At-A-Glance:  The Mastiff Dog Breed

The Mastiff is a particularly large breed of dog that is surprisingly easy going, good-natured, calm, and gentle. He is a well mannered animal that can fit well in most any household. 

This dog needs plenty of room to move about and would not be ideal for small apartment living.  If you have a family with children in the house then owning a Mastiff would make an excellent choice as he is known to be utterly devoted and loyal to its owners, and great with little kids. This dog has high affection levels and gets along great with other pets.  Another positive aspect of the Mastiff is that he makes an excellent watchdog with the ability to protect the family with strength and quickness.  However, he needs early training and socialization.  The training should be patient, precise, and never overbearing.  Remember that a six-month-old Mastiff may weigh 90 pounds but still have the mind-set of a puppy.

The Mastiff stands 27-32 inches at the shoulder and weighs between 150-200 pounds.  He is a massive, large-boned, and muscular dog breed with a short coarse fawn-, apricot-, or brindle-colored coat and black muzzle, ears and nose.

History/Origin: The Mastiff, also known as Old English Mastiff, is one of the original ancient breed types, along with the hounds, herders, and Arctic types.  He was distributed around the known world by Egyptian, Persian, Greek, and Roman armies and traders.  Peasants in England kept this breed to ward off wolves and other predators.  The Mastiff was bred for size, strength, protection, and courage.

Proper Care & Maintenance:  When the Mastiff becomes an adult, he needs a mild amount of daily exercise. A good 10 to 15 minute brisk walk would do just fine.  Better yet are physical games in a fenced yard.

One interesting aspect that pertains to the health of the Mastiff dog breed is its weight.  They are easily prone to becoming overweight or obese.  Be sure to monitor his food intake and watch out not to overfeed him, especially if you would like to see your Mastiff reach his full lifespan of between 9 and 11 years.

Veterinarians suggest that Mastiffs be specifically tested for eye problems, thyroid, elbow dysplasia, and hip dysplasia. The two major health concerns that are typical in this dog breed are CHD and gastric torsion. Minor issues to watch out for are elbow dysplasia, cystinuria, and osteosarcoma.

The Mastiff's short coat and dense undercoat requires light grooming and only periodic brushing.

This dog can live both indoors and outdoors.  If you choose to keep your Mastiff outdoors then it should be noted that this breed is not fond of hot weather at all.  He thrives on cooler temperatures so be sure to afford him the luxury of plenty of shade during the hot summer months if he is to be kept outside.

However, the ideal living situation for a happy Mastiff is to be inside with his family as this dog is genetically geared towards protecting its pack.