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Old English Mastiff Breed Description

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Breed Organization

Mastiff Club of America

Native Country
Great Britain

Other Names
Mastiff, English Mastiff

Life Expectancy
Approximately 7-11 Years

Litter Size
Average 2-5 Puppies

Breed Group
AKC-Working

General Description

The English Mastiff, or simply the Mastiff, is a British dog breed of very large size. Likely descended from the ancient Alaunt and Pugnaces Britanniae, with a significant input from the Alpine Mastiff in the 19th century. Distinguished by its enormous size, massive head, short coat in a limited range of colors, and always displaying a black mask, the Mastiff is noted for its gentle and loving nature. The lineage of modern dogs can be traced back to the early 19th century, but the modern type was stabilized in the 1880s and refined since. Following a period of sharp decline, the Mastiff has increased its worldwide popularity. Throughout its history the Mastiff has contributed to the development of a number of dog breeds, some generally known as mastiff-type dogs or, confusingly, just as "mastiffs".

It is the largest living canine, outweighing the wolf by up to 50 kg (110 lbs) on average.

With a massive body, broad skull and head of generally square appearance, it is the largest dog breed in terms of mass. It is on average slightly heavier than the Saint Bernard, although there is a considerable mass overlap between these two breeds. Though the Irish Wolfhound and Great Dane can be more than six inches taller, they are not nearly as robust.

The body is large with great depth and breadth, especially between the forelegs, which causes these to be set wide apart. The length of the body taken from the point of the shoulder to the point of the buttock is greater than the height at the withers. The AKC standard height (per their website) for this breed is 30 inches (76 cm) at the shoulder for males and 27.5 inches (70 cm) (minimum) at the shoulder for females. A typical male can weigh 150–250 pounds (68–113 kg), a typical female can weigh 120–200 pounds (54–91 kg), with very large individuals reaching 300 pounds (140 kg) or more.

Breed Standard

Head: Square. Broad skull. Flat forehead with distinct wrinkles when at attention. Pronounced stop. Short, blunt muzzle (suqarish). Slightly pendulous flews.
Ears: Small, thin, wide set and set on high. hang flat against the cheeks.
Eyes: Small, set wide apart. Hazel color, the darker the better.
Body: Massive, broad and tall. Slightly arched, very muscular neck. Ribs well sprung. Broad muscular back and loin. Deep flanks. Broad, well let down chest.
Tail: Set high. Broad at the root and tapering towards the tip. Carried straight down at rest and hanging to the hock joint.
Hair: Short, lying very close to the body. Not too fine on the shoulders, neck and back.
Coat: Fawn, apricot, silvery fawn or fawn-brindle. All have black mask, ear and nose. Eyes surrounded by black.
Size: Dog: 75 to 82 cm; bitch: at least 66 cm.
Weight: 70 to 90 kilos.


History

The mastiff, which is of British origin, is descended from Assyrian Mastiffs (descended from the Tibetan Mastiffs imported to Europe by the Phoenicians), through the Roman Molossus. Originally bred as fighting dog, the Mastiff later was used as a guard dog for English Seigneurs' herds and estates and as a hunting dog for large game. This breed was given the name Mastiff towards the end of the 14th century. The first Mastiff standard was published in 1883. During World War II, this mighty breed almost disappeared, but was saved and restored from a few remaining Mastiffs imported into the United States.


Behavior

The Mastiff breed is a combination of grandeur, dignity, and courage; calm and affectionate to its master, but capable of protection. This particular mastiff-type breed is an extremely capable guard. If an unfamiliar person approaches near their perceived territory or its master, the Mastiff will immediately position themselves between its master and the stranger. If the approaching person does not back down, they take immediate defensive action. It is because of this instinctive behavior that English Mastiffs have earned themselves a spot in the world's top 10 guard dogs. The breed is innately good natured, calm, easygoing, and surprisingly gentle. It is a well-mannered house pet but needs sufficient room for exercise and activity. This is an extremely loyal breed, though not excessively demonstrative. It is exceptionally devoted to its family and good with children.

Function

Mastiffs excel as companions, family members, therapy workers and as watch dogs. Mastiffs have also done well, when properly trained and conditioned, at carting, tracking, obedience, conformation showing, search and rescue (SAR), and weight pulling.


Health

At all stages of development, the Mastiff should show the breed characteristics of massiveness and sound, if cumbersome, movement. The Mastiff is a particularly large dog demanding correct diet and exercise. Excessive running is not recommended for the first 2 years of the dog's life, in order not to damage the growth plates in the joints of this heavy and fast-growing dog, which in some weeks may gain over 5 lb. However, regular exercise must be maintained throughout the dog's life to discourage slothful behaviour and to prevent a number of health problems. A soft surface is recommended for the dog to sleep on to prevent the development of calluses, arthritis, and hygroma (an acute inflammatory swelling). Due to the breed's large size, puppies may potentially be smothered or crushed by the mother during nursing. A whelping box, along with careful monitoring, can prevent such accidents. The average lifespan of the Mastiff is about 7 years, although it is not uncommon for some to live 10–11 years.

Major problems can include hip dysplasia and gastric torsion. Other problems include obesity, osteosarcoma, and cystinuria. Problems only occasionally found include cardiomyopathy, allergies, vaginal hyperplasia, cruciate ligament rupture, hypothyroidism, OCD, entropion, progressive retinal atrophy (PRA), and persistent pupillary membranes (PPM).

When purchasing a purebred Mastiff, experts often suggest that the dog undergo tests for hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia, thyroid, and DNA for PRA.

A Mastiff may be kept in an apartment, but care must be taken to give it enough exercise. Mastiffs should be fed two or three times a day; it is believed that one large meal per day can increase the chance of gastric torsion.



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