Mastiff

The term “Mastiff” is used to describe a group of giant breed of dogs that were descended from an ancient dog, called Alaunt, and the Molosser. There are many different kinds of Mastiffs, including the following:

• Bull Mastiff
• Neopolitan Mastiff
• French Mastiff
• Tibetan Mastiff
• English Mastiff

When people say Mastiff, they are usually referring to the English Mastiff, which is considered the oldest of all types. For purposes of this article, we’ll be focusing on the English Mastiff.

Appearance
Powerfully built and muscular, the Mastiff has a massive body, broad skull and a generally square-shaped head. Every inch of this breed of dog speaks of power and brute strength.

There is actually no standard size specification for this breed. However, it is believed that the average height of an adult Mastiff is 27-32 inches (70-80 cm). A typical adult weighs about 80-90 kg (175-200 lb). The heaviest breed of dog, according to the Guinness Book of World Records is an English Mastiff, called Zorba, who weighed at over 315 lb (143 kg).

The Mastiff has a close-lying coat of colors that vary from apricot-fawn to silver-fawn and fawn to dark fawn-brindle. The muzzle, ears and nose and hair around the eyes should always be black. They are dogs with great breadth, especially on the chest. This is, in fact, the reason why its forelegs are set so far apart.

Origin
It is believed that the Mastiff’s progenitor is the Pugnaces Britannae, an extinct breed of giant dog that existed in Rome many hundreds of years ago. They say that the word “Mastiff” actually comes from the Anglo-Saxon word “masty,” which means “powerful.”

As the oldest British breed, the Mastiff was first brought to England in the 6th Century BC. Its primary use was in bloodsports, including bear-baiting, bull-baiting, lion-baiting and dog fighting. Throughout its history, this breed of dog has contributed to a lot of subsequent breeds.

Nature
Despite its size and somewhat fearsome reputation, the Mastiff possesses a gentle nature that is seemingly in contrast with its size. For this reason, they are sometimes called “Gentle Giants.” Mastiffs have a calm and even temperament. They are also affectionate, especially towards their masters, and have strong guarding instincts.

When bringing a stranger to your house, the Mastiff may be a bit protective and will usually not let its guard down until and unless you sufficiently greet the stranger with enough display of affection that it becomes obvious to the dog that the stranger is not a threat.

With their easygoing nature and calm demeanor, Mastiffs are easy to house train. In fact, they make excellent house pets as they are not very active and therefore pose no danger to any fragile items in the house. However, because of their size, they need a lot of room to stretch out. Therefore, they are probably better off as yard pets.

They are an extremely loyal breed and likes excessive displays of affection. They are also good with children. But be careful of their size however as they can easily topple over small children due to their sheer bulk.

How To Find One
Now that you’ve learned a little about the Mastiff, you want to own one. Great choice! But please don’t rush things, because there are still a few more things you want to learn about this wonderful breed.

First of all, the Mastiff is a pretty rare breed. Even so, you do not want to take the first Mastiff you find without doing some investigation first. Consider the breeder and the kind of lineage that your Mastiff puppy has. The breeder should be reputable and the puppy’s parents should be registered.