Spanish mastiff: what is this dog and how to properly care for it?

Some 15-20 years ago, very little was known about the Spanish mastiffs, in our days this dog is known as the perfect guard, watchdog and friendly pet. Despite the impressive dimensions, the mastiffs are considered good nannies - they will never attack a creature that is smaller and weaker than them.

There are several versions explaining the origin of these giant dogs. Among the most reliable there are two. According to one of them, Spanish mastiffs were brought to the countries of the Old World by Phoenician merchants by sea, according to another, they were brought by Asian nomads traveling by land.

Previously, it was suggested that the mastiffs originally belonged to Roman soldiers, but this version was not confirmed, because by the time they landed near the coast of Spain, the local population already had big dogs, by the way, they had helped the Aborigines to defend their territory. Given that the Spanish, Tibetan, Balkan, as well as Turkish and Caucasian mastiffs have many external similarities, it is not possible to determine which breed was the ancestor of the branch now. It is only known that all these types of dogs have common roots.

It is safe to say that Mastiffs appeared in people at the moment when they needed a good guard and protector of livestock from wild animals., Is a beast that will be distinguished by its large size, endurance and swiftness, which will be able to feel the danger from afar and take decisive measures to protect its owner and its property. It is authentically known that Spanish mastiffs existed already in the 15th century - at that time they protected pastures in the Pyrenees. As a rule, there were several dogs in one herd - they not only protected the sheep and cows from the predators' attack, but also did not allow their “wards” to disperse.

Despite the fact that these animals have been serving man for several centuries, they began to speak publicly about the representatives of this large breed only at the beginning of the 20th century. After the Second World War, the standard of this breed was prescribed, and after the mastiffs gained international fame, the popularity of dogs increased significantly, however, the level of German shepherd dogs and rottweilers never caught up.

In Russia, mastiffs became widespread in the mid-90s, they were brought from a Czech nursery, and after some time, the very first puppies of dogs of this amazing breed were born in our country. However, here and in other countries of the former USSR, Spanish mastiffs are quite rare, although the question of their complete disappearance is not worth it - a couple of dogs always participate in any international exhibition from these countries.

Nowadays, of course, no one is turning on mastiffs for their initial purpose. - grazing, but these dogs managed to prove themselves in a new role. Today it is a true friend and reliable companion. High security characteristics allow you to use the dog as a guard - it will correctly protect its owner and his property.

And, of course, this is a very status animal that, better than any words, will indicate the financial position and place of its breeder in the social hierarchy - these are expensive dogs, so far not everyone can afford a mastiff.

Homeland Spanish mastiff, as the name implies, is Spain. Most often these are kind and brave animals, since weak and cowardly individuals are usually not used for breeding. The Spanish Mastiff is a large, strong, but exceptionally affectionate animal. Such a dog looks pretty scary.

Breed standards are spelled out very clearly, and any deviation from them is considered a defective sign.

• The growth of an adult dog at the withers starts from 77 cm, in bitches - from 72 cm, body weight varies from 50 to 60 kg.
• The head is rather large, the forehead is usually flat, the skull is square-shaped. Muzzle elongated.
• Nose black, nostrils enlarged.
• The eyes are small, the iris is brown or nut-colored. Eyelids drowned, saggy. A characteristic feature of the mastiff is his look - calm and balanced.
• Ears are relatively small, triangular, saggy.
• The neck is set high, with a beautiful bend, very muscular.
• The body is massive, well developed. The circumference of the sternum is usually greater than the height of the animal at the withers. In this case, the stomach is selected.
• Paws angular. These dogs have a soft, majestic gait, which only complements the image of a noble animal.
• The hair of the Spanish mastiff is of medium length, the undercoat is also coarse. On the tail, shoulders and sternum, the hairs are slightly longer.
• As for the color, the representatives of the breed can be absolutely any color - most often there are animals of a yellowish tint, also pale yellow, black, two-color: tiger or white with black are common.

The nature of the animal to match its appearance: it is reliable and docile dogs, he always stand on the protection of weak and small creatures. This animal never attacks first and always warns about the attack by barking or roaring.

A sweet character makes it quite easy to raise a good dog., this animal gets along well with other pets, including cats. Such a mastiff can be left with the kids - families in which these dogs live, speak of them as excellent nannies who cherish children and stoically endure all their petty leprosy.

In order for the mastiff to fully grow and develop properly, it needs a balanced diet, enriched with all the vitamins, micro- and macroelements that are important for a dog's health. The difficulty of feeding the mastiff is due to the fact that dogs of this breed have a predisposition to obesity, but if the food is too scarce, problems with the musculoskeletal system and the general deterioration of the dog's condition are not excluded.

The finished feed has one significant advantage - they have a balanced composition, which includes all the necessary vitamin-mineral complexes, in addition, the feed does not need to be cooked, and it’s not a problem to calculate the required portion.

If you give a dog a naturalka, then you need to take into account several factors at once: The dog's body weight, age, exercise, and degree of activity. Calculate the desired dose, based on the following ratio: 30-40 g of protein per kilogram of animal weight. It is best to offer your pet beef, veal and lamb. From time to time it is possible to replace them with chicken or turkey, but it is not necessary to completely convert the dog to poultry meat.

A couple of times a week you can give offal to the mastiff - it is better to give preference to the liver or the heart. Another 30% should fall on cereals, vegetables and fruits.Additionally, vitamin-mineral complexes, as well as vegetable fat and omega-3 or 6 should be included in the diet.

Adult animals should receive food twice a day, small puppies eat 4-5 times, with an interval of five hours. Starting at the age of six months, the number of feedings is gradually reduced, while the dose itself is increased.

The Spanish Mastiff by nature prefers free space, so it is best to start a dog for life in a spacious house with a large backyard, where the dog can walk without any restrictions.

It is important to properly care for the mastiff's coat - the fact is that it has a rather thick, equally thick undercoat. In order to remove all dead hairs, the animal must be regularly combed, for this purpose use special brushes. Bathing mastiff infrequently - enough 3-4 procedures a year, for cleaning wool, you must use special shampoos for dogs.

Ear hygiene is reduced to a simple cleaning of the inner surface with a cotton swab dipped in a special veterinary lotion. Eyes need to be treated once a week with a weak solution of furatsilin or decoction of chamomile.

Spanish mastiffs need frequent walks, we can say that they need them like air. It is important that each walk lasts at least an hour, and it is desirable that the mastiff had the opportunity to run and frolic. If the animal is experiencing a lack of physical activity, this leads to a decrease in appetite or, on the contrary, obesity, nastiness and aggressiveness of the pet.

Processing claws does not pose any problem for the mastiff - usually the pet grinds them on its own, but if this does not happen, then you just need to cut them with the help of a clipper. This procedure should be carried out from an early age of the mastiff - no later than two months.

It is better to brush the teeth of this breed by yourself, with a special brush or cotton pad., and to begin such manipulations preferably from childhood. If possible, purchase stones at the veterinary pharmacy that help to remove plaque, and, in addition, have the most beneficial effect on the digestive tract.

Dogs of this breed live 10-12 years, while growing up in animals begins relatively late. Thus, the female is considered fully formed in the second or third year of life, and the male individual is considered sexually mature in the third and even fourth.

Dogs of this breed by nature have strong immunity, so there are not so many diseases typical for the mastiff. Most often, animals encounter pathologies such as:

• congenital dislocation of the hip joint;
• eczema;
• inflammation of the joints;
• torsion of the stomach.

Spanish mastiffs are usually easily trained, and raising animals should be started from an early age.

Mastiffs are very smart, so there are usually no problems with training, but it is still recommended to consult with professional dog trainers before starting classes.

During the class, you must give the dog to understand which of you is the main, commands should be given clearly and clearly, and disobedience should be scolded with a confident, firm voice. In this case, you can not break down on the cry and beat the pet - this animal can not tolerate physical punishment.You need to start training from three minutes a day, gradually increasing the number and duration of exercises.

Usually, only healthy members of the breed without burdened heredity are used to breed Spanish mastiffs. Aggressive and nervous animals pose a serious danger to others, therefore, are considered unsuitable for reproduction.

The cultivation of Spanish mastiffs are engaged in specialized nurseries, some are in our country. The breeding of dogs is monitored by professionals, so the cleanliness of the breed of animals offered by certified breeders should usually not be subject to any doubt.

It should be noted that these large dogs - the pleasure is not cheap. Depending on the class of the young dog, the cost of the pet also varies.

• Pet class animals. These include healthy dogs with defective signs of the breed, they are usually turned on for the soul, they are not allowed to participate in contests and exhibitions. The cost of a dog is 30-40 thousand rubles.
• Breed class. These puppies are suitable for breeding, but they have no prospects for a show career. The price of dogs is 50-70 thousand rubles.
• Show class. These are the best representatives of Spanish Mastiffs, future champions who can become worthy successors of the breed. Their cost reaches 150 thousand rubles.

No honest breeder will sell a puppy, whose age will not reach 2-3 months, because it is this time that the baby needs in order to get all the necessary knowledge from the mother and learn how to properly communicate with their own kind. If you take the animal from the mother ahead of time, then his psyche will be damaged.

The Spanish Mastiff is considered the largest dog in the world. For a long time they were used as shepherds, while not only guarding the herd, but also engaged in its driving. It is also the most ancient dogs, they are much older than the shepherd's breed.

In those days, when the living conditions of the mastiffs were rather harsh, only four puppies were usually left in the litter., while others were simply destroyed - in those years there was an opinion that a bitch can only feed up so many animals.

Ideal animals do not exist, so each breed has both positive and negative reviews.

Among the advantages of the Spanish mastiff the owners distinguish the following:

• the dog is the perfect guard;
• the animal is friendly, it can be an ideal nanny for small children;
• the Spanish Mastiff is devoted to his master and his family members;
• The dog is not very talkative.

A closer look at the Spanish mastiff can be in the next video.