Mastiff breed portrait: Dog Breed Information, Facts and Pictures

Life span: 10 – 12 years
Origin: England
Temperament: Good-natured, Affectionate, Dignified, Protective, Calm, Courageous
Height: Female: 70–91 cm, Male: 70–91 cm
Weight: Female: 54–77 kg, Male: 73–100 kg
Colors: Brindle, Fawn, Apricot

• Life expectancy: 10 to 12 years
• Character: good natured, friendly, quiet
• W through height: 70 to 91 cm
• Weight: 70 to 100 Kg
• Colors: falb, apricot or brindle, black mask

The Mastiff is an attentive observer, which often makes him a guardian of large estates in his native England. When faced with new situations, he is reluctant and will wait until his reactions are well considered. This behavior is often interpreted by ignorant people as anxiety, but on the contrary, its high stimulus threshold and the defensive nature attributed. Unnecessary aggression is completely alien to the Mastiff, making him an excellent family pet, who understands himself especially well with older people and children. He shows his special charm when he observes something attentively and folds his brow.

The strong relationship with his family makes him an excellent home or domestic dog, which is in no way suitable for keeping kennels. Due to its high stimulus threshold, he encounters possible threats with calm composure and without exaggerated aggressiveness. In case of a possible threat to his people, he will set the attacker, but never attack him if this is not necessary.

Previously used as a war or hunting dog, the mastiff is nowadays only used as a companion, family or guard dog. As a family dog, he convinces with his calm, kind and easy-going manner. In addition, he gets on well with children and other pets. Even under stress and hectic, he keeps his calm. He feels most comfortable in a house with a garden, where he can play and romp uninhibited. But he is not averse to long walks. As a guard and guard dog, he exhibits a watchful and observant behavior and will not react until after he has fully assessed the situation.

The historic Mastiff is considered the ancestor of many breeds of dogs, such as the Bulldog, the Boxer and the Great Dane. There is much speculation about the exact origin of the breed. Earlier sources consider the Tibetan dog to be the progenitor, but according to recent findings, this connection is unlikely. Other theories see the Molosser from Macedonia and Epirus as the forefather, who came to England with merchant ships. The literature says that when the Romans invaded the UK, they already had dogs very similar to today's mastiff type. These giants impressed them so much that they moved the dogs to Rome to see them fight in specially constructed arenas. In the late Middle Ages, mastiffs were mainly used as war dogs and for bear hunting. The breed standard was set in 1879 and adopted 4 years later by the English "Old English Mastiff Club". In the course of the two world wars, the breed would be almost extinct, but could be saved with the help of a few surviving specimens in the United States.