All about the Mastiff dog breed

Many breeds of dogs are known, among them many are ancient. It is these animals that have a lot in common with wolves. In the world cynology, there are 14 breeds of ancient dog breeds, which include the mastiff. Nowadays, the varieties of this breed have gained high popularity among dog breeders.

Mastiff is a large dog with kind eyes. Despite the fact that at the first glance at it one might get the impression that it is a formidable and terrible beast, in fact, the animal is characterized by opposite qualities. This is a good-natured sensitive dog, a real guard and a devoted friend for a person.

There is no exact hypothesis about the origin of the mastiff breed at the moment. However, historians agree that this dog has fighting roots. Asia is considered the birthplace of a huge pet, namely its central regions. Many hundreds of years ago, people used the mastiff to protect housing and property from strangers, as well as from the attack of wild animals. Sometimes an animal of this breed took part in battles.

Over time, the dog spread from Asia throughout the world, while the dog acquired new external qualities and characteristics.

Mastiffs are large massive dogs with a powerful constitution. The description of this breed suggests that these animals have a heavy skeleton, covered with well-developed muscles. The life span of this dog is from 10 to 15 years. Depending on the type, wool can have different lengths and colors.The most common mastiff colors are black, white, gray, blue, with or without tan.

The body shape of this pet is elongated, the weight corresponds to the height. Males are usually taller and heavier than females. Body weight can vary from 40 to 80 kilograms with a height of about 60 centimeters. The pet's head is characterized by massiveness, deep-set eyes with an almond shape are located on it. Usually the color of the iris is brown. The gait of a large dog is always confident and light.

Each member of the mastiff family has calm and balanced disposition. The intelligence of the animal is well developed, so it can be trained. This dog will become an excellent watchdog for the family, distrustful of strangers.

Due to the fact that mastiffs have spread throughout the planet, each of the species of a separate region has acquired not only a special appearance, but also character. Today you can find Himalayan, Chinese, Thai, Caucasian, African, Afghani, Mongolian and other species of this breed.

The main varieties of mastiff are listed below.

In another way, this breed is called the Tibetan Mastiff. A distinctive feature of this large and muscular dog is the coat, which has a thick undercoat. Males weigh 73 kilograms, females are slightly less. At the withers, the height of a dog can reach from 69 to 73 centimeters. The head and neck of the Mongolian wolfhound are large and massive, a fold can be traced from the eyes to the jaw. A large collar is formed from the wool, which resembles a lion's mane.

The jaw of the animal is square, strong, with large and white teeth. Scissor bite. The pet's nose is black with open nostrils. Hanging ears, small size. The limbs are characterized by straightness, power and low height. The tail is tucked over the croup. The eyes of the Siberian Mastiff are large, they have a lumpy shape and a dark color. The broad sternum is heart-shaped. The color of the coat can be of three options: black, black and tan, red. This imperturbable, self-sufficient animal does not tend to aggression.

This Mastiff is called Matin or Flemish Sled Dog. The body of the animal has powerful muscles, which are well expressed. The physique of the dog is characterized by massiveness and breadth. The limbs of a large dog are long and prominent. The average height of a pet is from 0.7 to 0.8 meters. The dog weighs 45 kilograms.

The animal's appearance is aggressive, serious, strong and reliable. The neck is characterized by massiveness and strength, as well as a neat transition to the head. Puppies have flews at birth. There are triangular hanging ears on the head. Despite the massive build, it is characterized as embossed and fit. The abdomen has a tight and elastic structure. The pet's tail should be docked by 10-15 centimeters. The wool has a fawn color, there are tiger prints.

If the animal has a solid red color, then it often has a black muzzle. This dog is serious and wise, it is characterized by high intelligence, so the pet can easily master even complex commands.

The official name of the breed is Great Dane. This dog was bred in Germany as a molossus. This stately and large animal has a harmonious constitution and an almost square body shape. The head is large in size with an elongated rectangular muzzle. The flaps are not excessively saggy. The brown eyes are oval and small in size.The nose is colored black, sometimes black with specks. The ears are set high, they are of medium size and the leading edge is adjacent to the dog's cheeks. The long neck is muscular, graceful and long.

The Great Dane has a well-defined withers. The back of the animal is short, the tail is thin and long. The dog has a toned belly that forms an attractive bend line. Legs are straight, strong, not massive. It is a short-haired animal with smooth, shiny and dense fur. Dogs of this breed are characterized by calmness, peacefulness, poise and benevolence. This intelligent and docile mastiff can be trained without difficulty.

It can be kept both in an apartment and in a country house. The animal tolerates cold and hot weather well, is characterized by endurance and likes to walk slowly.... The dog's appearance is powerful and balanced. The height of the dog reaches 0.7 meters, and the bitches - 0.6, while the pet weighs about 70 - 80 kg. The coat of the dog is of medium length, it is soft and pubescent. Fur on the back of the neck, legs and tail is longer. The color of the coat can be of any color. The head is large, it has a well-defined stop, it can be slightly rounded.

The jaw is broad, strong, with medium to large teeth and a scissor bite. The ears are set high and far from each other, they hang down and lie close to the cheeks. They are often stopped. Eye color depends on the color of the coat. The tail has practically no taper; it usually hangs downward and can be docked. The legs are well developed, they are strong, powerful, muscular.

By temperament, the animal resembles a molossoid, as it is calm, restrained and knows how to endure. Training a representative of this breed is not difficult.

This is a courageous white handsome man. The animal is domineering, courageous, noble, cheerful and peaceful. This breed belongs to service hunting. The pet is characterized by an athletic physique, proportionality and muscle development. The head is large, the jaws are powerful. The dog's skin is thick and elastic. According to the standard, Argentinean mastiffs are snow-white in color, there may be a black spot on the muzzle. Due to its athletic build, the dog looks intimidating, but in fact, the animal is smart and obedient. The pet is characterized by a lack of aggression and courage.

Males in height reach 0.68 meters, and females - 0.6. Males weigh up to 45 kilograms, and females - up to 40. The head is large, with a convex-concave profile. According to the standard, a dog's eyes should be colored black or brown. The tail has a great length and drooping position.

The fur is thick, short and white. The ears of the animal are erect and triangular, they need to be cropped. A feature of the Argentine mastiff is the versatility of working opportunities. Representatives of this breed are fast and hardy hunters with a strong grip. Despite the courage and perfectly developed hunting instincts, this dog is cheerful and friendly.

Outside of its homeland, the breed is no longer popular. This large and powerful animal brings a lot of trouble and difficulties during maintenance.

He's an English and British Mastiff. The purpose of breeding this animal was to protect housing, as well as to hunt animals. Ireland is considered the birthplace of this breed. The dog has short, hard fur, dyed in peach color or tiger print. There is black hair on the animal's face. The eyes of the dog are black with a rhombic shape. The tail of the representative of the English Mastiff is set high. The skeleton of the dog is powerful and strong. This kind animal has guard qualities and gets along well with children.

This service dog is recognized as one of the largest in the world. In adulthood, a pet can reach a height of 0.8 meters and a weight of up to 85 kilograms. The Spaniard is characterized by mental stability and a high level of mental abilities. The animal gets along well in families, but its socialization should be carried out as early as possible.

The Neapolitan or Italian Mastiff is especially popular nowadays. This dog is characterized by slowness and measuredness, as well as independence and good mental abilities.

This is an animal with a noble character. He feels affection and affection for his masters. He fearlessly and aggressively reacts to other dogs. At home, the dog does not show much activity, but in a public place it should be walked exclusively in a muzzle, without removing the leash. The Afghan Mastiff needs education from an early age. The animal is characterized good health, he always physical activity is required. This guard can reach a mass of 55 to 80 kilograms, while the height of the pet is 0.7 - 0.85 meters. The bitch is smaller than the male.

The life expectancy of a representative of this breed is about 10 years. The coat color of the Great Dane is usually gray, deer, brindle. The head of the dog is large with a wide forehead, the muzzle has an elongated shape and gray lips. The description of the pet's muzzle includes a black lobe, medium-sized dark eyes. The dog's neck is short, powerful, strong. The ears are of medium size and can be cropped.

Mountain Mastiff or Pyrenean Mountain Dog. She has an external resemblance to polar bears. Despite the frightening appearance, the pet's disposition is soft and friendly. This dog is characterized by courage, strength, endurance, therefore it is quite popular all over the world. The optimal conditions for keeping a representative of this breed are an open-air cage and a spacious adjoining territory. This animal can perform the functions of a shepherd, guard, companion.

The pet's coat is white, but there may be splashes of gray or yellow. The wool of the mountain mastiff is characterized by a great length. Females grow up to 0.75 meters, and males - up to 0.8 meters. The dog weighs about 60 kilograms. The head of the dog is large with a dry wedge-shaped shape, dry cheekbones and cheeks. The jaw is strong, strong, scissor bite. The nose is large in size, it is characterized by a special sensitivity. Wide-set eyes are medium in size and have a dark iris.

The ears are characterized by a low set and a triangular shape. The body of the animal has a rectangular format, while it is strong and muscular. The abdomen is tucked in and not tucked up. The chest is characterized by drooping and the presence of rounded ribs. The tail landing is below the croup. It is long and can rise during activity. Legs are straight with oval paws. The fur has a soft and fluffy undercoat, as well as a harder guard coat. This mastiff is considered a balanced pet, he is kind and patient in relation to children, friendly to other living creatures in the house.

Turkish Mastiff or Kangal. This Turkish shepherd dog differs from the wolfhound by its calmness and hard work. The animal is 0.89 m tall and weighs 69 kilograms. The color of the dog's coat is gray-yellow, gray-brown, brown-yellow. The presence of a black mask on the face is considered mandatory. This animal is harmoniously built, has a powerful body and a strong constitution with slender legs. The head is large, with hanging ears. The pet's tail is long and set high.With its large size, the dog is quite agile and looks very harmonious.

The African Mastiff is a powerful, agile watchdog breed. This Molossian has a thick, short coat and is considered a heat-loving animal. It is not easy to maintain and educate, but if a person makes efforts and shows patience, he will get a loyal and reliable friend.

The dog is large and strong and well muscled. The male reaches a height of 0.66 meters, and the bitch - 0.61 cm. Body weight is proportional to the height and usually ranges from 60 to 90 kilograms. The dog has a large head and body, covered with well-developed muscles. The Boerboel is an intelligent, controllable and easily trainable animal. In a dangerous situation, he is fearless and courageous. In order for an animal to become restrained, it needs early education and regular exercise.

This dog is an excellent guard for the farm, he protects the herd well, while being vigilant. It is a large, powerful animal with an oblong body. The pet's head resembles that of a bear, its profile is characterized by a bulge. The jaw is strong and very well developed. The eyes are dark colored and elliptical. The ears are small and triangular in shape.

The tail of the mastiff is long, not thin, it has a curved tip. Legs are straight and wide. The coat of the Portuguese Riffer is of medium length, thick and heavy, colored in black, wolf, fawn, yellow. The growth of males does not exceed 74 cm, and females - 70 cm. Females weigh about 35, and males - about 40 kilograms.

Before buying a small pet, you should seriously think about whether you will be able to meet all the requirements for keeping a purebred dog. When choosing a mastiff puppy, you should not rush. It is better to visit several exhibitions, go home to the breeders of the animal and learn as much as possible about this dog breed.

First of all, it is worth deciding on the sex of the mastiff, although the puppy that is available is often bought. The male is large in size, he does not show a tendency to vagrancy. At the same time, the male eats more than the bitch, but is no less loving and devoted. Mastiff bitches usually have a hard time giving birth, and are also picky in choosing a gentleman.

It is also imperative to evaluate the overall litter of the puppies. It is important to see how the mother treats the babies, and it is also desirable to see the father of the offspring. It will not be superfluous to check the x-rays of the puppy's hip and elbow joints. So you can be sure that the baby will not have dysplasia - This is a very dangerous and common disease among mastiffs.

At the age of 5-6 weeks, the puppy already shows independence and curiosity, he is no longer so dependent on the mother. A small mastiff is a miniature copy of its parents; the animal must have large paws, large ears. You should give preference to a puppy, which has a square head, a long body, a well-built skeleton. It is also worth making sure that the puppy's claws are trimmed and the pasterns do not fall through.

The baby's paws should be characterized by tight compression, curvature of the toes, as well as black nails. You don't need to buy a Mastiff that is overfed and too fat. At 2 months, the baby should be active and well-nourished. Do not be alarmed if the puppy has a slight overshot - the jaw grows, so soon this defect will return to normal... The baby should not have a snub-nosed, narrow or too long muzzle.

It is considered unacceptable if a mastiff puppy has sagging eyelids, bulging or too wide apart eyes.In addition, the baby should have a wide chest, prominent ribs and an even back.

Choosing a puppy for coat color can be the last thing, while taking into account your own preferences. When buying a small mastiff, you need to observe how he behaves during games. Whatever the breed of the dog, the kids have fun together, after which they fall asleep with the whole company. There are dogs that will show curiosity when studying a person, and there are less determined dogs.

The little mastiff should be picked up and carefully examined for wounds and scratches. Dandruff and bald patches should not be present on the baby's fur. The animal's nose should be cool and moist to the touch, with no obvious discharge. The puppy's eyes should be clean and free of pus. The color of the gums and tongue should be pink.

The mastiff's belly should not show signs of bloating. The puppy should not sneeze or cough, wheezing should not be heard during breathing. It is worth taking a pet to your home at the age of 1.5 months, it must have a brand or chipping.

A mastiff puppy is a pleasure that not everyone can afford. This breed of dog is not easy in terms of training and education. With proper care, proper feeding and showing love for this animal, you can raise an excellent watchdog with a kind soul.

You can find out how to choose the right Tibetan Mastiff puppy by watching the video below.