Mastiff - Mastiff

Mastiff Temperament

The Mastiff is a dignified and loyal dog, with bags of courage, a pleasant nature, and high intelligence. The gigantic proportions of this breed make the Mastiff an effective deterrent and watchdog. Many Mastiffs are gentle giants, and have an even temper and docile nature. However, there can be aggression in some lines, and timidity in others. Early socialization is important with this breed in order to promote stability and confidence. These dogs require effective training, and although not difficult to train they do require a confident and assertive owner and are best suited to those with experience of dog ownership. This is not a breed for those with little time for a pet, as these dogs thrive on companionship and affection from their families.

The Mastiff is not an overly active dog, but he does need a moderate amount of exercise in order to keep him fit and healthy. Although these dogs do not bark much, he is too large for apartment living, and does need somewhere secure and safe to exercise and enjoy activities, as well as regular walks. The Mastiff gets along well with children that he has been brought up with, and many will get along fine with other pets, although some can be dominant. Many will also be friendly and welcoming toward strangers. In the right environment, and with early socialization and the correct training, these dogs make good family pets.
Mastiff Appearance

The Mastiff is a giant of a dog, and has a muscular and powerful build. These dogs always look alert and keen, but due to their sheer size can come across to some as menacing. The coat of the Mastiff is close fitting, short, and sleek. The coloring can be fawn, apricot, or brindle, with black markings around and between the eyes. He has a short, wrinkled muzzle, and his small ears fold forward to the sides of his head. The weight of the Mastiff is around 120-170 pounds for females, and 165-220 pounds for males. The height of these dogs is 28-32 inches for females, and 30-34 inches for males.
Mastiff Grooming

The Mastiff is a low maintenance dog when it comes to grooming, and occasional brushing along with a wipe down with a damp cloth can help to keep the coat sleek and get rid of dead hair. These dogs do shed constantly, so may not be ideal for severe allergy sufferers; however, the shedding is light, so some allergy sufferers may not have a problem with this breed.
Mastiff Health Problems and Life Expectancy

As with many larger dog breeds, the Mastiff has a relatively low life expectancy compared to some breed, and lives for around 5-10 years. There are a number of health problems to look out for with this breed, and this includes: luxating patella, strokes, epilepsy, spinal problems, eye problems, thyroid disorders, OCD, HOD, HD and elbow dysplasia, heart defects, bloat, kidney problems, and sensitivity to drugs and chemicals. They can also suffer heatstroke in very hot conditions. The parents of the Mastiff should have OFA and CERF certificates.
Mastiff History

The Mastiff originates from Great Britain, and has a long, rich history that dates back to Ancient times. Bred as a war dog, the Mastiff was used to fight other dogs, not to mention bulls and lions. He was also used as a guard dog in later years, and his duties included keeping wolves at bay. The breed was registered with the AKC in 1885.

# AKAEnglish Mastiff
# SizeGiant
# Ease of trainingLow/Medium
# GroomingLow
# SheddingMedium
# Exercise neededDaily walks
# Energy levelLow
# ProtectionHigh, guard dog
# Good with childrenYes, when brought up with them
# Health clearancesOFA, CERF, vWD
# Popularity32/155