Mastiff - choosing the Breed of Dog That's Right For You

Getting a dog can convert your life. If you get a dog that is compatible with your lifestyle, it can be a very rewarding experience, but all dogs wish love, attention, care and training, so before you make that decision, ask yourself these questions:

• Do I have time to give a dog the attentiveness it requires?
• Do I have the quality to supply proper grooming, exercise and training for a dog?
• Can I afford the expenses that come with a dog?
• Do I have what it takes to be a strong pack leader?
• Do I want to buy a dog from a breeder or adopt a dog from a security or rescue?

If, after answering the above questions, you conclude to move send with getting a dog, it would be wise to learn about the different breeds and their characteristics, personality/temperament, possible health conditions and exercise and grooming requirements in order to make an informed decision.

Carts For Dogs To Pull

This description is a basic summary of one particular breed -- a Mastiff. Read on to conclude if this breed of dog is compatible with your particular lifestyle.

History/Background: The Mastiff, also referred to as the English Mastiff or Old English Mastiff, is recognized as the oldest British breed. It is one of the most aged breeds recorded by man as early as the 6th century Bc. aged images of dogs like these can be seen on Babylonian relics from 2200 Bc. It was forced to take part in bull baiting, lion fighting and fights with human gladiators in Rome and was later used to pull carts, carry heavy loads on its back and to guard estates and businesses. The name "Mastiff" probably evolved from the Anglo-Saxon word "masty," meaning "powerful." Some evidence suggests that the Mastiff came to America on the Mayflower and was practically extinct in England by the end of World War Ii. It is the largest breed of dog in the world for both weight and bulk. "What the lion is to the cat, the Mastiff is to the dog, the noblest of the family." Talents contain watch dog, guard dog, police work, forces work, weight pulling and search and rescue.

Physical Characteristics: The Mastiff has a massive, fine and muscular body and is one of the heaviest breeds of dog. It has a heavy and quadrilateral head, short muzzle and black mask around its eyes and nose. It has small, dark brown eyes and small dark-colored ears. The tail is high set and tapers to the tip. The coat is short and comes in the colors of fawn, brindle and apricot. The Mastiff has an broad impression of grandeur and dignity. Height is 30 inches (minimum) at the shoulder for males and 27-1/2 inches (minimum) for females. Weight is 150 to 250 pounds for males and 120 to 200 pounds for females. *The world's largest dog, according to the Guinness Book of World Records, was a Mastiff named Zorba. At 8 years of age, Zorba weighed 343 pounds.

Personality/Temperament: The Mastiff is a good-natured, calm and polite dog that is affectionate to its scholar but courageous and capable of safety and will defend its territory and family. It is good with children but is not recommended for toddlers because of its great size. It gets along well with other dogs if socialized with proper leadership. The Mastiff is loyal and devoted to its family, loves to please and needs lots of human leadership. It is very entertaining but can be somewhat difficult to train. This breed of dog rarely barks but does tend to drool and snore loudly.

Possible health Conditions: health concerns for this breed of dog contain hip dysplasia, gastric torsion (bloat), obesity, osteosarcoma, cystinuria, allergies, cruciate ligament rupture, hypothyroidism, progressive retinal atrophy (Pra), elbow dysplasia, Von Willebrand's disease, entropion and ectropion of the eyes, Wobblers disease, epilepsy, growth and joint associated problems such as hypertrophic osteodystrophy (Hod), osteochondritis dissicans (Ocd) and panosteitis (Pano) and heart concerns such as aortic stenosis, mitral valve dysplasia and cardiomyopathy. Life expectancy for this breed of dog is 7 to 13 years.

Exercise/Grooming: The Mastiff is inclined to be low vigor (an adult Mastiff) but will be happier and fitter if given quarterly exercise. It should be walked daily on a leash. Grooming is easy and requires brushing with a firm bristle brush and wiping with a towel, bathing or dry shampooing when necessary. This breed is an average shedder.

Living Conditions: The Mastiff does okay in apartment if sufficiently exercised. It is relatively inactive indoors and does okay with a small yard.

Summary: The Mastiff is a very large but polite and docile dog that requires minimal exercise and is fairly easy to groom but needs proper pack leadership and socialization, and due to its large size, its care, ranging from everyday pet supplies to food to veterinary bills, can be more costly.

So, now that you've learned a limited about this breed of dog, one ask remains -- Is a Mastiff the right breed for you?

Mastiff - choosing the Breed of Dog That's Right For You

A Brief History of The Mastiff Breed

Mastiffs in one form or another have been around since before written history began. Carvings from the Babylonian palace of Ashurbanipal (these carvings are on display in the British Museum) show large Mastiff-type dogs hunting lions in the desert near the Tigris River.

Mastiffs as war dogs

Carts For Dogs To Pull

Phoenician merchants introduced the Mastiff to aged Britain in the 6th century Bc. The aged Celts began using them as combat dogs who accompanied their owners into battle. This was the starting of a long history of Mastiffs as fighters, soldiers, protectors, and watchdogs. A beloved story tells that when Sir Peers Legh was injured in the Battle of Agincourt, his Mastiff stood over him and protected him for many hours while the battle raged on.

When the Romans invaded Britain around Ad43, they took Mastiffs back to Italy and used them to protect property and guard prisoners, in addition to fighting in the arena. The Mastiff is said to have been Julius Caesar's beloved dog. Kubla Khan had a kennel of 5,000 Mastiffs for hunting and war use. When Hannibal crossed the Alps, he took several battalions of war Mastiffs.

Mastiffs in Britain

Back in Britain in the 11th century, the Mastiff was one of the few breeds listed by name in The Forest Laws of King Canute, the first written laws of England. Mastiffs were recorded as being kept for protection, and the middle toes of their front feet had to be amputated so the dogs could not run fast adequate to catch deer (which traditionally belonged to royalty).
British royals kept Mastiffs to protect their castles and estates, releasing them at night to ward off intruders. Henry Viii is said to have presented Charles V of Spain with 400 Mastiffs to be used in battle.

From the 12th straight through 19th centuries, Mastiffs were used for bear-baiting. This "sport," in which dogs attacked chained-up bears, bulls, and even tigers, was especially beloved while Queen Elizabeth's time. Such fights were often staged for the queen's entertainment.
The size of the Mastiff and its need to eat about as much food per day as an adult man made a Mastiff too high-priced for most common folk, except butchers, who had adequate meat scraps to feed a Mastiff well. Therefore, the Mastiff was often called the "Butchers Dog."

Mastiffs in the United States

The first Mastiff in North America was brought from Britain on the Mayflower by the Pilgrims. The breed didn't come to be prominent in America until the 1800s, when Mastiffs were often found on plantations in the South as property guards.

During the World Wars, Mastiffs were commissioned to pull munitions carts at the front lines. However, their popularity was declining at the same time, partly because of their size: It was thought about unpatriotic to keep a dog that ate as much in one day as a soldier. By the 1920s, Mastiffs were approximately extinct in Britain, and by the end of World War Ii, Canada and the United States were sending Mastiffs to Britain to save the breed. Now, the breed is well-established in both continents.

From war dogs to house pets

How did Mastiffs go from hunting and fierce war dogs to the gentle pets we know today? Part of the presuppose is that breeders have bred the Mastiff for gentleness and have thus created an excellent companion. In addition Mastiffs are plainly treated differently today. No longer are they used for barbaric practices like bear bating or lion fighting. As for being war dogs, modern warfare has made them obsolete as war dogs. Instead, Mastiffs are whether kept as pets or put to use as watchdogs, guards, police or military dogs, hunt and rescue dogs, or as weight pullers.

A Brief History of The Mastiff Breed