English mastiff

History of origin

The history of the English Mastiff is rooted in ancient times. It is known for sure that dogs of this type lived in Britain even before it was conquered by the Romans. The conquerors who came to the islands of Foggy Albion were struck by giant dogs that fought side by side with the local population. Later, the ancestors of mastiffs were taken to Rome, where wealthy patricians kept them as exotic animals and used them in gladiatorial battles in circuses. It was these dogs that gave rise to a large group of fighting breeds – from Neapolitano mastino to pit bull. The Romans also called them mastiffs – according to a common theory, this word comes from a distorted Latin “massivius”, which, of course, translates as “massive, large.” By the way, mastiffs helped Roman fishermen catch bottom fish. The dog simply lowered its muzzle into the water and exhaled sharply, thereby forcing the gobies and other fish lurking at the bottom to emerge, and the catchers could only collect the catch.

Subsequently, having gained independence, England continued to breed its national breed, the mastiff became the pride of the British nobility – not a single peasant could simply afford to keep these giants, because it was subject to a serious tax. Many English kings were proud of their mastiffs, using them both for baiting the beast, and for protection, and simply as a luxury item. Moreover, from the early Middle Ages, attempts were already made to breed, which, in principle, was a rarity for a time when working qualities were much more valued in dogs than exterior.

But in the XNUMXth century, the fashion for mastiffs abruptly came to naught, which led to the fact that they became incredibly rare until they disappeared almost completely. As a result, the breed had to be recreated almost anew. However, the new mastiffs turned out to be even more beautiful and larger and, most importantly, much kinder than their predecessors, because the blood of such peaceful giants as St. Bernard and Newfoundland now flows in their veins.

By the way, the famous Baskerville dog was just a cross between an English Mastiff and, most likely, a Bloodhound.

Breed description

Very large, powerful, but at the same time harmonious dog. The head is massive, wide (ideally, the length-to-width ratio should be in the ratio of 2:3 for a long time), there is a lot of “extra” skin on the head, which is why all the lines look down: the lips sag, the look seems sad, wrinkles are always visible on the forehead, giving the dog the kind of globally focused thinker. Ears of medium size, hanging. Paws are thick, even. The tail is set high, usually carried either lowered or raised parallel to the line of the back. Musculature relief, well marked under the skin.

The coat is short and very dense. The color is fawn, deer of different shades, brindle, apricot. Mandatory black mask on the muzzle.

Photos

Character

If you can imagine the perfect family dog, it would be the English Mastiff. Especially if there are no children in this family who love active outdoor games. Smart, kind, phlegmatic and thoughtful, the Mastiff is infinitely devoted to his family. This dog is a real Englishman, as they say, to the tips of his nails. An aristocratic gentleman, he will prefer the company of his owner over the morning newspaper to thoughtless races in the street. At the same time, the nature of mastiffs is quivering and vulnerable, and any nervousness in the family can deeply hurt them. So, as they say, appearances are deceptive: from the formidable ancient Roman and Old English ancestors, these giants inherited only their appearance, but they learned their character from the kindest rescuers of the St. Bernards and Newfoundlands.

Mastiffs can be stubborn at times, but that’s solely because they have carefully considered your commands and come to the conclusion that it is impractical to execute them at the moment.

Care and maintenance

Of course, the main difficulty in keeping mastiffs is their size. However, do not think that the huge size of the dog obliges you to acquire an appropriate living space. Mastiffs are quite passive, so most of the time they prefer to take a nap in some secluded place where they will not be disturbed. This, of course, does not mean that you need to walk with them for 5 minutes a day. Even if your giant does not particularly want to go for a morning run, he needs it for health, but it is better if the run has some purpose: to the store, to the lake, for the morning newspaper, etc., because the mastiff needs a sense in everything .

Their coat is short, so it does not require special care, but saliva flows very often, so get a special rag with which you will wipe your pet’s face so that he does not shake them off all over the house.

Education and training

Of course, the English Mastiff is an exceptionally peaceful dog, but this does not mean that he does not need training. On the contrary, if you do not teach him to obey from childhood, then later you will not be able to physically cope with him. This is especially true of the ability to walk nearby, without pulling on the leash. After all, just imagine what will happen if you are pulled by a colossus that exceeds your weight! To teach the “next” command, use a regular collar and leash – no need to buy roulettes and harnesses. Remember that as soon as the dog comes forward, she ceases to perceive the person leading her and reckon with him in principle. In the case of a harness, you simply will not be able to convey your wish to the pet so that he walks beside him, because he will not feel the leash. And the roulette wheel is always stretched, which is also unacceptable. The leash should be free to sag while the dog walks beside you, never rushing forward.

When you train with your giant friend, try not to raise your voice at him and not to use violence – this can permanently hurt his quivering soul.

Health and disease

In general, mastiffs are fairly healthy dogs, however, with such a huge weight, they often suffer from diseases of the musculoskeletal system. When purchasing a puppy, be sure to find out if his ancestors suffered from joint dysplasia.

English mastiffs, being natives of the northern lands, do not tolerate heat well, so if you live in the southern regions, try not to walk with your four-legged friend in the midday heat. Also, due to congenital laziness, they are often prone to obesity, so do not feed them high-calorie foods and carefully monitor their diet.

Well, be prepared for the fact that this giant is unlikely to live as long as a small dog, so do everything so that your dog spends the years allotted to him calmly and happily.

Word to the breeder

Elena Shumilicheva from the Moscow region, owner of the Shulvi Rosan kennel: “Welcome to the wonderful world of the English Mastiff, the number one dog breed in my life! This breed is very smart and very intelligent. In my opinion, a mastiff is a man, only on four legs. It always amazes me when they try to make a monster dog out of him. This is not true, the mastiff always thinks before doing anything. I don’t know a breed smarter than this. This is a real aristocrat, the lion of the dog world. The mastiff has such a big heart that if people tried to imitate them, the world around us would become perfect. The Mastiff is a giant with the soul of a child.”

Popular questions and answers

For questions about the content of the English Mastiff, we asked to answer zoo engineer, veterinarian Anastasia Kalinina.