All About Mastiffs

What is it you would like to know about Mastiffs, I know I had a lot of questions about them myself and with a little research found out more than I ever imagined about these wonderful and magnificent animals. First of all do not confuse an actual Mastiff with other similar dogs like the Bull Mastiff, Tibetan Mastiff, or Neopolitan Mastiff. These breed's names are misleading in that they are not other versions of the original mastiff but there own seperate breed. The Mastiff has had numerous other "names" such as the "Old English Mastiff" or "English Mastiff". The Mastiff falls under the category of giant breed and if you have ever seen one it's not difficult to understand why. These dogs generally grow from 27 in up to a possible 36 in. Their weight can vary anywhere from 110 lbs up to 343lbs as in the case of Zorba "the world's largest dog". However most mastiffs only weigh somewhere between 120-230lbs, with females falling on the smaller side of both the weight and height. These majestic creatures come in a brindle color or a cream or apricot coat with a black mask.

Their hearts are as big as their massive bodies. These dogs live to please their owners and are quite sensitive despite their rougish looks. Mastiffs tend to become quite protective of their family and property. When defending their home are more likely to bite and hold the intruders rather than chase them off. Most Mastiffs when raised with other animals get along very well with other dogs and any other family pets. Although care needs to be taken with the smaller animals around these dogs it is usually only because they do not realize their own size and strength when "playing" with them. One tale of a Mastiff's gentleness told of an owner who found her mastiff caring around something in it's mouth. Once the owner was able to see what it was, she was shocked to realize that all this time her huge beast had been gently carrying a baby squirrel in it's mouth. Other than being wet & scared out of it's mind from being in the dogs mouth the baby squirrel was in perfect condition. Parents are warned to keep a close eye on their toddlers when they are with a Mastiff, again only because of the size of the dogs. Their tails are quite strong and when they are happy those tails can become a bit dangerous to a toddler who is unsteady on their feet. Mastiff's have great personality traits. They are so eager to please their master that they are easily trained for basic commands with lsimple ove and praise as their reward. When they are in a family that shows them love and respect they are content to confine their roaming to their own yard sticking close to those they love. Unlike some dog breeds the Mastiff is not one for alot of unnecessary barking, only when they feel a warning is in need.

A surprising find about Mastiff's is that they actually make great apartment pets despite their large size. Mastiff's do not need alot of exercise to keep them in good shape and temperment. In fact a daily walk will suffice as their daily exercise. Mastiff's are content to lay at your feet or calmly walk about the place. They are more on the "couch potato" side than a "get up and go" dog. They are also great apartment roommates because of their calm quite demeanor.

Feeding these great beasts is also a big concern for most people when faced with the thought of getting one. Obviously with their large size they need to eat more than a medium or small dog would but when fed the properly balanced dog food their consumption can be kept at an affordable amount. A Mastiff only needs 6-8 cups of food a day, depending upon their size. One special note that must be mentioned when talking about feeding these dogs is that they need their food and water bowls to be up off the ground level 6in or so. If this is not done the dog can experience a lot of bloating and gas problems and possibly worse with their stomach actually getting flipped over and causing many medical problems.

Despite how wonderful these dogs are many are without homes. This is due to people making hasty choices when picking out a puppy to bring home. They don't research enough about the breed and ask themselves the hard questions. Are they really ready to care for a dog who quite possibly is as large in height & weight as they are. Mismanagement of such a large dog can lead to many devastating problems. An unhappy Mastiff would be near impossible to control if not taught to listen to their owners every command.

No matter what breed of dog appeals to you always check out every aspect before making a decision. An informed decision is the best way to be sure that you are matched with a dog who will become a lifetime friend and companion for you and your family.