English Mastiff Dog

Among guard dogs, the English mastiff is definitely in the top 10, perhaps in the top two or three. His appearance alone will make sure that anyone who comes across the mastiff will take care before coming near him.

The English Mastiff is a powerfully built canine with a body that can only be described as "massive." He enjoys the distinction as being "the heaviest dog in the world." In fact the mastiff probably gets his name from the Anglo-Saxon word for powerful - "masty."

Descended from ancient breeds the Alaunt and the Molosser, the mastiff is recognized as the oldest breed of British dog. (And sometimes, his bearing reflects this.)

Perhaps not surprisingly, the dog was used as early as six B.C. in a variety of fighting situations. In fact, the mastiff became central to many blood sports such as bullbaiting, bearbaiting, lion baiting and dog fighting.

As a breed, the English mastiff combines dignity, grandeur and courage. To those who don't fully understand the breed, he may appear to be utterly paradoxical. This is because even though he is calm, loving and affectionate toward his family, he is also a fierce guardian who is fearless, tenacious and ferocious when necessary.

One stunning illustration of this is that the English mastiff will instinctively put himself between his family and an intruder when someone unknown approaches the family's "territory."

If the approaching stranger does not show appropriate respect and restraint, the mastiff may swiftly defend as necessary. Now perhaps you see why he is ranked as among the top 10 guard dogs in history!

However, despite its apparent fierceness, the mastiff displays only gentleness with children.

The English mastiff is an imposing figure as a canine. Most mastiffs stand about 30 inches tall at the shoulder if male and 27.5 inches at the shoulder if female. As to weight, males weigh between 160 to 230 pounds, while slightly smaller females usually weigh in at between 140 and 190 pounds or more.

As with any breed of dog, the English Mastiff has its share of health issues. These include hip dysplasia and bloating. The breed is also prone to obesity. You can manage both the bloating and the weight by feeding your dog two or three small meals a day. As loved as this dog is, there are still plenty of English Mastiff rescues.

The English Mastiff also possesses a higher incidence of bone cancer than some other breeds of dog. They are also one of the breeds that may be prone to developing kidney stones.

If healthy, an English mastiff will live to be between nine and 11 years old. You must keep his diet good and give him plenty of exercise, as you might imagine. However, just as with humans, he may need to be encouraged to exercise rather than coming naturally to it. Just as with humans, you may find that he wants to lounge in the living room rather than to run in the park with you or to play outside with the children.

As for grooming, brush your English mastiff daily to get rid of dust, dead hair and other debris that may tend to hide in his coat. If you don't do this, unfortunately, your beloved dog may begin to smell.

Another advantage to daily brushing involves skin problems. The chances of developing any concerns dealing with the Mastiff's skin are far less if you make it a habit to brush him regularly.

Instead of using a regular brush on your dog, though, consider using something called a "dog glove." This device was developed specifically for shorthaired dogs such as the mastiff. Your dog will enjoy this experience is much as you do, and it will allow you to bond with him.

Your mastiff has a huge body, true, but his heart is also very large. He would love to give it to you, for the rest of his life.

Is your English Mastiff getting the best care? Everything you wanted to know about raising & caring for a mastiff is revealed. Find out more about the English Mastiff dog here!