Mastiff Dog Breed Information
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Expensive *
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Star
Superstar
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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