazy and want to lay around the whole time. Now at times it can seem like that your dog is going to be just that, but if they’re you know that very like us we’ve got to exercise them from time to time to make sure that they don’t develop some of the health issues that we have . Here is how I manage to look after my dogs laziness.

the 1st thing that I do is each morning I will take him for a walk in the backyard for approximately 10 to 15 mins per day. Now my opinion is that many times it’ll seem like that I do this because he needs to go out first thing in the morning, but it is also exercise for him as well and makes him walk which helps keep him in shape while at the same time working with some of the inherit Mastiff laziness.
I know that for my Mastiff I found a toy stuffed animal that he actually likes to play with and I keep that toy out for him in the day. However , if he has latterly eaten or drank I do put the toy up so that he cannot get to the toy till his food and water have digested some.
These dogs have healthy well spaced teeth. When a Mastiff dog isn’t feeling well they have a tendency to make every effort to keep up a standard appearance. An owner would need to pay very close attention to and extremely observant to pick up the signs that their Mastiff is sick.

Since these dogs are big they are subject to certain health Problems that may be quite serious and even potentially fatal. A few of these health issues are genetic. Other health issues are related to environmental components such as the amount of food the dog eats to the kind of exercise he gets.
Since dogs are regular creatures, pay attention to any bizarre changes in your dog. Some of the signs that your Mastiff dog won’t be healthy are lack of appetite, not wanting to go out for its regular walk, and low energy level. These are some signs that you should take your pet to see a veterinarian. Another suggestions of health Problems include excessive consumption of water, weight gain or loss, bad breath, bleeding gums, excessive pissing, or his coat is dull and dry. Start to know what’s ordinary for your mastiff. You’ll wish to keep a journal of habits and inspect him weekly for changes.
To have a healthy Mastiff dog avoid obesity. Not only does obesity put stress on the bones and joints, it also puts stress on the dog’s heart, kidneys, liver, as well as other organs. A balanced diet and lots of exercise can make sure that your Mastiff is not obese.
Like other enormous breeds of dog, Mastiffs have a higher likelihood of having cardiomyopathy. Have your dog checked yearly and be certain a vet takes a cardiac ultrasound exam to be certain of a healthy heart.

Another common inherited problem Mastiff dogs have include orthopedic issues. They have been known to have hip dysplasia which is an affliction of the hip. Infrequently hip dysplasia in puppies can be affected by diet and activity. In harsh cases, surgery is required.
Breast cancer is the commonest, however , the risk can be substantially reduced by spaying a female before she is going into heat the 1st time. Usually, most forms of cancer is found older dogs. If you find a lump or bump on your Mastiff dog, take it seriously.

Mastiffs can be prone to ear infections because they have floppy ears.

These are only some of the common issues found in Mastiff dogs. A healthy Mastiff dog is a sight to behold! As an owner you can make a contribution to his good health through fantastic nutrition, daily exercise, and regular veterinary exams.
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Georgia, the English Mastiff loves to sing to the accordion.

There are a few Mastiff breeds in the dog species. One of those breeds is called the Neapolitan Mastiff, which is also a working dog. They are large dogs growing to 165 pounds and at most 30 inches tall. They are a very muscular dog breed.

The Neapolitan Mastiff is usually black, chocolate or blue in color. They have a short hair that is coarse and dense. You will find this mastiff is known by his massive wrinkles around the face and on his back. If you are ready to learn more just keep reading. We will tell you whether they will make a great pet or just a wonderful watchdog. You will also learn about care, temperament, and training needed.

First care with any dog is very important. You need to make sure you have the right dog food with the highest nutrition value, plenty of water during the day for them to drink when you are off at work, and of course that you take care in their grooming needs. As a larger dog you will find the Neapolitan Mastiff requires quite a bit of nutrients in their food.

You will also find that grooming is very easy. You can brush them with a rubber brush to remove the dead hair, and help keep shedding to a minimum. You will also need to take a wet cloth to their winkles to keep that area clean, but for the most part they will keep themselves clean. This can make the care very easy for this dog breed as a pet, but the question remains are they really a great pet to have?

Their character or temperament is often seen as very watchful. They are a guard dog at heart. They will be very territorial, protective, but not aggressive. You will actually find them to be gentle and very affectionate. Despite the gentle side they will still stand guard around strangers.

You may also be a little wary at having them around small children. As mentioned the Neapolitan Mastiff dog breed is very large. They are also very muscular which can make them a little scary for small children. You should introduce this breed into the family only if you have older children that can handle the massive size. You will find that around other pets and even children with the proper training and socialization they can be quite safe.

Training is very important so that you establish a dominance over the Neapolitan Mastiff rather than the other way around. You will need to socialize them with other animals as puppies to avoid issues and make sure they under stand house rules. You will need to be firm with a consistency they will understand. Their need to be protective can be a problem during training and especially if you don’t train them at all.

You may seek a professional handler to help you learn the techniques you will need in order to train your Neapolitan Mastiff. Exercise is also very important to their care and training. You will find they need daily exercise, such as two walks in a day. They also need to have a large backyard to play in. Their great size demands a lot of space, even in a home. You will not want to keep them cooped up in an apartment, but rather have a large house with a backyard. While they are protective they can be happy spending time outdoors for a day while you are at work. Like most dogs they shouldn’t be left for extended periods of time or ever mistreated.

Mastif Tybetanski, Himaldog, Vijay of Saras, Hodowla mastifa tybetanskiego, tibetan mastiff, do khyi, Dog Show

If you are a dog fan like most you will find the Mastiff dog to be not only interesting but a favorite of yours. The Spanish Mastiff will be the central point of this article. The Spanish Mastiff has very active parent clubs in the states and is in the process of being accepted to the Foundation Stud Service as a recognized breed. The acceptance of the Spanish Mastiff dog into the foundation stud service will only make this particular mastiff dog breed more popular.

Breed membership in this organization has several requirements. The Spanish Mastiff doesn’t meet all of these requirements yet. There are a lot of dog fans who are doing what is necessary to get it’s acceptance official.

Mastiff Dog Beginnings

Spain is the recognized birthplace of this mastiff breed. It is often used as a cattle and sheep guard dog in some parts of Spain. Gentle mannered with children the Spanish mastiff is known for an even temper. They will absolutely not tolerate uninvited guests and tend to be aggressive with other dogs. Normally the mastiff dog is kept outside. If this is not the case then it should be taken for daily walks and given access to a large fenced in area to roam.

This particular mastiff type breed is a large one. They tend to have deep chest,long legs and they tend to be longer then they are tall. The associated dewlap of the mastiff breed is present along with the large head with a deep muzzle.

A dewlap is? The fold or folds of skin that drapes over the top of the chest and is loosely hanging beneath the chin. Being a predator deterrent is it’s main function. It effectively protects this most vulnerable part of the body from a predator sinking their teeth into. The coat can be very dense on this mastiff dog. The color of the coat can be anything from white and black, wolf gray, fawn and lemon. Protecting the mastiff dog from extreme weather is it’s main purpose.

Conclusion

having read this article fully you will have gained several new facts about the Spanish mastiff. Most tend to be large and heavy were you aware of this? In fact some of them can stand well over 2 1/2 feet tall at the shoulder and weigh in excess of 140 pounds. With all of the interesting facts about the Spanish mastiff we are sure it will become your favorite mastiff dog.

Mastif Tybetanski, Himaldog, Vijay of Saras, Hodowla mastifa tybetanskiego, tibetan mastiff, do khyi, Dog Show

The English Mastiff dog is often imagined as a huge and powerful animal, but his character and temperament belies this initial impression.

In some regards you are right. Well, the English Mastiff is definitely on the large side, at about 30 inches at the shoulder for males, with the female a few inches shorter.

And he is no lightweight – a male English Mastiff can weigh in between 160 and 230 pounds, and the female around 140 and 190 pounds or more!

The English Mastiff dog has traditionally been seen primarily as a large and powerful guard dog, but many centuries ago he was bred as a fighting dog. Indeed there is evidence that the Romans, when they invaded Britain, discovered that their own fighting dogs were bettered by the native English mastiff breed. Whereupon they exported these English dogs back to Rome, to fight in the Colosseum, alongside all the other exotic wild animals from the length and breadth of the Roman Empire.

The English Mastiff is supposed to have originally arrived in Britain over 2 millenia ago on the ships of adventurous Phoenician traders.

Over the ensuing centuries, the English mastiff was used in many different capacities other than as a powerful guard dog. It was particularly renowned in the doubtful sports of bear and bull baiting, as well as dog fighting, which were enormously popular past-times in Britain until fairly recent times, but it was also used to hunt wolves and boar.

However, following the outlawing of such shameful activities, the numbers of English Mastiff dogs declined rapidly, so that there were less than 100 in Britain by the mid 20th century. Whereas the breed was declining in Britain, it was thriving in the USA, and stock was imported to strengthen and revive the breed in the Britain.

So why would you choose such a dog?

The modern English Mastiff dog is a mixture of grandeur, dignity and courage. He is also highly prized as a fearless and tenacious family guardian, loving and affectionate towards his family. He has a powerful protective instinct towards his family, and will place himself between his owner and any “threatening” stranger.

The Official Breed Standard for the Old English Style Mastiff from Kennel Club of the UK describes his temperament as : Calm and affectionate to his owners, and also capable of guarding.

A huge dog, with a natural guardian instinct, enormously strong yet gentle and loving to his family, the English Mastiff dog will reward the suitable owner with years of unswerving and loving care, protection, and gentle companionship. He is incredibly gentle with children.

Playing with my eight and a half month old English mastiff dog and getting bitten by him.