Mastiff - Breed Introduction

The Mastiff, also known as the Old English Mastiff, is a massive, well built dog.
In the 18th century, the Mastiff was described as follows: “As a lion is to a cat, so is the mastiff compared to a dog”.

The mastiff minimum height is from 27 ½ to 30 inches (70 to 75 cm), ad weighs from 175 to 190 pounds (79 to 86 kg).

History of the Breed

All European Mastiffs are descended from the Tibetan Mastiff, the most ancient member of the canine species. The first Asian Mastiffs were probably brought to Greece from India by Alexander the Great about 300 BC. The Greeks introduced the dogs to the Romans who adopted them and used them in circus combats.

The world “Mastiff” derives from the Latin word massivus, meaning massive. Another theory is the Mastiff was brought to Britain by the Phoenicians in about 500 BC and spread from there to the rest of Europe.

The breed is descended from the Tibetan mastiff which was introduced into Europe by the Phoenicians. It quickly became native to Great Britain, where it highly valued. It used to be a ferocious dog, but through careful breeding programs, the ancient ferocity has been bred out.

During the centuries, the mastiff was used particularly for bloodthirsty dog fights used in arenas and at other spectacles. Then it was used to guard flocks and isolated factories. The mastiff was used widely during the World Wars as a guard dog by the troops. Today it is used as watchdog and bodyguard, as well as a companion dog.

Color and Coat

The Mastiff’s coat color can be golden fawn, light fawn, silver and tiger. It can also be brindle, but it should have fawn or apricot as the background color with dark stripes. It typically has a black mask, black around the eyes, darker hairs on the ears, and black paw pads and claws. A small patch of white is permissible on the chest.

A double-coated dog, the outer coat is short and thick; straight and coarse. The undercoat is dense, short and lies close to the body. The coat should not be long enough to create “fringe” on the belly, tail or hind legs.

Personality and Temperament

The mastiff has an air of grandeur…yet he is good natured. He is a dignified dog, and not one to be boisterous or comical as some of the other breeds are. Docile, it’s a courageous breed stemming from its history as a fighting dog.

If they have the correct temperament, the Mastiff with the correct temperament is the easiest of dogs to live with. Adaptable, its as if he understands what the situation is. If with a young child, he’s gentle and won’t be rough with them. He does not bark at just nothing: making him the ideal watchdog.

He does not chew, soil in the house or break things. Although big, he still wants to go for rides! It’s best for the owner to train him so he knows that you are boss, and he will respect you more.

Today the Mastiff is a steady, gentle animal, eager for affection and especially good with children. If trained, it will attack malefactors with extraordinary pugnacity. It is still used as a watchdog, bodyguard and companion.

Show Characteristics

Both the male and female Mastiff should have proportionally powerful structures. The females will be smaller than the males, but that will not impact the symmetrical frame of the breed. The judge will evaluate the dog’s type and soundness equally.

The body should be in proportion to its size: the length of the dog from chest to rump is slighter longer than the height at the withers. The height should come from the depth of the body, not the length of the leg. The body should be massive: heavily boned with a powerful musculature.

The mastiff’s head is massive too. It’s eyes are set wide apart, and give the dog an alert but friendly expression. The ears are small for this size dog. Set wide apart on the sides of the head, they give the head its broad appearance. The muzzle is half the length of the skull, giving the head its square shape. Adding to the massiveness of the head is the pendulous lips hanging at obtuse angles

The Mastiff’s neck is medium in length, but muscular and powerful. It sits into the wide, deep chest and powerful shoulders. The forequarters and hindquarters are both well muscled finishing the profile of a straight backed, but powerful body.

Typical Health Concerns

A lot of the health concerns of a Mastiff is due to its large size. That includes hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia, and patellar luxation. As for their eyes,they suffer from entropian, ectropian and progressive retinal atrophy (PRA) which causes blindness. There now is a DNA test for PRA to help breeders cull out the carriers out of their breeding programs.

They also suffer from hypothyroidism, cardiomyopathy, von Willebrand’s disease (a bleeding disorder), cystinuria, various cancers (lymphoma, osteocarcinoma), epilepsy and bloat. Bloat is caused by gulping down food, forcing gas into the stomach.

The stomach then knots up and the dog is in serious–if not deadly–trouble. The best way to control any chance of your dog getting bloat, is to feed them smaller, more numerous meals to keep their appetite down.

Grooming

Although a short-coated dog, the Mastiff still has an outercoat and undercoat. The outercoat is coarse and moderately short. The undercoat is short and dense. They are a moderate shedder, so they need to be brushed daily with a firm bristle brush. To get the shine on their coat, use a towel to shammy them down.

When bathed, use a mild shampoo that will get the dirt out, but not dry out the coat. Always rinse with white vinegar and water to get the rest of the soap out of the coat. A dry shampoo can be used in times of emergencies.

Average Life Span

Due to its large size, the Mastiff only lives an average of 5 to 10 years.