Mastiff Dog Breed Profile
Description: The Mastiff is a large, powerful,
massive dog of noble proportions. The coat of the Mastiff
is fawn, apricot, silver, or brindle. A black facial
mask is always present. This dog is one of the heaviest
breeds with the males weighing up to 230 pounds and
the females up to 200 pounds. The dog stands 30 or more
inches at the shoulder and the bitch at 27 to 28 inches.
The ears are small and triangular in shape and match
the mask in color. The Mastiff is also known as the
Old English Mastiff or English Mastiff. These dogs can
live from 10 to 12 years.
History: The Mastiff is an ancient breed, it
was depicted in Egyptian art over 5000 years ago. The
Britons, while fighting against Caesar's legions in
55BC were assisted by their Mastiffs. Impressed by the
dog's courage and strength, Caesar brought some back
to Rome for use in the arena. They were used to fight
bulls, bears, lions, and gladiators. Later, Mastiffs
were used by English countryfolk to protect homes and
farms from wolves and bandits. The first Mastiff in
America may well have arrived on the Mayflower.
Temperament: The old ferocity has been bred out
of the Mastiff, leaving an even-tempered, gentle dog.
This is a calm and patient dog that behaves in an exemplary
way towards its human family. The Mastiff is well known
for its kindness and forbearance towards children. This
dog does not bark much, but will defend its family without
hesitation. An interesting side of this dog's guarding
behavior is that if an intruder is caught in the house,
the Mastiff will seldom launch a biting attack. Rather,
the Mastiff will hold the intruder against a wall, or
even lie on the person to keep them from mischief. This
is not an aggressive dog and will get along with other
household pets.
Health Issues: The Mastiff faces two very significant
health problems - hip dysplasia and stomach torsion,
or bloat. Hip dysplasia causes the ball and socket of
the hip joint to separate, causing pain and mobility
problems. The more serious problem is bloat. This occurs
when the stomach twists and causes a blockage of the
digestive system. This is a life threatening situation
and must be immediately handled by a veterinarian. Several
small meals a day, rather than one large one can help
to prevent this.
Grooming: The short coat of the Mastiff is easy
to groom. Because the Mastiff tends to shed quite a
lot, it is a good idea to brush this dog every day.
A dry shampooing is probably more appropriate to this
large dog. The Mastiff's ears should be checked daily
and cleaned if needed. Take care to remove any mucus
from the eyes.
Living Conditions: Despite its large size, the
Mastiff is actually a house dog. As it tends to a calm
disposition, it generally poses no problems indoors
because of its size. Especially important, though, is
that the Mastiff bonds extremely closely with its human
family and wants to be as close to them as possible
at all times. These dogs do not need an excessive amount
of exercise, but should get a good walk daily.
About the Author
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