All about the mastiff dog breed

There are many breeds of dogs, many of them are ancient. These animals have much in common with wolves. In world cynology, there are 14 breeds of ancient dog breeds, which include mastiff. Today, varieties of this breed have gained high popularity among dog breeders.

A mastiff is a large dog with kind eyes. Despite the fact that at the first glance at it one may get the impression that this is a formidable and terrible beast, in fact the animal is characterized by opposite qualities. This is a good-natured sensitive dog, a real guard and a loyal friend for a person.

An exact hypothesis about the occurrence of mastiff breed does not currently exist. However, historians agree that this dog has fighting roots. The birthplace of a huge pet is considered to be Asia, namely its central regions. Many hundreds of years ago, people used a mastiff to protect housing and property from strangers, as well as from the attack of wild animals. Sometimes an animal of this breed participated in the battles.

After the lapse of time, the dog spread from Asia across the globe, while the dog acquired new external qualities and characteristic features.

Mastiffs are large massive dogs with a powerful physique. The description of this breed suggests that these animals have a heavy skeleton covered with well-developed muscles. The life expectancy of this dog leaves from 10 to 15 years. Depending on the type of wool, it can have different lengths and colors.The most common colors of mastiff include black, white, gray, blue, can be with or without tan.

The body shape of this pet is elongated, weight corresponds to growth. Males are usually taller and heavier than bitches. Body weight can vary from 40 to 80 kilograms with an increase of about 60 centimeters. The pet's head is characterized by massiveness, on it are deep-set eyes with an almond-shaped shape. Usually the color of the iris has a brown tint. The gait of a large dog is always confident and easy.

Each member of the mastiff family has calm and balanced disposition. The intelligence of the animal is well developed, so it can be trained. This dog will be a great watchman for the family, who is incredulous to strangers.

Due to the fact that mastiffs spread throughout the planet, each of the species of a particular region acquired not only a special appearance, but also a character. Today you can meet the Himalayan, Chinese, Thai, Caucasian, African, Afghan, Mongolian and other species of this breed.

The main varieties of mastiff are given below.

In another way, this breed is called the Tibetan mastiff. A distinctive feature of this large and muscular dog is the coat, which has a thick undercoat. Males weigh 73 kilograms, bitches are slightly less. At the withers, the growth of the dog can reach from 69 to 73 centimeters. The head and neck of the Mongolian wolfhound are large and massive, a fold can be traced from the eyes to the jaw. A large collar forms from the wool, which resembles a lion's mane.

The jaw of the animal is square, strong with large and white teeth. Scissor bite. Pet's nose is black with open nostrils. Ears are hanging, small in size. The limbs are characterized by straightness, power and low height. Tail thrown to the croup. The eyes of the Siberian mastiff are large, they have a shaft shape and dark color. The wide sternum has a heart shape. The color of the coat can be of three options: black, black and tan, red. This equanimous self-sufficient animal has no tendency to aggression.

This mastiff is called Maten or Flemish harness dog. The body of the animal has powerful muscles, which are well defined. The physique of the dog is characterized by massiveness and breadth. The limbs of a large dog are long and embossed. The average height of the pet is from 0.7 to 0.8 meters. The mass of the dog is 45 kilograms.

The appearance of the animal is aggressive, serious, strong and reliable. The neck is characterized by massiveness and strength, as well as a neat transition to the head. Puppies have bryl at birth. On the head are triangular drooping ears. Despite the massive physique, it is characterized as embossed and toned. The abdominal part has a taut and elastic structure. The tail of the pet should stop at 10-15 centimeters. The wool has fawn color, there are tiger prints.

If the animal has a solid red color, then it often has a black face. This dog is serious and wise, it has a high intellect, so the pet can easily master even complex teams.

The official name of the breed is Great Dane. This dog was bred in Germany as a molossian. This stately and large animal has a harmonious physique and almost square torso format. The head is large in size with an elongated rectangular muzzle. Brylya is not characterized by excessive sagging. Brown eyes are oval and small in size.The nose is black, sometimes black with speckles. The ears are high, they are medium in size and fit with the leading edge to the dog's cheeks. The long neck is characterized by muscularity, grace and long length.

The Great Dane has a pronounced withers. The back of the animal is short, the tail is thin and long. The dog has a taut belly that forms an attractive bend line. Legs are flat, strong, not massive. This is a short-haired animal with smooth, shiny and dense fur. Dogs of this breed are characterized by calm, peacefulness, poise and goodwill. This clever and understanding dog can be easily trained.

It can be kept both in an apartment and in a country house. The animal tolerates cold and hot weather, is characterized by endurance and loves slow walks.. The appearance of the dog is powerful and balanced. The height of the dog reaches 0.7 meters, and the female - 0.6, while the pet weighs about 70 - 80 kg. The coat of the dog is of medium length; it is soft and pubescent. On the nape, extremities and tail, the fur is longer. The color of the coat can be any. The head is large, it has a well-defined stop, and may be slightly rounded.

The jaw is wide, strong, consists of medium and large teeth and has a scissor bite. The ears are set high and far apart, they hang down and fit to the cheeks. Often they are stopped. Eye color depends on the color of the coat. The tail has almost no narrowing, usually it hangs down and can be stopped. The legs are well developed, they are strong, powerful, muscular.

In temperament, the animal resembles a molossoid, as it is calm, restrained and can tolerate. Training a representative of this breed is not difficult.

This is a courageous white handsome. The animal is domineering, courageous, noble, cheerful and peaceful. This breed belongs to the service hunting. The pet is characterized by an athletic physique, proportionality and muscle development. The head is large, the jaws are powerful. The dog’s skin is thick and elastic. According to the standard, Argentinean dogs are snow-white in color, there may be a black spot on the face. Due to the sports physique, the dog looks intimidating, but in fact the animal is smart and obedient. The pet is characterized by a lack of aggression and courage.

Males in height reach 0.68 meters, and bitches - 0.6. Representatives of the male have a weight of up to 45 kilograms, and the female - up to 40. The head is large, with a convex-concave profile. According to the standard, the dog’s eyes should be painted black or brown. The tail has a large length and drooping position.

The fur is thick, short and white. The ears of the animal are erect and triangular, they need to be stopped. A feature of the Argentinean mastiff is the versatility of working opportunities. Representatives of this breed are fast and hardy hunters with a strong grip. Despite the courage and well-developed hunting instincts, this dog is cheerful and friendly.

Outside of their homeland, the breed is no longer popular. This large and powerful animal brings a lot of trouble and difficulties during keeping.

He is an English and British mastiff. The purpose of breeding this animal was the protection of housing, as well as hunting for animals. The birthplace of this breed is considered to be Ireland. The dog has a short hard fur dyed in peach or tiger print. There is black hair on the face of the animal. The eyes of the dog are black with a rhombic shape. The tail of the representative of the English mastiffs is set high. The backbone of the dog is powerful and strong. This kind animal has guard qualities and gets along well with children.

This service breed dog is recognized as one of the largest in the world. In adulthood, a pet can reach a height of 0.8 meters and weight up to 85 kilograms. The Spaniard is characterized by mental stability and a high level of mental abilities. The animal coexists well in families, but its socialization should be carried out as early as possible.

Neapolitan or Italian mastiff is especially popular in our time. This dog is characterized by slowness and regularity, as well as independence and good mental abilities.

This is an animal with a noble character. He feels affection and affection for his masters. He fearlessly and aggressively reacts to other dogs. At home, the dog does not show much activity, but in a public place it should be walked exclusively in the muzzle, without removing the leash. The Afghan mastiff needs education from an early age. Animal is characterized good healthhe always physical activity is required. This guard can reach a weight of 55 to 80 kilograms, while the growth of the pet is 0, 7 - 0, 85 meters. A female is smaller than a male.

The life expectancy of a representative of this breed is about 10 years. The color of wool in the Persian Great Dane is usually gray, deer, and brindle. The head of the dog is large with a wide forehead, the muzzle has an elongated shape and gray lips. Description of the pet's face includes a black lobe, dark eyes of medium size. The dog’s neck is short, powerful, strong. The ears are medium in size; they can be cropped.

Mountain Mastiff or Pyrenean Mountain Dog. It has an external resemblance to polar bears. Despite the frightening appearance, the pet’s disposition is soft and friendly. This dog is characterized by courage, strength, endurance, so it is quite popular throughout the world. The optimal conditions for the representative of this breed is an aviary and a spacious house area. This animal can perform the functions of a shepherd, guard, companion.

The pet's coat color is white, but blotches of gray or yellow may be present. The wool of a mountain mastiff is characterized by a long length. Females grow up to 0.75 meters, and males - up to 0.8 meters. The dog weighs about 60 kilograms. The head of the dog is large with a dry wedge-shaped, dry cheekbones and cheeks. Jaw strong, strong, scissor bite. The nose is large, it is characterized by a special sensitivity. Wide-set eyes have a medium size and dark iris.

The ears are characterized by low landing and a triangular shape. The body of the animal has a rectangular format, while it is strong and muscular. Belly tightened and not tightened. The chest is characterized by omission and the presence of rounded ribs. Tail landing is located below the croup. It is long, during activity it can rise. Legs are straight with oval paws. The fur has a soft and fluffy undercoat, as well as a stiffer outer coat. This mastiff is considered a balanced pet, it is kind and patient with respect to children, friendly to other living creatures in the house.

Turkish mastiff or kangal. This Turkish shepherd dog differs from a wolfhound in calmness and hard work. The animal is 0.89 m tall and weighs 69 kilograms. The coat color of a dog is gray-yellow, gray-brown, brown-yellow. Mandatory is the presence of a black mask on the face. This animal is harmoniously folded, has a powerful body and a strong physique with slender legs. The head is large, with hanging ears. The tail of the pet is long and set high.With its large size, the dog is quite dexterous and looks very harmonious.

The African Mastiff is a powerful, agile guard dog breed. This representative of molossians has a dense short coat and is considered a heat-loving animal. It is not easy to maintain and educate, but if a person makes an effort and shows patience, he will get a faithful and reliable friend.

The dog is large and strong, its muscles are well developed. The male reaches a height of 0.66 meters, and the female - 0.61 cm. Body weight is proportional to growth and usually ranges from 60 to 90 kilograms. The dog has a large head and body, covered with well-developed muscles. Boerboel is an intelligent, manageable and easily trained animal. In a dangerous situation, he is fearless and brave. In order for the animal to become curbed, it needs early education and regular physical activity.

This dog is an excellent guard for farming, it protects the herd well, while being vigilant. This is a large, powerful animal with an elongated torso. The head of the pet resembles a bear, its profile is characterized by a bulge. The jaw is strong and very well developed. The eyes are dark in color, have an elliptical shape. The ears are small in size, have a triangular shape.

The tail of the mastiff is long, not thin, it has a curved tip. The legs are straight and wide. The wool of the Portuguese rifeur is of medium length, thick and heavy, painted in black, wolf, fawn, yellow. The growth of males does not exceed 74 cm, and the females - 70 cm. Females weigh about 35, and males - about 40 kilograms.

Before you buy a small pet, you should seriously think about whether you will have the opportunity to meet all the requirements for keeping a thoroughbred dog. When choosing a mastiff puppy, you should not rush. It is better to visit several exhibitions, go home to the animal breeders and learn as much as possible about this breed of dogs.

First of all, it is worth deciding on the sex of the mastiff, although the puppy that is available is often bought. The male is large, he does not show a tendency to vagrancy. At the same time, the male eats more than a bitch, but is not less loving and faithful. Mastiff bitches are usually difficult to give birth, and are also picky in choosing a gentleman.

It is also necessary to evaluate the litter of puppies in general. It is important to see how the mother relates to babies, and it is also desirable to see the father of the offspring. Checking x-rays of the puppy's hip and elbow joints will not be superfluous. So you can be sure that baby will not suffer from dysplasia - This is a very dangerous and common disease among mastiffs.

At the age of 5-6 weeks, the puppy already shows independence and curiosity, he is no longer so dependent on his mother. A small mastiff is a small copy of its parents, the animal should have large paws, large ears. Give preference to a puppy, whose square head shape, long body, well-built skeleton. It is also worth making sure that the puppy's claws are trimmed and the metacarpus does not fail.

The paws of the baby should be characterized by dense compression, curvature of the fingers, as well as the black color of the claws. No need to buy a mastiff that is overfed and too fat. At 2 months, the baby should be active and well-fed. Do not be afraid if the puppy has a slight overshot - the jaw grows, so soon this defect will return to normal. The baby should not have a snub-nosed, narrow or too long muzzle.

It is considered unacceptable if the mastiff puppy has drooping eyelids, bulging or too wide-set eyes.In addition, the baby should have a wide chest, convex ribs and a flat back.

You can choose a puppy according to the color of the coat last, taking into account your own preferences. When buying a little mastiff, you need to watch how he behaves during games. Whatever the breed of the dog, the kids have fun together, and then fall asleep with the whole company. There are some dogs that will show curiosity when studying a person, and there are less determined dogs.

The little mastiff should be picked up and carefully examined for wounds and scratches. Dandruff and bald patches should not be present on the baby’s fur. The nose of the animal should be cool and moist to the touch, without obvious secretions. The puppy's eyes should be clean, without pus. The color of the gums and tongue should be pink.

The mastiff's stomach should not have any signs of bloating. The puppy should not sneeze or cough, wheezing should not be heard during breathing. It takes a pet at the age of 1.5 months to take home, it must have a brand or chipping.

A mastiff puppy is a pleasure that not everyone can afford. This breed of dog is not easy in matters of training and education. With proper care, proper feeding and the manifestation of love for this animal, you can raise an excellent watchdog with a good soul.

You can find out how to choose the right Tibetan mastiff puppy by watching the video below.