Mastiff

An ancient breed, the Mastiff goes back thousands of years. The Romans used them as war dogs and gladiators, even outfitting them in armor with spikes. In Medieval times, they were used as guard dogs and hunting dogs. Kubla Khan is said to have kept 5,000 Mastiffs for hunting. Later, the dogs were sadly used for dog fighting, bull baiting, and bear baiting, although the cruel sport was banned in England in 1835. The modern dog descended from the most famous Mastiffs of Sir Peers Legh. Sir Legh was wounded in the battle of Agincourt in 1415, it’s said that a Mastiff stood over him and protected him throughout the battle. The dog was returned to his home and was the foundation for the Lyme Hall Mastiffs. There is some evidence that the breed came to America on the Mayflower, but it’s likely they didn’t arrive in America until the late 1800’s. The breed was nearly decimated in England by World War II but sufficient numbers had been brought to America by that time to keep the breed going, where it has risen in popularity.

The ideal owner will be ok with a dog that could reach up to 230 pounds, lots of drool, and a food bill that’s likely more expensive than their own. Ideally, owners will have experience with dogs this large and will be prepared to spend years devoted to training this slow-to-mature breed. They don’t like strangers or other dogs but are devoted to their families. Small children are likely not a good idea based on the sheer size of the breed.

Mastiffs might look intimidating, but they can actually be fairly lazy. They need about an hour of exercise a day on a leash and a good snooze in a warm spot to be satisfied. They should not be overexercised when young as they could develop skeletal problems that are exacerbated by muscle and joint strain in a growing dog.

There’s no way around it—these are giant dogs that need a large home and a large yard, despite it being safest to be walked on a leash most of the time. They are protective of their people and territory, so it’s important to inform delivery people of their existence well in advance of them reaching your property.

Mastiffs don’t need a lot of effort when it comes to grooming. Their coats are short and coarse around the ruff area and require very little attention. A brush over once a week should suffice, although that might take quite a lot of elbow grease considering how much surface area there is!

Don’t be surprised if a Mastiff gives you side-eye when it comes to training. They have very little interest in it. They should be socialized as soon as possible, though, and taught to walk on a leash or harness. Recall is important, but because of their size, most exercise should be on a leash regardless to ensure the safety of other dogs and people.

These enormous dogs have the hearts of teddy bears when it comes to their own families, but their size makes them less than ideal for families with small children.

The cost of a Mastiff from a breeder is significantly more than the cost of adopting one from a local shelter or rescue. The adoption fee usually covers additional items such as spaying or neutering, vaccines, and microchipping.