SCRAPS Breed Profile MASTIFF

Stats

Country of Origin: Britain Group: Working Use today: Family companion, guarding, police & military work, search & rescue and weight pulling. Life Span: 10 to 12 years Color: Coat colors are golden & light fawn, brindle, silver, tiger and apricot. Coat: Smooth, short-haired coat. Grooming: The smooth, short-haired coat is easy to groom. Brush with a firm bristle brush and wipe over with a piece of toweling or chamois for a gleaming finish. Bathe or dry shampoo when necessary. This breed is an average shedder. Height: Males minimum 30 inches; Females minimum 27 inches Weight: Males 160 pounds; Females 150 pounds

Profile

In Brief: The Mastiff is a self-confident, watchful, brindle, silver, tiger, and apricot and is easy to and patient dog who is gentle-natured towards groom. In the eighteenth century it was his family. Intelligent and dignified. It rarely described as follows: "As a lion is to a cat, so is barks, but it is in its nature to defend its territory a mastiff compared to a dog." and family. Calm, steady and docile, this dog is normally excellent with children, (not Temperament: Originally valued for their recommend for toddlers though, because of their abilities as a fierce guard and fighting dog, great size). Good natured, but very large and today's Mastiff is a gentle giant. It is a self- heavy. Extra effort should be given to socialize a confident, watchful, and patient dog who is Mastiff puppy. If properly socialized it will get gentle-natured towards his family. Intelligent and along well with other dogs. Responds well to dignified. It rarely barks, but it is in its nature to gentle, patient training. This breed loves to defend its territory and family. Calm, steady and please and needs lots of companionship. docile, this dog is normally excellent with children, (not recommend for toddlers though, Description: The Old English Mastiff is one of because of their great size). Good natured, but the heaviest breeds; a male Mastiff can exceed very large and heavy. Responds well to gentle, 200 pounds. This dog is very massive, powerful patient training. This breed loves to please and and muscular. The head is heavy and square needs lots of companionship. The Mastiff's with a short muzzle. There is a black mask dominance varies widely depending on the around the eyes and nose no matter what the lineage. They can be aloof with strangers or general coat color. The eyes are small, dark, fairly friendly. Do not hit a Mastiff or you are and hazel. The small ears should also be dark- asking for it! A born guard dog, brave and loyal. colored. The teeth should meet in a scissors or When strangers visit, it is likely to refuse to let slightly undershot bite. The tail is set quite high, them in unless they are accepted by its handler. tapers to the tip, and reaches to the hocks. The The Mastiff generally holds intruders at bay short coat comes in golden fawn, light fawn, rather than attacking. Protection training is unnecessary for this naturally protective breed. It is very possessive of home, family and car. It may be combative with other dogs if not very well socialized as a puppy, so extra effort should exercise. They should always be leashed in be given to socialize a Mastiff puppy. If properly public. socialized it will get along well with other dogs. The Mastiff tends to drool, wheeze and snore Origins: Found in Britain as early as the Roman loudly. They can be somewhat difficult to train. invasion, the Noble Old English Mastiff was probably brought to that island by Phoenician Health: Beware of hip dysplasia. As these dogs traders as early as the 6th century BC. Since are prone to bloat, feed two or three small meals then, the Mastiff has been used as an arena a day, instead of one large one. Also prone to gladiator by the Romans, in the bloody sport of CHD, gastric torsion, ectropion, PPM, vaginal bull, bear and dog combat, and as a sheep hyperplasia, elbow dysplasia and PRA. guardian, bodyguard, protector, and companion. Occasionally seen is cardiomyopathy. A Mastiff came to America on the Mayflower and subsequently other dogs were imported. By the Living Conditions: The Mastiff will do okay in end of World War II, Mastiffs were almost extinct an apartment if it is sufficiently exercised. They in England. However, with fresh imports from the are relatively inactive indoors and a small yard United States and Canada, the breed is once will do. again well established in today's England. Some of the Mastiff's talents include: watch dogging, Exercise: Mastiffs are inclined to be lazy but guarding, police work, military work, search & they will keep fitter and happier if given regular rescue, and weight pulling.

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