English mastiff: characteristics and recommendations for choice

The English mastiff is one of the largest representatives of the canine world, the owner of gigantic proportions and a noble character. A true gladiator, he looks impressive and is a true attribute of strength and power. This dog will certainly not exhibit excessive irritability or nervousness. She is always calm, balanced and knows for sure when the owner is in danger and it is time to show her teeth.

English mastiff - a breed of dogs from the UK, belonging to the arched and officially recognized over a century ago. She received her first standard in 1883. But even before that, one of the largest dogs in the world managed to establish itself in the best way. The ancestors of the mastiffs were known during the greatness of Babylon, Assyria, Persia. Molossians of that era had a more raw skeleton and heavier tread, they were used as security guards, and performed in military campaigns.

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

Among the imported animals, gafaelgi stood out - dogs that were used for hunting purposes to hunt animals for hunting. The mestizo variety, mixed with the mastiffs previously available on the island, was called costog. Dogs were of medium length, dark in color and very ferocious in nature. In this form, animals existed until the XI century, when the Normans invaded Britain.

Representatives of continental Europe at that time had their favorites - Alans or hunting mastiffs. Their mixing with pramolosses of local breeding gave a split at once into several pedigree types. Dogs valued viciousness, fearlessness, large sizes. Old-style bandogs, which appeared thanks to the Saxons, also retained their popularity. They were used to perform guard functions, thanks to the dark color they were invisible in the dark.

As an independent breed, the English mastiff began to form after 1415, after the infamous battle of Agincourt, in which dogs fought along with their owners and were ready to give their lives for the British crown. The deceased pet of Sir Pierce Lee, the owner of the Lime Hall estate, was ordered by King Henry IV to receive the same military honors as her owner. Subsequently, the line of her descendants became one of the three main nurseries in the UK. In addition, the Gatton family and the Duke of Devonshire were engaged in the selection of mastiffs after the 18th century. Until 1835, the main purpose of the breed was animal harassment, in particular, dogs fought with bears and successfully defeated them.

Modern English mastiffs are 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;

• Medels

• St. Bernards;

• Great Danes

• Newfoundlands

• bullmastiffs.

The first dog of the modern breed type was exhibited in 1873. Thanks to the efforts of the club, in which lovers of the Old English mastiff united, the animal acquired a noble appearance and retained recognizable features of Molossians. The male Tauras from the Nanbury kennel participating in the show became its winner. But the progenitor of the modern English mastiff is considered to be his descendant with the name Cron Prince. In the future, dogs born in this line, repeatedly became champions, winners of exhibitions.

By 1906, a new population of English mastiffs required the creation of a standard that corresponded to changes in the phenotype. Longhair, spotted, black and gray animals began to be discarded. Throughout the XX century, the population of the breed remained very insignificant, after the Second World War, it was completely preserved mainly in the USA.

The main characteristic of the English Mastiff breed is massiveness and large dimensions. The modern number of dogs looks massive, but proportionally, without excess bone dampness. The maximum weight of one of the largest dogs reaches 130 kg. But on average, a male weighs from 68 to 113 kg with a height of 76 cm at the withers. The sizes of the females are 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. 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. The coat should be short, without thinning in the area of ​​the shoulder blades, back, neck, shiny, close-fitting to the body. Black color is allowed only in the mask on the face and ears. The rest of the body and head should be painted in fawn, light, silver or dark version of deer colors, apricot shades. Especially popular is the English tiger mastiff, which has pronounced stripes over the body.

In addition, for dogs of this breed, the standard sets the following characteristics:

• deep and wide chest - its contours should be well defined, the lower edge reaches the elbows or passes under them;
• tail with a moderately high set - at the base it is thickened, tapering towards the tip; the tail should reach the hock lengthwise; 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 size ears with a high and wide set - their thickness is small, in a calm state the lower edge is located on the cheeks;
• well-developed jaws with a tick-shaped bite or a characteristic snack; powerful fangs, white tooth enamel;
• eyes of a hazel or dark hazel shade, with a wide set, small size, dark-pigmented stroke, the third eyelid is considered a tribal marriage.

The character of the English mastiff is truly English calm. Dogs are moderately aggressive against strangers, do not show significant physical activity. They are intellectually developed, with proper education 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 power, leisurely movements. The phlegmatism of the animal is only apparent - giant dogs are very friendly to people, are 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 their knees. With a weight of 70 kg or more, an English mastiff becomes a very serious burden. That is why it is worth it from childhood to wean him from such an obvious 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. Left alone for a long time, a bored giant can be a serious problem. He will not bark and howl, but he may well cause serious damage to property. You should not worry while walking - English mastiffs are not inclined to shoots and always return to their owner.

Security instincts and a sense of their own territory in dogs of this breed are very well developed. Animals zealously protect their territory, distrustful of strangers. But they do not get along well with other pets, 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 young children. Even a puppy’s dimensions are quite large to accidentally drop or push a child.It is even more difficult for large molosses to maneuver in a house or apartment, here all family members will experience inconvenience.

Before studying the characteristics of mastiff puppies, it must be borne in mind that this dog will need good conditions. The animal must have freedom of movement, receive regular physical activity. In general, the need for physical activity is not too high, English mastiffs are well suited for people leading a sedentary lifestyle. Frisbee, agility, or running a pet for a bike is best forgotten. A distinctive feature of dogs is abundant saliva, they are sloppy in food, and snore during sleep.

Regarding the direct choice of a baby English mastiff, it is worth considering a number of recommendations from experienced breeders.

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

Important! If we are not talking about exhibition activities, you can purchase an English mastiff with minor pedigree defects. For breeding, only dogs that are fully compliant with the standard, with a good pedigree and titled parents are purchased.

Organizing the right diet is essential for growing English mastiffs. A large animal from childhood needs quite high-calorie, while balanced food. The best choice is a ready-made premium diet. 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 combining different types of feed is unacceptable. This is harmful to the health of the animal and may lead to disruption of the digestive tract.

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

• from 1 to 4 months, puppies receive food 5 times a day;
• up to six months, food should be four times a day;
• 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, upon reaching 4 months, English mastiffs should not receive milk. Any foods high in carbohydrates, fatty meat (lamb, pork), spicy dishes, tubular bones, river fish are prohibited. Excluded any sweets, smoked meats, legumes. You need to water the dog regularly, daily changing the water in the bowl. The best choice is unboiled bottled products. Its mineral composition in the best way affects the health of the dog.

With the content of the English mastiff, caring for a dog is not difficult. Shorthair animals need only regular combing - about 2-3 times a month. During molting, hygiene procedures should be repeated more often. As a care product, a brush with natural hard bristles is used. Dogs of this breed are contraindicated in the use of slicker, gloves with a silicone coating in the form of spikes are also not suitable. Suede or velvet processing will help add gloss.

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

The lack of need for frequent washing does not completely cancel other hygiene procedures. The folding of the face 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 with a damp cloth or hypoallergenic sanitary napkins.

After staying outside, the ears of the dog should also be inspected. Their interior should be regularly cleaned with a cotton swab dipped in a solution of boric acid. Eyes are cleaned daily, from the inner corner of the eye, accumulating lumps of secretions are washed out with a moist cotton pad, moistened tea solution or chamomile broth.

Large mastiff teeth need weekly brushing. Due to the malocclusion characteristic of the breed, the risk of developing caries is significantly higher than that of other representatives of the canine world. It is worth paying attention that the processing of enamel is carried out using a special paste and brush or nozzle on the finger. Particular attention should be paid to the back teeth - to facilitate the process, the animal should be accustomed to the procedure from a puppy's age. Claw sewing also requires attention. If the dog's length remains quite large, artificial keratinization of the stratum corneum should be made using special secateurs, developed taking into account the breed of the animal. Since the English mastiffs are not distinguished by their love for long walks, you should not rely on the natural grinding of the claw.

Like most giant breeds, the English mastiffs period of childhood is significantly delayed. Large dimensions are deceptive - the dog will act up, be naughty, spoil things. Lingering adulthood should not be taken as an excuse for postponing the upbringing of an animal. The breed is prone to domination, demonstrating its leadership character traits. That is why in training from the very first day you will have to show a certain hardness. Suppression of attempts to seize leadership rights should occur exclusively in a peaceful manner, without aggression. English mastiffs should not be beaten, encroached on their dignity.

Success in training strongly depends on the character traits, intelligence of a particular animal. Many mastiffs easily and with pleasure learn new teams, demonstrate tricks. But every dog ​​must pass the basic course of obedience - without it, it will be simply impossible to cope with the pet.A very important attention in studies should be given to encouraging the animal while learning new teams. English giants are well aware of the value of goodies and willingly show effort to get it.

Mastiffs are a breed that needs strict adherence to the daily routine. Classes are recommended in the afternoon, before dinner and relaxing. The dog in this case retains a sufficient mood and concentration. Recommended training time is at least 60 minutes. It is recommended to start classes by repeating the material covered.

The characteristics of the English mastiff breed in the video below.