Mastiff – Dog Breed Information

The Mastiff Breed, also known as the English Mastiff is a breed of large dogs that originated in England in the 19th century by the gamekeepers to guard states.

The calm and gentle Mastiffs are affectionate with their family and love being around them trying to please them every moment they can.

Origin & History

Mastiffs have been known around the world for thousands of years. The Neapolitan Mastiff and Tibetan Mastiff are some examples of the ancient mastiff breeds.

The British Mastiff type or the Mastiff is similarly an ancient breed. Julies Caesar who lead an invasion of Britain in 55 B.C. He was impressed by the mastiffs that helped him defend the island against his enemies.

The Mastiffs were used as big-game hunters, night guards and war dogs in medieval England. They became nearly extinct after World War I and II due to the shortage of food. However, the breed was luckily rebuilt and is very popular these days.

The American Kennel Club recognized the Mastiffs in 1885 and currently ranks 28th with its increasing popularity among the breeds registered.

Are they Child-friendly?

Yes, the Mastiffs are very much friendly when it comes to kids. They love children and being around them playing and socializing. However, they are large active dogs and can easily knock down a toddler. Hence, kids should be supervised when with Mastiffs. They are suited for older children.

Behavior, Temperament & Personality

The Mastiffs are good-natured dogs that are loving and affectionate with their owner. Their calm behavior makes them an ultimate pick for older children.

The Mastiffs have a gentle temperament and are generally gentle and treat them with instinctive care. They are quite playful and love to please their owner.

The Mastiffs have a dignified, courageous and good-natured personality. They are very sensitive dogs that shy, fearful or aggressive if mishandled by the owner.

Trainability

Mastiffs are smart and intelligent dogs that thrive on affection and are eager to please their owner. However, they can be very stubborn at times acting independently. To avoid this, they should be socialized well and training should be given daily in a short and consistent way.

Facts about the Mastiff breed

Here are some facts about the Mastiff breed:

• Modern Mastiff descended from the ancient Alaunt and Molosser dogs.
• The puppy phase is much longer than other breeds.
• They have the biggest litters.
• They are the biggest dogs in terms of mass.
• They became nearly extinct after the end of World War II.

Health Issues of Mastiffs

The Mastiffs live an average life of 10-12 years and during their lifetime, they have to suffer from various health issues. Some of them are:

Cystinuria

Cystinuria refers to an inherited kidney defect which is more common in male dogs.

Hip Dysplasia

Hip Dysplasia is an inherited condition when there is malformation in the hip joints of the dog’s body.

Seizures

Seizures refer to the symptom of brain problem caused by either epilepsy, trauma or other various causes.

Size

A female Mastiff is 70–91 cm tall weighing about 54-77 kg. Whereas, a male Mastiff is 70–91 cm tall weighing about 73–100 kg.

Color Patterns

Mastiffs are found in three different colors which are Brindle, Apricot and Fawn.

Price of Mastiff puppy

A healthy mother Mastiff gives birth to 5-10 puppies at a time. Depending on the purity of the breed, you can expect to pay $300 to $1000 for purchasing a Mastiff puppy.

Dogs similar to the Mastiff breed

Here are some dog breeds that are similar to the Mastiff:

• Neapolitan Mastiff
• Bull Mastiff
• Tibetan Mastiif
• Spanish Mastiff

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