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Mastiff Dog Breed Introduction
Mastiff also known as English Mastiff or Old English Mastiff is a British dog known for its enormous size, black mask, massive head, and drooling. Despite of the large size, Mastiffs are known for their docile, loving, and gentle nature. This breed is not a good choice for families with feeble senior citizens or young children. Mastiffs may easily knock over an unsteady adult or a child.
Like all large sized dogs, socialization and obedience training is required to prevent a Mastiff from becoming fearful of new stimuli and shy of strangers which could lead to biting. They also have a strong protection instinct and need to be socialized in-depth with both animals and people. A Mastiff has contributed to the creation of a number of dog breeds, some generally known as mastiff-type dogs or contradictorily, just as mastiffs.
English Mastiff | Mastiff History
Mastiff-type dogs have been around the world for thousand of years. There is archaeological evidence that bear traces of ferocious giant canines classified as mastiffs dog breeds from ancient Greece, China, Egypt, Rome, and Tibet. Examples of these mastiff-types of dogs include Boerboel, Boxer, Bullmastiff, Neapolitan Mastiff, Tibetan Mastiff, etc.
The English Mastiff type, the AKC breed recognized as Mastiff is also an ancient breed. They were likely descended from the ancient Pugnaces Britanniae, Alaunt, with a significant input from the Alpine Mastiff. Some also believe the Mastiff was descended from Molosser types of dogs. This breed was originally used as war dogs, big-game hunters, guardians of estates at night, and were also pitted against bears, lions, and other fierce animals. Mastiffs also fought against the French along with the British in 1415. After brutal dog sports were outlawed in 1835, Mastiff almost came to extinction.
However, the rise of dog shows in the mid-1800 helped to revive Mastiff. This breed also came to an end during World War I and II due to food shortages. Fortunately, a pair of Mastiff puppies imported from Canada after the second World War helped to bring them back from the brink. In the United States, the English Mastiff came during the colonial times, but it was not until 1879, that the first breed club was formed in the USA. AKC recognized Mastiff as a breed in 1885. The current Mastiff club was formed in 1929.
English Mastiff Lifespan
According to AKC, English Mastiffs have a lifespan of 6 to 10 years. However, some live up to the age of 12 years. The average life expectancy of a Mastiff is 7 years.
Mastiff Grooming
It has a short dense coat that requires minimal grooming requirements. Two to three brushings a week using a bristle brush or a hound glove will suffice. English Mastiffs shed heavily once or twice a year. During the shedding season brush the coat on a daily basis using a strong toothed comb to remove the dead hairs.
Regular brushing also helps to confine the shed hair in the brush that would otherwise spread around the house. Depending on the lifestyle and activity level of this pet, it can be bathed every 6 to 8 weeks using a hypoallergenic shampoo and conditioner. Before bathing the dog, brush the coat to remove dirt and lose hair.
After a bath, thoroughly rinse of the residue of the grooming products from the coat to avoid skin irritation. Wipe the folds on the head, muzzle, and eyes using friendly canine wipes or a clean damp washcloth regularly. Brush the teeth of a Mastiff at least twice a week if not daily using a dog formulated toothpaste and finger toothbrush.
Wipe the ears using cotton balls soaked in an ear cleanser solution to remove excess debris or wax. Also check for signs of redness, odor, and dark discharge since Mastiffs are vulnerable to ear infections. Trim the nails twice a month or once in two weeks using nail clippers. Overly grown nails are painful for your Mastiff while walking or running. Pet parents should keep wipes or washcloths at hand to wipe off Mastiff drool off their face, clothes, wall, and surface when they shake their head.
Mastiff | English Mastiff Shedding
A Mastiff sheds at moderate levels all-year-round. This breed also blows of its coat once or twice a year during the seasonal change in Spring and/or Fall.
Mastiff | English Mastiff Hypoallergenic
This is not a hypoallergenic breed. Mastiffs shed all-year round at moderate levels and heavily during seasonal change. Shedding spreads dander and hair around the house triggering allergic reaction in people who suffer from allergies. Dog’s dander, saliva, mucus, hair, and urine have a protein allergen that causes inflammation. Mastiffs also have large jowls where saliva pools and drools when the breed shakes the head.
Mastiff Training | English Mastiff Training
A Mastiff learns quickly and it is eager to please making training a bit easy. Although, they easily get bored due to repetitions in a typical training and may lie down, snoring. Keep the trainings sessions short and fun for a period of 5 to 10 minutes distributed out throughout the day. Maintain eye contact while training your pet. An English Mastiff dog communicates a great deal with its eyes. They are also excellent in reading the body language and expressions of the owner. Therefore, train them when you are feeling enthusiastic and up for the task.
Mastiffs also thrive on positive reinforcement methods such as the use of treats, verbal praise, and toys. They are also sensitive and their feelings easily get hurt when you raise your voice. When treated with love, respect, and inclusion, Mastiffs can excel in any training. An English Mastiff also needs to go through extensive socialization training to ensure it grows into a well-adjusted, friendly, and well-mannered canine citizen. This breed also possess a strong protection instinct and need to be properly socialized to both animals and people.
A well-socialized Mastiff is able to discern a situation that demands a response. If a dog is not properly socialized, it becomes fearful of new situations and shy of strangers, which could lead to aggressive behavior like biting. Socialization training starts from the age of 3 weeks while a pup is with the breeder until the age of 16 weeks while the pet is with the owner. It is therefore, crucial to ensure that you get a Mastiff pup from a responsible breeder who will prove that the pup has already started socialization training. A pet owner takes a pup home from the age of 8 weeks.
To fully socialize an English Mastiff, expose it to new people, animals, situations, places, sights, smell, surfaces, and sounds like sirens, baby crying sounds, whistles, vacuum cleaners, lawn mowers, and washing machine. The best way to approach this training is through regular and repeated exposure while creating positive associations with verbal praise, treats, and fun. Puppy classes also serve as a form of socialization. It also enables the pet parents to identify and correct bad habits as they arise. Puppy classes also creates an environment for dogs to interact in a controlled setting.
A rowdy Mastiff may present problems for even strong adults. Therefore, control needs should be asserted when the puppy is young. Obedience training is also recommended for Mastiffs to assist them to learn not to steal food on the table, jump on people, knock into small children, or even otherwise develop a habit of taking advantage of their size. Teach basic command words like sit, stay, heel, come, down, leave it, etc. all of which are potential life saving commands. Teach one command word at a time. Proceed to the next command word after a Mastiff understands the previous taught command.
Avoid issuing a command word while too excited or frustrated since it does not sound the same for your dog. Pet owners may also incorporate clicker raining as a form of reward when teaching command words. This form of reward incorporates a clicking sound immediately the dog completes the command in question. It is immediately followed with a treat. For effective housebreaking, creating a feeding schedule, potty training, and crate training is key. For positive outcomes, patience, consistence, and firmness are recommended.
A crate is an indispensable tool when potty training. It allows the pet parent to monitor a pup for signs that is wants to eliminate like squatting, whining, sniffing, circling, and lifting a leg against the crate wall. By choice, dogs avoid soiling where they sleep. A crate is also a safe haven where a Mastiff can retreat to. To successfully potty train an English Mastiff, take it to the designated toilet area after every 2 to 3 hours, immediately it wakes up, after meals and drinks, following an exciting activity such as a car ride and playtime, after naptime, and before bedtime. The elimination spot should be far from the patio deck or BBQ spot.
English Mastiff | Mastiff Temperament | Traits
- Docile.
- Courageous.
- Dignified.
- Calm.
- Protective.
- Good-natured.
- Powerful.
- Gentle.
- Loyal.
- Loving.
Mastiff Exercise Needs
A Mastiff requires relatively low exercise needs and may live happily in an apartment. They get stimulated physically and mentally from daily walks like a mile or two for adult dogs and free play. Adult Mastiffs are notorious for lying down during walks when they are overheated or tired. Rule of thumb for walks is therefore, not to walk this breed further than you can carry it back.
Pet parents must be careful not to vigorously exercise Mastiff puppies and Young adults for the first 2 years of life. This prevents damage to the growth plates in the joints. Do not allow, Mastiff puppies to jump from heights, engage in long walks, or even run up and down stairs. Although, regular exercise should be maintained throughout the life of an English Mastiff to prevent a number of health issues and discourage slothful behavior.
Mastiff | English Mastiff Barking
A Mastiff makes an excellent watchdog since it barks to alert the owner of intruders. It also has an imposing large size that deters strangers. Although, Mastiffs are less vocal as compared to other breeds.
Mastiff Growling
Growling is a form of communication that dogs use to express their feelings. A Mastiff may growl to warn an intruder, when it is in pain, and if someone is approaching the food bowl.
English Mastiff | Mastiff Height
A Female Mastiff should have a minimum height of 27.5 inches ( approx. 70 cm) while its male counterparts should have a minimum height of 30 inches ( approx. 76 cm).
English Mastiff | Mastiff Weight
Female Mastiffs have a weight range of 120 to 170 pounds ( approx. 54 to 77 kg) while the Male Mastiffs have a weight range of 160 to 230 pounds ( approx. 73 to 104 kg).
English Mastiff | Mastiff Size
Although a Mastiff is a large-sized dog, female Mastiffs are slightly smaller when compared to their male counterparts in terms of height and weight. Male Mastiffs have a weight of 160 to 230 pounds ( approx. 73 to 104 kg) and a height of 30 inches ( approx. 76 cm) while the female counterparts have a weight of 120 to 170 pounds ( approx. 54 to 77 kg) and a height of 27.5 inches ( approx. 70 cm).
Mastiff | English Mastiff Aggressive
A Mastiff is a non-aggressive dog that is docile, good-natured, gentle, loving, protective of owners if need be, and calm. However, due to their protective instinct, it may be aggressive towards people and animals if not properly socialized.
Mastiff | English Mastiff Bite Force
An English Mastiff has a bite force of 552 to 556 PSI. This is because a dog that has large head and subsequent bigger jaw has the strongest bite force.
Mastiff | English Mastiff Biting
Puppy biting and nipping is rampant with Mastiff pups as they play, explore their surroundings, and when teething due to discomfort. Biting may seem adorable for the wrinkled and drooling pup but not for long after the dog grows to have an enormous size. If this habit is not discouraged when the puppy is young, pet parents may be forced to put down their dogs. To avoid this, bite inhibition training and redirection is recommended.
Mastiff Ear Infection
A Mastiff has V-shaped ears that are rounded at the tips. The ears lie close to the cheeks when the dog is at rest. Ears that lie close to the cheeks protect the ear canal against debris and dirt. However, they inhibit air flow to the ear canal which leads to accumulation of moisture. This makes Mastiffs susceptible to ear infections. Causes of ear infections in this breed include injury to the ear canal, excessive cleaning, moisture accumulation, excess wax, dirt, or debris, ear mites, yeast imbalances, and endocrine disorders like hypothyroidism.
A Mastiff and any other dog breed is predisposed to three types of ear infections; externa, media, and interna otitis respectively. However, externa otitis is far more common and causes inflammation to the cells located in the externa ear canal. If left unattended, the inflammation spreads to the cells in the middle and inner ear canal. Inflammation to the cells located in the middle ear and inner ear canal is media and interna otitis respectively. These infections cause blindness, facial paralysis, and vestibular signs such as blurred vision, disorientation, and dizziness.
Symptoms manifested by a Mastiff that is suffering from an ear infection include disorientation, pain, itchiness, head shaking, odor, dark discharge, scabs in the ears, walking in circles, rubbing the affected ear against the surface, and redness. When pet parents notice any of the above signs, they should book an appointment with a vet. Upon arrival, the vet carries out a physical examination to look for signs of ear infection. A swab will also be taken from the affected ear.
If a Mastiff is in too much pain, it will be sedated to facilitate thorough cleaning of the ears using a medicated ear cleanser solution and cotton balls. While going home, a vet may prescribe a topical medication and ear cleanser solution. In severe cases, anti-inflammatory and oral antibiotics are prescribed. Ensure the pet completes the prescribed dose even if the symptoms go away to avoid recurrence of ear infections.
Mastiff | English Mastiff Eye Problems
Some of the eye problems that a Mastiff suffers from include:
Entropion – This is an eye condition that causes the eyelid to roll inward making the eye lashes to rub against the surface of the eyeball.
Progressive Retinal Atrophy – These are groups of degenerative diseases that affect the photoreceptors cells eventually leading to blindness.
Ectropion – This is an eye condition that is mostly present in dogs that have droopy eyes like Mastiffs. This eye problem makes the lower eyelid to droop away from the eye and turns outwards.
Mastiff |English Mastiff Health Issues
A Mastiff is a relatively healthy breed that is affected by the following health issues persistent pupillary membranes, progressive retinal atrophy, entropion, OCD, hypothyroidism, cruciate ligament rupture, vaginal hyperplasia, allergies, cardiomyopathy, osteosarcoma, bloat, obesity, and hip dysplasia. Mastiffs should sleep on a soft surface to prevent the development of hygroma, arthritis, and calluses.
English Mastiff Common Health Problems
The common health problems that Mastiffs suffer from include gastric torsion and hip dysplasia.
Mastiff | English Mastiff Names
After getting an English Mastiff dog from a responsible breeder, the next best thing is getting a name for the colossal fur baby. Names may be inspired by the large size of Mastiffs, their origin, personality, coat color, celebrity Mastiffs, historical figures, nature, books, music, food, movies, etc.
Regardless of where you get your inspiration, ensure that the name chosen won’t make your embarrassed when uttered out loud. The name should also freely roll off your tongue. Mastiffs and other dog breeds better understand a name that has vowels. Avoid giving your pet a name that rhymes with the command words since it would create confusion.
If a Mastiff parent settles with a long name, he or she should find a nickname for the pet. If a Mastiff shares a name with family members or guests who frequent your household it would create a recipe for confusion.
Female Mastiff Names | English Mastiff Names Female
- Penelope.
- Layla.
- Sassy.
- Abby.
- Diva.
- Huntress.
- Roxy.
- Xena.
- Medusa.
- Raven, etc.
English Mastiff | Mastiff Speed
Despite their enormous size, Mastiffs can run for a speed of up to 28 mph ( approx. 40 km/h). However, they rarely do so.
Male Mastiff Names | English Mastiff Names Male
- Goliath.
- Samson.
- Rocco.
- Ruger.
- Zeus.
- Diesel.
- Theo.
- Moose.
- Ernie.
- Hank.
- Finn, etc.
English Mastiff | Mastiff Heat Cycle | Mating
A Mastiff is a Giant breed that has a heat cycle that lasts for a period of 2 to 4 weeks. The heat cycle may recur after every 8 to 12 months. Mastiffs are large-sized dogs that are likely to experience their first heat cycle at the age of 18 to 24 months. If pet parents have no intention of breeding a Mastiff dam, they should spay the dog to reduce the risk of unplanned litters and mammary cancer.
It is possible for an intact Mastiff female to get pregnant at the senior age of 7 or 8 years since dogs experience the estrus cycle throughout their lives. Some of the signs that Mastiffs exhibit while on a heat cycle include mood swings, nesting behavior, change in eating habits, increased urination, tail flagging, swollen vulva, and bloody discharge.
Before breeding a potential dam and sire, ensure they are screened for hip dysplasia, eye anomalies, seasonal allergies, heart disease, epilepsy, and degenerative myelopathy. Avoid breeding a Mastiff that is aggressive since the puppies will likely be aggressive or fearful. It is recommended to until past the age of 2 years before breeding a female Mastiff to ensure it is emotionally and physically mature to take care of a litter. Dogs that are bred earlier than 2 years are likely to reject the puppies.
English Mastiff | Mastiff Litter Size
After conception, Mastiff dams have a gestation period of 63 days before whelping a litter of 6 to 8 puppies. The largest known litter for this breed is 21 puppies through C-section by a female Mastiff by the name of Lily in 2022. Due to the enormous size of a Mastiff dam, puppies may potentially be crushed or smothered by the dam during nursing. Careful monitoring and a whelping box will prevent such accidents.
Mastiff | English Mastiff Harness | Collar
A Harness is the preferred option for a dog that pulls on leash since it distributes the pressure evenly on the shoulders and the back. Whereas a collar is suitable for a dog that is less likely to pull and not susceptible to tracheal collapse. Pet parents are urged to walk large breeds in a harness for a better control over the pet. This is because if this dog pulls, it will likely cause injury to the shoulder and back of a Pet owner. Although, Mastiffs are gentle giants that plop down if they walk for more than 2 miles. Therefore, not likely to pull while on a leash.
Mastiff | English Mastiff Muzzle
Although Mastiffs are gentle giants, they may be muzzled while been transported to the vet and if they are in pain. A pooch that is in pain is likely to bite or nip. A pet owner may also muzzle the dog in a situation where he or she is not sure of how the dog will react to a new stimulus.
AKC recommends owners to create positive associations with the accessory through the use of treats and verbal praise. This will reduce the risk of a pet reacting aggressively in a situation where the muzzle is needed. However, this accessory is not used for correcting bad habits like chewing, barking, and biting.
English Mastiff | Mastiff Feeding Chart
The amount of food that a Mastiff feeds on depends on its age, metabolism, activity level, size, and build. Puppies have a high metabolism than adult dogs. Therefore, they feed 3 or 4 times a day from when they start weaning at the age of 1 month to 6 months. From the age of 6 months, Mastiffs feed a total of two meals a day. Puppies grow at a rapid rate.
It is important that they should feed the correct amount of food to prevent obesity and damage to the growth plates. Pet parents are advised to work closely with the vet in order to feed puppies the calories and proteins that they need depending on their age. On average an Adult female Mastiff may feed on 2800 calories while its male counterparts may need 3500 calories in a day.
A Mastiff is a large-sized dog with a deep chest hence susceptible to bloat or gastric torsion. Therefore, they should not feed one large meal a day, drink large amounts of water after eating, and exercising vigorously one hour before or after meals. Bloat is a life-threatening condition that can easily claim the life of a Mastiff. Pet parents are urged to familiarize themselves with the signs of bloat and what to do in such a situation.
Apart from English Mastiff, other breeds of dogs include:
Pug.
Mastiff Food
Like other dogs, Mastiffs need to feed on the right amount of minerals, protein, amino acids, fatty acids, carbohydrates, water, and fats to maintain a healthy bone structure and weight. Depending on the budget and the time of preparation needed, a pet parent may feed a Mastiff dry food, wet food, home made meals, or a raw diet. If the pet parent decide to feed a dog on the commercial dry or wet food, he or she should ensure the first three ingredients are proteins from a known source.
The commercial dog food should also not have fillers, chemicals, additives, and preservatives. This also applies to the snacks. Dry or wet food should also be formulated for puppies, adults, and seniors depending on the age of your pet. Dog parents should not leave the food bowl out all day long since Mastiffs are prone to obesity.
The best way to know whether you are overfeeding or underfeeding your Mastiff is to take it to the vet to be informed about its weight and health. However, you can also tell by checking the physique of your pet. If you can see a Mastiff’s ribs, chances are they are being underfed. If the owner cannot feel the ribs of the pet under the coat, then chances are that it is being overfeed.
When you get an English Mastiff from a responsible breeder, chances are that you will want to switch to another quality of food than the one it was previous feeding on. Gradually do this by mixing 3/4 old food with a 1/4 new food for the first week. During the second week, feed your dog with the same amount of the new food and old food. On the third week feed your pet with 3/4 of the new food and 1/4 of old food. During the fourth week, totally switch to new food
English Mastiff Neck Size
An English Mastiff has a neck size of 28 to 38 inches ( approx. 71 to 97 cm).
Mastiff Colors | Coat Colors
A Mastiff may either have a brindle, fawn, or apricot coat color. Although, the brindle color should have apricot or fawn as the background color which should be completely covered with very dark stripes.
Mastiff Allergies
As a breed, Mastiffs are susceptible to various forms of allergies as discussed below:
Food allergies – Although rare, Mastiffs are also affected by food allergies that are accompanied with a wide range of symptoms including skin issues and gastrointestinal stress. Apart from food allergies, this bred is also affected by food sensitivity(intolerance).
Contact allergies – This inflammation occurs once the skin of Mastiffs comes in contact with an allergen. Some of the contact allergies that affect Mastiffs include plastics, bed linens, lawn chemicals, grooming products like conditioner and shampoo, latex, medication, certain clothes, and carpet cleaning detergents. Commonly affected body parts include paws, feet, and around the muzzle. Contact allergies cause excess scratching, licking, and biting which may lead to secondary skin infections.
Skin allergies – Mastiffs are predisposed to skin allergies due to food, contact, and environmental allergies. Food allergies cause skin issues symptoms such as crusting lesions, hives, hot spots, dermatitis, facial swelling, and pruritus. On the other hand, environmental allergies cause atopic dermatitis. This is inflammation to the skin which causes redness, lesions, rash, and itchiness. Commonly affected body parts by skin allergies include paws, belly sides, ears, eyes, groin, and feet. Signs of skin allergies in Mastiffs include dry flaky skin, hair loss, itchiness, redness, lesions, and hot spots.
Environmental allergies – One of the environmental allergens that affect Mastiffs include fleas. The saliva of this insect cause flea allergy dermatitis on the back legs and underneath the tail. This makes the dog to bite, lick, and scratch these areas until the skin around the bite area is raw. If the wound is left untreated, it may result to yeast and bacterial skin infections. Other environmental allergens include ragweed, grass, trees, pollen, house molds as well as dust and dust mites. Signs of environmental allergies congestion, nasal discharge, and itchiness on various body parts including paws, groin, muzzle, belly sides, feet, underarms, around the eyes, and between the toes.
Mastiff Food Allergies
Rarely, Mastiffs suffer from a true food allergy that is normally accompanied by an immune response with a variety of symptoms ranging from skin conditions signs to gastrointestinal stress symptoms. Skin conditions symptoms include dermatitis, pruritus, sores, hives, facial swelling, and crusting lesions whereas gastrointestinal stress include symptoms like acute vomiting and diarrhea, lethargy, and weight loss.
Mastiffs may also suffer from food sensitivity which is far more common as compared to food allergies. Food sensitivities don’t cause an immune response but manifest as a gradual response to an offending ingredient to the diet and ingredients of the Mastiff. Some of the ingredients that cause intolerance include chemicals, preservatives, fillers, wheat, soy, corn, additives, lamb, beef, chicken, turkey, fish, etc.
Symptoms of food intolerance include vomiting and diarrhea. For this reason, pet parents easily confuse food intolerance with food allergies. Other symptoms of food sensitivity include poor skin and coat, foot infections, and ear infections. Mastiff parents are urged to work closely with the vet to manage the symptoms and find the offending ingredient in the diet of the dog.
Mastiff Eyes
A Mastiff has medium-sized eyes that are set wide apart. The eyes are never too prominent.
Mastiff Ears
A Mastiff has V-shaped ears that have rounded tips. While at rest, the ears lie close to the cheeks.
Mastiff Tail
The tail of Mastiffs is set moderately high reaching to the hocks or little below. While at rest, the tails hangs straight. The tail is also wide at the root and tapers to the end.
Mastiff Teeth
During birth, Mastiff puppies are whelped with no teeth. However, the teeth starts growing in at the age of 2 to 3 weeks. When the pup is 6 to 8 weeks old, it should have a total of 28 deciduous teeth. From the age of 12 weeks, the puppy teeth falls out as they are replaced by a permanent set of teeth. Between the age of 6 to 8 months, most puppies have a total of 42 permanent teeth. Once the permanent teeth start erupting, pet parents should brush the teeth of the puppies at least twice a week if not daily using a dog-formulated tooth paste and toothbrush to prevent periodontal disease.
Are English Mastiff Aggressive
No. They are gentle, loyal, friendly, loving, docile, and affectionate dogs. However, if not well-socialized a Mastiff may be aggressive towards animals and people due to its protective instinct.
Are English Mastiffs Easy To Train
Yes. Mastiffs are eager to please and they learn quickly making them ideal students. However, they easily get bored due to repetitions in a typical training. Training sessions should be short for about 5 to 10 minutes spread throughout the day.
Are English Mastiffs Smart
Yes. They are smart dogs that learn quickly. However, they are sensitive dogs that may make training difficult if they are yelled at or corrected with harsh methods.
Do English Mastiffs Shed
Yes. Mastiffs shed all-year round at moderate levels and heavily when experiencing seasonal change in spring and/or fall.
Do Mastiffs Drool
Yes. Mastiffs are well-known for drooling when they shake their big heads. They also have large jowls where large amounts of saliva gather.
English Mastiffs Quick Facts
- Mastiffs are colossal living canines that outweighs the wolf by up to 110 pounds ( approx. 50 kg).
- One of the Mastiffs named Zorba once held the record for the world’s largest dog weighing 343 pounds with a height of 37 inches at the withers in November 1989.
- Despite their deterring size, Mastiffs are gentle, docile, and loyal dogs.
