English Mastiff: Characteristics and Recommendations for Choosing

The English Mastiff is one of the largest representatives of the canine world, the owner of gigantic sizes and noble character. A real gladiator, he looks impressive and is a true attribute of strength and power. This dog will definitely not show excessive irritability or nervousness. She is always calm, balanced and knows exactly when the owner is in danger and it’s time to show your teeth.

The English Mastiff is a breed of dog from the UK that is arcuate and officially recognized over a century ago. She received her first standard in 1883. But before that, one of the biggest dogs in the world managed to establish itself in the best way. The ancestors of the mastiffs were known during the times of the greatness of Babylon, Assyria, and Persia. The Molossians of that epoch had more raw bones and a heavy step, they were used as guards, they performed in military campaigns.

It is assumed that in Great Britain, the ancestors of Old English mastiffs appeared during the migration of Celtic tribes in the 4th – 3rd centuries BC. With the arrival of the Romans on the island, their historians wrote a lot about the large, massive dogs used by the Britons. There was a special ferocity of these animals, their physical strength and courage. It is not surprising that the mastiffs, namely, the so-called breed during the time of Julius Caesar, began to be actively brought into the Roman Empire, and at the court even appeared a special post on the selection of animals. Here the English giants began to be used in gladiatorial battles, along with legionnaires. In the future, the development of the breed was influenced by a new military invasion of the island - the arrival of the Saxons in 407, a new era led to a surge of fresh blood.

Among the imported animals stood out gafaelgi - dogs used for hunting purposes to bait animals in the hunt. The mixed type, mixed with the mastiffs that were previously on the island, was called costog. The dogs had a coat of medium length, dark color and a very ferocious character. It was in this form that animals existed until the XI century, when the Normans invaded Britain.

At that time, representatives of continental Europe had their favorites - Alans or hunting mastiffs. Their confusion with local breeding pramolosa resulted in splitting into several breed types at once. Dogs valued evilness, fearlessness, large size. Old-type bandogs, which appeared due to the Saxons, also retained their popularity. They were used to perform guard functions, due to the dark color, they were invisible in the dark.

As an independent breed, the English Mastiff began to form after 1415, after the notorious battle of Azinkure, in which the dogs fought on a par with their owners and were ready to give their lives for the British crown. The death of Sir Pierce Lee, the owner of the estate of Lime Hall, at the behest of King Henry IV, was given the same military honors as its owner. Subsequently, the line of her descendants became one of the three main nurseries in the UK. In addition, after the 18th century, the Gattons family and the Duke of Devonshire were involved in the selection of mastiffs. Until 1835, the main purpose of the breed was bestial persecution, in particular, dogs fought with bears and successfully defeated them.

Modern English mastiffs are a little similar to their distant ancestors. Their disappearance led to a new surge of breeders' interest in this lost British treasure. When restoring the breed, the blood of the following types of dogs was used:

• American and Alpine Mastiffs;

• medeleny;

• St. Bernards;

• Great Danes;

• Newfoundland;

• bullmastiffs.

The first dog of the modern type of breed was exhibited in 1873. Thanks to the efforts of the club, in which the fans of the Old English Mastiff united, the animal acquired a noble appearance and retained the recognizable features of the Molossians. Male Tauras from the nursery "Nanbury", who participated in the show, became his winner. But the progenitor of the modern English mastiff is his descendant named Cron Prince. Later dogs born in this line repeatedly became champions, winners of exhibitions.

By 1906, the new population of English mastiffs required the creation of a standard that corresponded to changes in the phenotype. Long-haired, spotty, black and gray animals began to be rejected. Throughout the twentieth century, the breed population remained very small; after World War II, it remained entirely predominantly in the United States.

The main characteristic of the English Mastiff breed is its massiveness and large size. The modern number of dogs looks massive, but proportionally, without excessive dampness of the backbone. The maximum weight of one of the biggest dogs reaches 130 kg. But on average, a dog weighs from 68 to 113 kg with a height of 76 cm at the withers. The size of the females is less impressive - 54–91 kg and up to 70 cm in height.

The main emphasis in the appearance of the English mastiff falls on the head - it looks voluminous, with sharp corners. The ratio of width to length according to the standard is 2: 3. The dogs have a strong elongated body, developed musculature of the body with a pronounced relief. The limbs of the animal are strong, straight, widely spaced. Coat should be short, without thinning in the area of ​​the shoulder blades, back, neck, shiny, tight to the body. Black color is allowed only in the mask on the face and on the ears. The rest of the body and head should be painted in a fawn, light, silver or dark version of the deer colors, apricot shades. Particularly popular is the English tiger mastiff, which has pronounced bands along the body.

In addition, the following characteristics are set by the standard for dogs of this breed:

• deep and wide chest - its contours should be well defined, the bottom edge comes to the elbows or passes under them;
• a tail with a moderately high posture - at the base it is thickened, tapers to the tip; tail along the length should reach the hock, when excited it rises above the level of the back;
• the neck is rather long, well developed, a slight bend is characteristic of the breed, the neck muscles are well developed;
• compact ears with a high and wide position - their thickness is small, in a calm state, the lower edge is located on the cheeks;
• well developed jaws with pincer bite or characteristic snack; powerful canines, white enamel;
• the eyes are hazelnut or dark hazelnut in color, with a broad set, the size is small, the stroke is dark pigmented, the third eyelid is considered a tribal marriage.

The character of the English Mastiff is distinguished by a truly English equanimity.Dogs are moderately aggressive towards strangers, do not show significant physical activity. They are developed intellectually, with proper upbringing they master the main course of training. Mastiffs are very friendly to the owner, do not tolerate loneliness, rarely and bark a little. Unlike their ancient ancestors, modern molossians from Britain have a balanced, completely non-aggressive character.

Even at a very young age, these dogs are characterized by degree, slowness in movement. The phlegmatic nature of the animal is only apparent - giant dogs are very friendly to people, strongly attached to the host family and are ready to protect it from any threats. The manifestation of tender feelings can lead to very unexpected consequences. Dogs often forget about their large size and strive to climb to the owner on his knees. With a weight of 70 kg, the English Mastiff becomes a very serious burden. That is why it is worth it from childhood to wean him from such a clear manifestation of feelings.

Mastiffs feel good only with enough attention. They are recommended to start in a large family, where the dog will receive plenty of attention. Staying long alone, a bored giant can be a serious problem. He will not bark and howl, but it may well cause serious damage to property. You should not worry on a walk - English mastiffs are not inclined to runaway and always return to their owner.

The guard instincts and the sense of their own territory are very well developed in dogs of this breed. Animals zealously protect their territory, mistrustful of strangers. But they do not get along well with other pets, they can be jealous. However, a well-bred dog is able to accept even the existence of a cat on the same territory. English mastiffs are a bad decision for a family with small children. Even a puppy has a size that is large enough to accidentally drop or push a child. It is even more difficult for the Big Molossian to maneuver in a house or apartment; all family members will experience inconvenience.

Before you study the characteristics of puppies of the breed Mastiff, it is necessary to take into account that this dog will need good conditions of detention. The animal must have freedom of movement, receive regular exercise. In general, the need for physical activity is not too high, English mastiffs are well suited for people leading a sedentary lifestyle. It is better to forget about frisbee, agility or running a pet after a bike. A distinctive feature of dogs is copious saliva, they are sloppy eating and snoring during sleep.

As for the direct selection of the baby English mastiff, it is worth considering a number of recommendations from experienced breeders.

• Pick up a future pet is in the official nursery. It is necessary to pay attention to the pedigree, especially if you plan to continue to exhibit a dog, to use it in breeding. A big plus will be the origin from American manufacturers.
• The nature of the dog, prone to dominance at the genetic level, is of great importance. In a family with children, it is better to choose a baby with the most accommodating, gentle temperament. But a timid animal should not be started - such a puppy is considered a tribal marriage.
• If there are already other animals in the house, it is worth taking an English mastiff of the opposite sex. In addition, the breeder himself must have experience in keeping large dogs, otherwise behavioral problems will be inevitable.
• The optimal age for weaning a puppy from the mother is 1.5–3 months. During this period, he is socialized enough to acquire the owner.
• Visual inspection before buying a puppy is required.The future pet should not have obvious defects and developmental defects. Matters and health. Dry nose, dull hair, discharge from the eyes - a reason to abandon the purchase. Well, if you can see the parents of puppies, get help on vaccination.

Important! If we are not talking about the exhibition, you can buy an English mastiff with small breed defects. Only dogs that fully meet the standard, with a good pedigree and titled parents are purchased for breeding.

Organizing a proper diet is important for growing English Mastiffs. A large animal from its very childhood requires a rather high-calorie, with balanced food. The best choice is a ready-made diet premium. It should be chosen among the feed for giant breeds from leading European manufacturers and taking into account the age of the pet.

Natural food is also suitable for English mastiffs, but with certain limitations. The dog needs to receive vitamins and mineral supplements. It is important to remember that the connection of different types of feed is unacceptable. This is harmful to the health of the animal and can lead to disruption of the digestive tract.

The frequency of feeding should take into account the age characteristics of animals, namely:

• from 1 to 4 months puppies receive food 5 times a day;
• up to six months meals should be four times;
• up to a year of mastiffs fed breakfast, lunch and dinner;
• it is enough for an adult animal to eat twice a day.

Exclude from the diet of the dog should be a number of products. So, on reaching 4 months, English mastiffs should not receive milk. Prohibited any foods high in carbohydrates, fatty meat (lamb, pork), spicy dishes, tubular bones, river fish. Excluded any sweets, smoked meats, legumes. You need to water the dog regularly, changing the water in the bowl daily. The best choice will be unboiled bottled products. Its mineral composition in the best way affects the health of the dog.

When the content of the English mastiff care for a dog is not difficult. Short-haired animals need only regular combing - about 2-3 times a month. During the molting period, hygiene procedures should be repeated more often. As a care product used brush with natural hard bristles. Dogs of this breed are contraindicated in the use of a ponder, gloves with silicone coating in the form of spikes are also not suitable. Add gloss wool to help suede or velvet.

Often, bathing pets is also not recommended. If the dog is not in contact with strong sources of pollution, it is sufficient to use dry shampoos in sprays to remove grease and dust. When a dog is fully bathed, it is necessary to use specialized shampoos intended for animals.

Lack of need for frequent washing does not cancel other hygienic procedures at all. The folding of the muzzle of the English Mastiff requires special attention. Inside the wrinkles, food debris, sweat and fatty deposits can be deposited. To avoid the development of inflammatory processes, it is necessary to wipe all the folds daily using a damp cloth or hypoallergenic sanitary napkins.

After being on the street, the dog’s ears should also be examined. Their inner parts should be regularly cleaned with a cotton swab moistened with boric acid solution. Eyes are cleaned daily; from the inner corner of the eye, accumulating lumps of secretions are washed out with a wet disc of cotton, moistened with tea solution or chamomile decoction.

Large teeth of the English Mastiff need to be cleaned weekly. Due to improper bite characteristic of the breed, the risk of developing caries in it is significantly higher than that of other representatives of the canine world. It is worth noting that the processing of enamel is carried out using a special paste and brush or nozzle on the finger. Special attention should be paid to the back teeth - to facilitate the process of teaching the animal to the procedure should be from puppyhood. Stitching claws also requires attention. If the length of the dog remains quite large, it is necessary to artificially shorten the stratum corneum with the help of special secateurs, designed with the animal's species belonging to it. Since English mastiffs do not differ in love for long walks, you should not rely on the natural grinding of the claw.

Like most giant breeds, the English mastiffs have a very long childhood period. Large dimensions are deceptive - the dog will be capricious, naughty, spoil things. Lingering maturity should not be taken as a reason for postponing the upbringing of the animal. The breed is prone to dominance, demonstrating its leadership traits. That is why in training from the very first day will have to show a certain hardness. The suppression of attempts to seize the right of leadership must occur exclusively in a peaceful manner, without aggression. English mastiffs should not be beaten, encroach on their dignity.

Advances in training strongly depend on the character traits, the intelligence of a particular animal. Many mastiffs easily and with pleasure assimilate new teams, demonstrate tricks. But the basic course of obedience must go through every dog ​​- without him it will be impossible to cope with a pet. Very important attention in training should be paid to the promotion of the animal while learning new commands. English giants are well aware of the value of delicacies and willingly show diligence to get it.

Mastiffs are a breed that needs strict adherence to the daily regimen. Classes are recommended in the afternoon, before dinner and rest. The dog in this case maintains a sufficient attitude and concentration. The recommended duration of training is at least 60 minutes. It is recommended to start classes with a repetition of the material covered.

Characteristics of the English Mastiff breed in the video below.