Mastiff
Other names: English Mastiff, Old English Mastiff

The Mastiff is the ideal companion for lovers of XXL-sized dogs. To wit, weighing close to 220 pounds, this dog’s abnormal size is as overwhelming as the joy one discovers getting to know him. This dog is well-rounded, gentle, has a heart of gold- in direct proportion to his size! He can sometimes prove to be somewhat phlegmatic, but is nevertheless a big softie who cannot stand to be away from his human family.
Key facts about the Mastiff
Origins and history
In 55 BC, when Caesar’s legions invaded the British isles, they came face to face with two types of dogs: the first was stocky, with a disproportionately big head, and a short yet powerful jaw- of which the poor legionnaires’ calves soon became thoroughly convinced. This dog was highly likely the Bulldog’s ancestor, and had some of the modern-day Bullmastiff in him. The second dog was of exceptional dimensions, more of a lion than a dog in fact! He was the direct descendant of the assyro-babylonian mastiffs, imported to England by the Phoenicians some 500 years prior to the Roman invasion. He made the Epirus Molossians- whom the Romans considered to be excellent warriors- look like helpless little companion pups. As a result, upon conquering Britain, the Romans brought back these impressive English dogs with them, dubbed them ‘Pugnaces Britanniae’ (or ‘British Pugnaces’), and used them in arena fights with the most ferocious of animals. The Mastiff is a direct descendant of the latter dogs.
Physical characteristics of the Mastiff
Adult size
Female : Between 26 and 30 in
Male : Between 30 and 33 in
Weight
Female : Between 143 and 176 lb
Male : Between 187 and 220 lb
Coat colour
The coat can be fawn, apricot-fawn or brindle-fawn. The muzzle, ears, and nose are black. The dominating presence of white on the body, chest or paws is not admissible by official standards.
Type of coat
The coat is short.
The coat is spread out flatly throughout the body. Please note that it is thicker around the shoulders, the neck, and the back of the dog.
Eye colour
The eyes are hazel, as dark as possible.
Description
Of massive size, the Mastiff has a particularly respect-inducing physical appearance. The head, looked at from any angle, appears rather square. The skull is wide in between the ears, flat, but wrinkled when the dog is alert. The muzzle is short, and wide underneath the eyes: it must appear clearly delineated, and be significantly deep between the tip of the nose, and the lower extremity of the mandible. The stop is pronounced, but not sharp. The eyes are small. The ears are small, fine, hung quite high, and close to the cheeks. The body is massive, robust, and symmetrical. The tail, hanging low when the dog is at rest, curves slightly upwards when he is animated.
Good to know
This breed has been at the brink of extinction more than once already, due to some excesses in the breeding of certain lineages- most notably, inbreeding. This has unfortunately led to certain genetic weaknesses that contemporary dog-breeding is trying to amend.
By the way, contrary to popular belief, the Mastiff is not subject to the law introduced in January 1999 regarding so-called dangerous dogs. In fact, it is not a part of dogs in these categories, neither first nor second.