120-170 lbs
28-36"
England
The Mastiff is considered the largest of the dog breeds. Though Wolfhounds and Great Danes can be taller, this mammoth canine is massively muscled, thick, and heavy boned. They originate from the ancient Molosser line that made its way to the British Isles. Over several centuries, this noble and loyal dog continued to thrive in England as a protector and later, was used for bull and bear baiting. The 19th century saw to outlawing of such cruel practices, and a selective breeding program turned this once fearsome breed into a gentle giant. Today, the largest of the breeds still thrives and continues as a loyal guardian of their people.
This self-sacrificing canine is a giant among dogs. As the largest of the dog breeds, this colossus is a descendant of the Molosser family and was most likely brought to the British Isles aboard Phoenician trading vessels sometime between 2000 and 1500 BC. Over the centuries and isolated on an island, the progenitor of the modern-day Mastiff was raised and bred as a fearsome guardian for the tribes living in the Isles. By the Roman invasion in 55 BC, these brave canines were used as war dogs in the resistance against Rome. So impressed with the dog’s size and courage, Julius Caesar brought a pack back to Rome to fight lions and gladiators. As the centuries continued, the Mastiff’s role remained as a protector and guardian, but human interest also turned this breed to bull and bear baiting as well as pit fighting. This cruel blood sport was banned in England in 1835, though it continued underground for some time. Modern-day canines are descendants of these pit dogs as well as of a great and noble stock known as the Lyme Hall Mastiffs. Sir Peers Legh was badly wounded in the battle of Agincourt, which took place on October 23, 1415, in northern France. While fallen, Legh’s companion defended him for several hours through the battle. Though Legh later died, his dog returned home, with a little of puppies in tow, and became the foundation for the Lyme Hall kennel and future English Mastiffs. The Lyme Hall dogs were bred and documented for hundreds of years; thus, gaining a prominent position in the modern-day breed. As a former dog of war and later a pit fighter and bull baiter, this colossal canine underwent a selective breeding program to subdue some of their more fearsome qualities. By 1885, the now docile giant was still a powerful and loyal guardian and earned recognition by the American Kennel Club.
The Mastiff has a very powerful and heavy body. They are considered the largest of all dog breeds, not in height but weight. The largest Mastiff was recorded at 8’3 feet long and weighing 343 pounds. This breed has a powerful structure with a large head. The eyes are dark and set far apart. Ears are small in proportion to the head and V-shaped and set moderately apart. The top of the head is broad and flat between the ears and rounded at the forehead with distinctive wrinkles. The muzzle of this dog is short and dark in color in comparison to the rest of the head. The nose is broad and dark with well-defined flat nostrils. The lips are very loose and hang down the jaw giving the dog a distinctly square-shaped head in profile. The bite is scissor, but undershot jaws are also common. Their chest is wide and convex with well-rounded ribs. This breed’s shoulders are sloped and heavily muscled. The forelegs are straight, strong, set wide apart and end in large, round feet. The hind legs are broad and muscular and set wide apart. Any angulation is moderate and matches the forelegs. Their tail is set moderately high and wide at the root while tapering at the end.
Although this giant is a short-haired breed, they still need weekly brushing with a rubber hound glove to remove dead and loose hair. They do have two shedding seasons, and daily brushing will help remove the excess hair. Despite a short coat, this canine can develop a “doggy” odor. This is due to an increase in oil produced. Frequent brushing is recommended to help distribute the oils, and you may need to bathe your Mastiff slightly more regularly than other dogs. However, be careful with over bathing as this can strip the necessary oils from your pup and lead to dermatosis or other skin conditions. You should consult with your veterinarian or grooming specialist on the frequency and best products to use. When it comes to picking up after your huge dog with a pooper-scooper, everything is bigger. This breed is also known to drool a lot and requires a lot of food. On average, this breed requires 8 to 8 ½ cups of food, divided into two meals daily. The amount you feed your companion will depend on their size, age, and metabolism. However, be careful with excessive feeding to prevent weight gain. Additionally, this breed is prone to developing bloat, which can develop from excessive eating and drinking. Avoid feeding your dog large meals and divide food into smaller portions when possible.
The Mastiff is a great, big, loyal lug of a dog. While loyalty and guardianship are the cornerstone traits bred for centuries, recent breeding programs within the last 300 years have also added a gentle nature to this breed. They are a wonderful family pet who is protective and affectionate towards their people as well as great with children. However loving of children, it is wise to supervise children while playing due to this breed's sheer size. As affectionate as this breed is with the family, they are leery of strangers. When it comes to living and socializing with other dogs and animals, this serious pup must be socialized early and often. This breed may develop aggression towards other animals if not properly socialized and again, the size of this dog can be dangerous if they don't know how to interact with other animals.
