A Revealing Look at The English Mastiff

If there was a top ten list of the best guard dogs, the English mastiff dog would definitely be in the top two or three. This breed is not only excellent at acting as a guard, but also looks the part. Anyone running across an English mastiff dog would think twice about trespassing.

English mastiffs have a powerful build and massive body – in fact, they're the heaviest dogs in the world. Their name probably comes from an old Anglo-Saxon word meaning powerful. They're descended from two ancient breeds of dogs: the Alaunt and the Molosser. The English mastiff is actually the oldest breed of dog in England.

Unsurprisingly, these dogs were used as fighting animals as early as the sixth century BCE. They were considered important to many common blood sports, like bear baiting, bull baiting, and even lion baiting. English mastiff dogs were also common in dog fights.

The English mastiff combines courage, dignity, and grandeur. Many people who don't understand the breed might consider these dogs a paradox, since they're both loving and loyal towards their owners and ferocious and fearless guardians. English mastiff dogs actually stand between their owners and strangers if someone unknown comes onto the family territory.

Any strangers who come near should give a mastiff a wide berth, since they'll take action to defend their families. This is why they're among the top ten guard dogs. However, even though they're fierce, English mastiffs are known for their gentleness with kids.

The average English mastiff dog is around thirty inches tall at the shoulders. Female dogs are a little smaller, standing at twenty-seven and a half inches at the shoulder. Males can weigh as much as two hundred thirty pounds, and rarely weight less than a hundred and sixty. Females weigh a bit less, but are generally between a hundred and forty pounds and a hundred and ninety.

Of course, like many purebred dogs, English mastiffs do have some health issues that occur throughout the breed. Hip dysplasia, a disease of the rear legs, is common, as are obesity and bloating. The latter can be managed by feeding your dog several small meals over the course of the day, instead of one big one. English mastiffs have a higher incidence of developing bone cancer than some other breeds, and may be prone to getting kidney stones.
It's important to know about potential health issues in advance, so you can deal with them when your dog gets old. Too many people abandon their pets when they become inconvenient. Even though English mastiff dogs are well loved, there are still a lot of rescues and homeless dogs out there.

Healthy English mastiffs in good environments live to be between nine and eleven years of age. They require good diets and lots of exercise, but ironically, may have to be convinced to get up and move. Like many humans, these dogs can easily become couch potatoes. This is bad for them in the long run, so both you and your dog should get up and go.

Brushing your English mastiff dog on a daily basis is important. If you allow hair, dust, dead skin, and other materials to build up in his or her coat, your dog could smell bad. Daily brushing also keeps skin problems from developing. This is because you're removing buildup and stimulating the skin as you brush.
Instead of using a normal brush, you might want to buy a dog glove, instead. This is like a brush combined with a glove, and it's designed for use with short haired dogs like English mastiffs. Using this device can be a wonderful bonding experience for the two of you.

Everything could not be covered in this article for obvious reasons. So for more detailed information on the English Mastiff or for timeless information in mastiff care and training I highly recommend “Mastiff Secrets: Everything You Need to Know About Buying, Raising and Caring for a Mastiff!”. It takes an in depth look and Mastiff care and training and provided up to date tactics as well as vast knowledge on the breed. Grab your copy now by clicking the blue text above.