Mastiff

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The Old English Mastiff, also known simply as the Mastiff, is a large, powerful dog that makes an excellent guard dog and companion.

History

The term Mastiff is often applied to a variety of strong, giant dogs but there is one breed officially called the Old English Mastiff, more commonly called the Mastiff. The Mastiff is thought to be a descendent of the Tibetan Mastiff and has been bred in England for about 2000 years. His primary purpose was as a guard dog and watch dog. Both nobility and peasants loved the breed. The upper class would use the dog to hunt and the peasants would use them to protect their livestock as well as the family. The Mastiff has been treasured for centuries for his strength and loyalty. The breed was reputed to have been standing with Caesar and his men as they invaded Great Britain. The Mastiff was then taken to Rome and participated in fighting gladiators, bulls, bears and other dogs. He was also used to guard sheep and protect their families. The Mastiff came to America on the Mayflower and others were imported later. In both world wars, the Mastiff was used to pull munition carts on the front line. They were also popular as farm dogs. The Mastiff Club of America was established in 1929 and the American Kennel Club accepted the breed as a member of the working group.

Appearance and Size

The Mastiff has a broad, massive head with a short muzzle. The body is large and the tail tapers. The eyes are dark, medium size and set far apart on the head with small "V"-shaped rounded ears. The outer hair coat is coarse, straight, and moderately short with an undercoat that is dense and short. The color of the coat comes in golden or light fawn, apricot, silver, and brindle with the muzzle, ears, and nose being a black mask. The Mastiff stands 27 to 30 inches from the shoulder and weighs 175 to over 190 pounds.

Personality

The  Mastiff is a brave and excellent guard dog. The breed is intelligent and loyal, but can have some serious faults in temperament if not properly socialized and trained.

Wikipedia and GNU

The content of this entry is from the Wikipedia article "Mastiff" licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License.

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  • Name: Shadow
  • Owner: sdreiske
  • Breed: Boxer/Mastiff Mix
  • Shots:
  • Spay/Neutured: Yes
  • Age: 3 Years
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no copyright infringement intended :

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