Dog Breeds > Mastiff
Mastiff

Mastiff

This giant can accommodate anywhere

34-37 Inches*

Mastiff

In Kg*
60-75

The origin of the term Mastiff is not very clear though. There are no written scriptures that state clearly as to why was the breed named Mastiff. Most sources believe that that word is derived from the Anglo-Saxon word ‘masty’ that means powerful. 

  • Size
  • Efforts
  • Shedding
  • Giant
  • Regular Exercise & Veterinary Attention
  • Negligible Hair Everywhere
  • Monthly keeping cost
    • Premium*
    • Standard*
  • Rupee7,690
  • Rupee3,784

Mastiff Dog Breed Information

  • 7 to 8 years
  • Expensive *
  • Star Superstar
  • Rare Easy to get
Introduction

The English Mastiff is the perfect dogs for all those who feel that bigger is better. This fantastic watchdog is one of the most massive dogs when it comes to their size. In fact Zorba, an English Mastiff holds the record of the heaviest dog in the Guinness World of Records.

You might argue that they are taller dogs around but this dog will win hands down when it comes to its massive size. The Great Dane or the Irish Wolfhound might be taller but in volume your English Mastiff is larger. This modern day giant size dog is a perfect family dog. Once you do not get intimidated by their looks alone.

These are great watchdogs and no one dare’s enters their territory just because of their sheer size. Though, this gentle giant will not attack a stranger till it is attacked. If you are one of those people who believe that this will not be adaptable to apartment dwellers then you are in for a surprise. They are big on size but do not attack anyone till the time it is not for self defense.

History

The English Mastiff is one of the oldest breed in the world in fact some believe that they are present since the start of dog time in the world. There have been depicted in the Egyptian inscriptions and even Cesar mentioned these dogs when fighting against England during the latter invasion by Rome.

The general belief is that they were bought around 500 B.C to England by the Phoenician traders. Many believed that the breed came to America on the Mayflower though there are no concrete records for the same. They are sometimes used for the search and rescue operations as well. It is hard to believe that the family dog was at one time one of the ferocious war dogs of old times. The British liked this dog because of the impressive size and sheer strength.

Unique Aspects

English Mastiff as any other Mastiff has a big head there are some believe that it is as big as the polar bear. They have a black facial mask, which gives them their droopy face. The broad head and the shape give rise to massive amounts of drool in your pet. So be prepared to slobber by this giant at times. This is unique to the breed as it has a deep muzzle with flews, which hangs over the bottom lip and gives the head a square appearance.

Mastiff is just one of the few giant breeds that do not require a lot of exercise. They are very slow moving dogs, so though they will need their everyday walks, they do not require heavy exercise so he or she will be happy in an apartment provided you can give him or her that much space to move around. They are excellent watch dogs and will go and bark at the door whenever someone comes through it. Their sheer presence is formidable and no one dares enter the house when this gentle giant is on guard. If someone does enter they will be greeted with licks rather than lunge towards you.

Fun Trivia

Mastiffs are large size dogs and are not that easy to train so this is one of the prime reasons that they have not been a part of many movies. In addition to this an English Mastiff takes a lot of time and may be one of the prime reasons that are not so famous among the celebrities.

Movie Character

These gentle giants have not been present in all movies but have had his or her share of stardom in the limelight. This includes pivotal roles in The Sandlot and Hotel for Dogs. In addition to this there are featured in Transformers, She is out of My League and Harry Potter.

Celebrity English Mastiff owners

The gentle giant is not only huge in size but is huge when it comes to the size. This is probably the reason that there are so few celebrities that keep them as pets. This includes yesteryear’s best seller author Charles Dickens. Though this dog has been also named the first dog of United States under the reign of Elliot Roosevelt.

Vital Stats:

Dog Breed Group: Working Dogs

Height: 33-44 Inches

Weight: 60-100 Kg

Life Span: 7 to 8 years

Pros
    • They do not need much exercise
    • Excellent watch dogs and size can be intimidating
    • Affectionate pets for the family
Cons
    • You need to have space in the house for them to move around
    • Grooming will be time consuming
    • Prone to bloat

Mastiff Maintenance & Effort

  • Low
  • Yes
  • Rare
  • Get a heatstroke Basks in it
  • Need warmth Loves snow
  • Little Lots
Grooming

Grooming your English Mastiff is not a very difficult chore; their short coat keeps the grooming to the minimal. You need to brush the coat once a week with a rubber hound glove. This will help to keep the shedding under control. You have to extend extra care to its wrinkles though, it has to be cleaned with a cloth on regular basis as this will prevent any bacterial infections as this breed drools a lot and this can promote the growth of bacteria in a lot of cases.

The flews will need to be cleaned on a regular basis preferably after every meal. In addition to this you will need to follow the regular grooming regime with your pet that is brushing the teeth of your Mastiff, this should be done at least on a weekly basis as this will help to remove all tartar buildup and ensure a fresh breath at all times. This will also prevent various gum diseases in your pet. The toe nails will also be required to be trimmed on a regular basis so to prevent any problems further as dog nails have veins in them and if it gets chipped then it can be very painful for your pet.

You should always start this grooming regime in your pet from an early age as this will ensure that he is not temperamental with someone touching his feet, mouth or ear at a later stage.

Mastiff Hair & Coat

  • Yes
  • Fawn/Brindle/Black
  • Short
  • Short Flowing
  • Sparse Dense

Mastiff Health & Care

  • Frequent
  • Yes
Common Health Issues

English Mastiff are generally a healthy breed but you have to remember when getting a puppy home that almost all and every breed has a chance of developing genetic disorders and they can also contract any of the common diseases. So this not a word of law these are some of the unfortunate cases that you can encounter with your English Mastiff at times One of the most common problems that your English Mastiff can encounter is of hip dysplasia, this at time is a heritable condition and it can be developed later in life as well. This is a condition when the thigh bone does not fit efficiently with the hip joint. This is a common problem in various large breed dogs. This can be easily treated and at times requires surgery as well.

These dogs have droopy eyes and can frequently develop progressive retinal atrophy; this is a degenerative eye disorder that can lead to blindness if not treated early. This generally happens when there is a loss of photoreceptors. This usually sets in with night blindness in pets. Along with this English Mastiff is very prone to gastric Torsion or in layman terms Bloat. This can at times be life threatening for your pet. This is a common problem in giant breed dogs. This usually happens when the dog is fed once a day and drinks or eats too fast. There are times that it can result with immediate exercising after eating as well.

Bloat occurs when the stomach is filled with gas and it twists. It advisable to give this pet food in a high stand bowl and you should at least half an hour rest before their exercise.

Mastiff Behavior

  • No
  • Low
  • Snappy Patient
  • Prefer Adults Nanny
  • Aloof Best Buddy
  • Poor Excellent
  • Headstrong Obedient
  • Moody Always Ready
  • Mute Woofer
  • Intolerant Best Buddies
  • Intolerant Best Buddies
  • Carefree Doting
  • Couch Potato Energy Bundle
Temperament

Mastiffs are even temperament, courageous and docile dogs. They are excellent watch dogs and will treat any stranger with a polite aloofness if you call it. In general they are big couch potatoes. The English Mastiff is very quick to react if he senses any threat to the family member and even escalate his or her behavior if required.

So, if you have an English Mastiff at home and the burglar strikes he might be cornered by the giant only to be rescued by a family member. Mastiffs need early socialization when it comes various other pets and children at times. This is essential at times to ensure that the puppy grows up to be a well rounded dog. The Mastiff is a powerful and muscular dog that is well muscled and is dominant with its size, so it is very important to ensure early socialization to other pets and family members.

These are excellent family pets but they are not advisable with very small children as their size can be a hindrance. Mastiffs are trainable but these are slow dogs so you will need tremendous amount patience with them. They love human companionship and will love to stay close to the family. These mammoth size dogs will need gentle and encouraging treatment to excel.

Environment

English Mastiffs are large dogs but there lack of exercise requirement makes them perfect for apartments as well. You have to remember that you will need the appropriate space in your living are as they can easily knock off things accidentally. Your gentle giant has a large frame and need a space to walk around.

They do well in a house with a yard as well after all, which dog does not like yards but do not expect them to run around and play. These are very slow moving dogs and the slow pace further adds to their demeanor. Just keep one thing in mind these are large shaped dogs so remember that it might be difficult to take him or her up and down the stairs when they are ill. The other thing that you have to keep in mind is that they are not ideal dogs for outdoors.

They cannot stand extreme heat and will not fare well when left in heat and the extreme cold also do not go well with them as their short coat can be fatal to their health.

Training & Intelligence

The Mastiff is an intelligent breed but training is not exactly a breeze with them. They are slow learners this goes with the breed’s overall personality of being slow. This does not mean that they are not trainable. The approach has to be different with your English Mastiff though; they need firm training and always require positive reinforcement to ensure efficient results.

Your English Mastiff does not like to exercise but you will have to exercise them on a regular basis to ensure that they are lean and healthy though there are soft growing bones and joints and if there are over stressed it can be damaged so you have to understand that though training is important you should know how much is required. The English Mastiff is the dog that will need regular running or jogging this is just not required and suitable for his or her frame so do not indulge in it as well.

Mastiff Breeding

  • 6 to 9 puppies (approximately)
  • No
Procreation

This slow moving giant is one of the easiest breed to manage when it comes to the breeding. They are adorable as puppies and grow up to friendly and handsome dog. This breed does not have much problem when it comes to breeding. The only thing you have to think about is giving the adorable puppies up for sale or adoption. An average male and female English Mastiff attains sexual maturity anywhere between six to nine months of age.

Though you puppy is still very young to breed now. A dog takes around 18 months to reach his full height and structure. It is advisable to breed your dogs after at least two years of age. If you are first timer at breeding then taking a vets care is advisable. You just sit back and enjoy the company an average of four to six adorable little puppies. The standard colors of the puppies can range from fawn, apricot and brindle. Whatever the color of the parents you can get various colors in the same litter.

Puppies

The first thing that you have to remember about your English Mastiff is that they are huge so do not be surprised if you are stopped and asked as to whether this is a pony or a horse. These small puppies can grow fast and retain their big head size even when they are puppies. Remember that they will love to chew everything they get their hands on so you have to be careful keep toys and chew sticks with them to ensure that they do not ruin your furniture or upholstery.

The other thing to keep in mind is to train your English Mastiff from a young age, they are generally even tempered as it can become a problem later because the large breed has to be trained to not jump on people. They have to be trained properly to ensure proper training. Other than this the happy go lucky puppy is sure to keep you busy. This energy bundle loves to be the perfect family dog and thrive on human companionship, so let him indulge. Just keep space within your house to ensure easy movement as he or she can easily knock off things.

Mastiff Appearance

  • Yes
  • Straight down
  • Fairly large
  • Folded
  • Scissor
  • Atheletic Stuff Toy
  • Handsome Awe
Body

When it comes to English Mastiff the first thing we notice is its towering presence. It owes its massive appearance to the size of its head. The head of the English Mastiff is heavy and broad, which is moderately rounded at the skull. This is accompanied with a short and broad muzzle. The Mastiff has a powerful and broad built body along with a deep and rounded chest. This is supported by wide back and lions.

The massive dog caries its weight on the strong forelegs, which are set wide apart. Along with this the hindquarters are muscular and set wide apart. The feet have arched toes in round and compact shape. The tail is set long and moderately high, which tapers and is often curved when you pet is excited. The English Mastiff looks adorable because of its eyes, which are medium size and set wide apart and are dark brown in color. The ears are small and thin and set wide apart and are close to the cheeks when your pet is resting.

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