The Mastiff Dog Breeds !

Hello and welcome to Mastiffdogssite.com, a topical website that gives real information about the magnificent breed of The Mastiff dog. They may be on the large side but mastiffs dog breeds are a lovable pet , loyal and protective to the end.

From beginning to end with this website , will give you an understanding of what  mastiff's are all about, common mastiff trade marks , and how to train your dog to follow rules and even do some tricks. Whether you consider yourself an expert or a novice, there are always things to learn about your mastiff. So read on and indulge yourself in the world of the Mastiff…

 The Mastiff dog breeds such as many dog breeds has a history that goes back over 2,000 years. Used in Britain, Rome and other ancient civilizations as hunting dogs, warrior dogs and guard dogs, the Mastiff has had a long, illustrious past. The Mastiff was brought to Britain by the Phoenicians in the 6th century BC. The Romans discovered this incredible dog when they invaded Britain, and took some back home to Italy. Reputedly, Julius Caesar's favorite dog was a Mastiff breed. Kubla Khan kept thousands of Mastiffs as part of his army, and Hannibal brought several battalions of these massive dogs with him when he made his famous crossing of the Alps.

The Mastiff dogs remained a favorite of British royals, guarding castles and estates. Mastiffs were used for bear baiting between the 12th and 19th century. This was a very popular sport at the time. The dogs were used to attack chained bears, tigers and bulls.
 
The first Mastiff breed came to America with the Pilgrims on the Mayflower, though they didn't become popular there until the 1800s. Used during the World Wars to pull heavy munitions carts, they fell out of favor during these lean times because of their great appetites. Growing again in popularity today, Mastiff dogs are used as search and rescue dogs, companions, show dogs, guard dogs and police dogs.

Today, he is still the largest breed of dog, often reaching a weight of 220 pounds and a shoulder height of 30 inches. They should appear massive and powerful, with a black mask and ears highlighting a pale coat of silver, apricot, fawn or brindle short hair.

While yesterday's Mastiff breed was a fierce opponent, today the Mastiff is gentle and affectionate. While every Mastiff is an individual, the majority of dogs are calm and easy going. Mastiffs can be a bit of a challenge to train. They can be a bit stubborn, and with their size, you're better off if you get all your training done when the dog is young and of smaller stature. At the same time, some Mastiffs are very sensitive to harsh words from their family.
 
If you want to share your life with a mastiff dog, be prepared for drooling, snoring and wheezing. They take up a lot of room, even though they are not a very active breed. At the same time, they are loyal guardians who will keep you and your family from harm. Mastiffs rarely bark. If they find an intruder, they will "detain" him until help arrives or you give him the okay. Mastiffs really don't need to be taught to guard… they just fall into it naturally.
If you have children, you couldn't choose a better companion. Small children need to be watched just because of the sheer size of the dog, but your Mastiff will be gentle, patient and long-suffering.

As a companion, you can't choose a better dog. Mastiffs thrive on being with you. It doesn't matter if you are going for a walk or just sitting and reading a book, your mastiff will love to hang out with you. In fact, your Mastiff will love nothing more than to be at your side night and day. This is no dog that thrives on being left in the backyard alone all day. He craves companionship… preferably yours.
If you take him on a walk or to the park, your Mastiff will most likely be a bit shy of strangers, preferring to sit politely until you say a person is acceptable to you. He should get along well with other dogs too, especially if he was properly socialized as a puppy. If he wasn't, you may need to train him to behave around other dogs, or keep him away from them.
For his size, the Mastiff is actually quite swift. He can easily outrun a man, though if he had his druthers, he'd rather laze around the house. In fact, if you don't mind the crowding, he'd be happy in an apartment as long as he is able to hang out with his family.

So, you've decided that a Mastiff is the right dog for you. When you are sure you can live with the drooling, the large size and the fact he eats like a horse, you will need to find the right dog for you.  First you'll need to decide if you want a puppy or an adult dog. If you want a puppy, you'll want to find a reputable breeder that breeds Mastiffs that are quality specimens of the breed, and epitomize the Mastiff both physically and temperamentally. A reputable breeder will have experience with the breed and with raising litters. They will carefully choose the parents, and have medical documentation showing that both parents are healthy. You should be able to meet both parents of the puppies, and the pups should be kept with the mother full time until they are weaned. The pups should have received shots before you pick yours up, and you should have a contract with the breeder.

Before you bring your puppy home, you'll need to puppy-proof your home. Remove plants that may be poisonous, and remove all your cherished items that the puppy may decide make good chew toys.

If you decide on an adult dog, a breeder may have an older dog available, or you can try a rescue group. The problem with adult dogs is you don't know their history. But, the advantage of getting an older dog is you bypass all the chewing, potty training and puppy hijinks. An older dog will already be calm and placid.

 Always choose a good quality food for your Mastiff. Low quality food may be cheaper,but the dog will eat more to get enough nutrients, and low quality food tends to cause gas. Another option is feeding your Mastiff a "real food" diet of meat and other proteins. There is a lot of information on these diets on the Internet.
Once you live with a Mastiff dog, they will be a part of your heart forever. These docile giants will never let you go.