General
Information About Mastiffs
The English Mastiff (referred to by the AKC
as simply the Mastiff) has its origins in some of the oldest breeds of
dog
known to man. There is much debate about the original origins of the
Mastiff,
but certainly the breed as we know it today comes primarily from the
breeding
programs that took place in
Mastiffs are often referred to as
"gentle giants" – loving, slobbery gentle giants. They are the
largest of the dog breeds, and can weigh anywhere from 140 lbs to 220+
lbs.
They resemble a Great Dane in height, and a Saint Bernard in bulk, and
typically weigh more than either. Despite their great size, they are
extremely
gentle, docile, and sensitive.
Mastiffs are loving and loyal companions.
They are "inside the house" dogs, not backyard dogs. They crave human
companionship, and want to be treated as members of the family. Without
this
social interaction with their family, they can be prone to behavioral
problems.
A large house works out best, but they can exist just fine in a smaller
home as
long as they can get out for adequate exercise. They tend to be very
well
behaved in the house, but you need to watch out for the wagging tail
that tends
to be at just the right height to knock over the can of soda sitting on
the
coffee room table. In general, adult Mastiffs are not prone to stealing
food
off the table or other such indiscretions; although you may need to pay
attention while they are still puppies.
Mastiffs do slobber, some more than others.
They all will drool after eating or drinking, or if they are waiting
for a
tasty treat. You will tend to keep plenty of slobber rags placed at
strategic
locations around the house, and always wipe them off after they eat or
drink.
It is surprising how quickly you will get used to this Mastiff
phenomenon.
Mastiffs snore, sometimes quite loudly. Mastiffs also shed. Although
they have
short hair, it tends to fall out fairly regularly and accumulate in the
corners
of your house. It can be easily kept under control by combing it out
once or
twice a week. Cutting nails is also important and should be done
regularly.
In general, Mastiffs do not bark a lot.
They
often seem totally oblivious to what is going on around them, however
they are
in fact paying close attention to what is normal and what is not. When
they
perceive something not quite right, they will sit up at attention to
check
things out. They may bark if they hear a strange sound from outside, or
if a
stranger comes to the door. Once you accept the stranger or guest
however, your
Mastiff will as well. If your Mastiff is apprehensive about somebody,
there may
be a good reason for it that your dog has a sixth sense for. Mastiffs
are not
guard dogs in a pure sense, but they do pay attention to their
surroundings.
When let outside, they will often go on a perimeter journey around the
yard to
make sure everything is OK. They become somewhat territorial, and
protective of
their family and home.
Mastiffs are excellent dogs around
children,
and seem to have a special sense of the fragile nature of small
children. They
are very tolerant of the abuse that small children can inflict upon
them,
including pulling their ears, sitting on them, tugging at the tails,
etc.; and
they love to lick the faces of children. They will become protective of
children in the house; often wanting to place themselves between
children and
strangers that may come to the house. They will never intentionally
hurt a
child, but because of their size you do need to be careful with small
children
that may get bumped by a Mastiff walking by, or swatted by a
Mastiff’s wagging
tail.
Mastiffs are expensive to purchase, raise,
and maintain. While they don’t eat as much as you might think for
such a large
dog, they do eat a lot of food, especially while they are gaining up to
five
pounds of weight per week. A Mastiff may go through 40 to 80 lbs of dog
food in
a month. Mastiffs are also more expensive when it comes to veterinary
and
medical costs. Most medicine and antibiotic dosages are based on
weight, and
Mastiff’s are the heaviest breed of dog. Also, not every
veterinarian is
prepared to treat a Mastiff. You need to consider the size of medical
equipment, knowledge of giant breeds especially in regards to
anesthesia, and
even the needs for sufficient staff to move an injured 200 lb Mastiff
onto a
surgical or x-ray table.
A Mastiff is not for everyone, due both to its size and its need to be an active member of your family. Owning a Mastiff is a big responsibility, but it will reward you a million times over with its love and devotion. Many times, the biggest problem with Mastiffs is the "potato chip" syndrome – you can’t just have one. They are the most noble of all dog breeds – the lion of dogdom.
:)