The Mastiff

The Mastiff has a very long and rich history that dates back to 55 BC. There are documents in which Cesar describes using Mastiffs in battle to conquer his enemies. Originally bred as a dog of war, the breed later evolved into a fighting dog that was used to keep wolves at bay, as well as do battle with bulls and lions. In later years the Mastiffs were bred for protection. In 1885 the breed was registered with the American Kennel Club, and has since become a house pet for many.

Being that the breed has been around for thousands of years the dogs of some lines are very calm gentle giants, with even tempers and docile natures. While other lines produce more agressive dogs, and sometimes even timid, anxious ones. Being that it is almost impossible to tell how a young puppy will grow-up to be it is important that you find a reputable breeder, and interact with the parents yourself to make your own best "guesstimate" as to the kind of  line the puppy comes from. Or, better yet you can adopt an older dog from a shelter, where you will have a much better idea of the dog's behavior.

No matter what the line, it is always a good idea to provide socialization and obedience training from an early age, as it can only benefit the dog and your family. As with other breeds lineage does provide certain pre-dispositions, but ultimately dogs are products of their environments.

For the purposes of this article though we will discuss Mastiffs as they are intended, which is to be gentle giants. These calm, dignified dogs are loyal and possess courage in spades. They have a pleasant nature, and high level of intelligence. The tremendous proportions of this breed make them excellent at scaring-off those who would wish to do harm, and their menacing appearance and loud bark also make them excellent watch dogs.  However, it is important to note that most Mastiffs will be friendly and welcoming to strangers if they don't sense any hositility.

Mastiffs generally do well with children and other smaller animals.  However, it is important to socialize them from an early age. As with all large breed dogs, it is especially important that you pay extra special attention to their interaction with small children as their size can easily knock a child down, or an adult for that matter.

While these dogs are easily trained they really do best with owners that are calm, and assertive, and have some experience in dog ownership.

American Kennel Club Classification : Working Group
Canadian Kennel Club Classification : Working Dogs
Kennel Club (Great Britain) Classification : Working