The Word Mastiff, sometimes called in the north of England Masty or Mastie, is derived from Latin Mansuelus meaning tamed "accustomed to the Hand". The Mastiff is one of the oldest breeds of dogs, most probably originating in the mountains of Asia. It is the ancestor of the breeds. Bas relief's of the Babylonian era depict Mastiffs hunting lions and horses. Phoenician traders probably introduced the Mastiff to England where the Romans found them and brought them back to fight in the arena.
Marco Polo wrote the court of Kublai Khan who kept a kennel of 5,000 Mastiffs used for hunting and dogs of war. When Hannibal crossed the Alps, he left Mastiffs behind which crossed with the local native breeds to produce the St. Bernard, once called the Alpine Mastiff. All the massive dogs of Spain, France, Turkey and the Balkans have Mastiff blood in their ancestry. Even the Chow carries his blood as does the Pug, which originally was a form of dwarf Mastiff.
Of all the countries who used the Mastiff, it was the British who kept him in his purest form and it is to them that we owe the Mastiff of today. They kept Mastiffs to guard their castles and estates, releasing them into the night to ward of intruders. Henry VIII is said to have presented Charles V of Spain a gift of 400 Mastiffs to be used in battle. the Legh family of Lyme Hall, Cheshire, who were given their castle by Richard II (1377-1399), kept and bred Mastiffs for many years. Reference is found in Stowe's Annual which shows that James I (1603-1625) sent a gift of two Lyme Mastiffs to Phillip II of Spain.
During the reign of Queen Elizabeth I, Mastiffs were used for bear and lion baiting. After the cessation of this cruel sport, Mastiffs were continued to be bred by the Dukes of Devonshire and Sutherland, the Earl of Harrington and other Royalty.
Mastiffs began to decline in popularity until the late 1800's when they were revived briefly and started to be imported into America. (There is however, mention of one coming over on the mayflower.) World War I saw their decline again in England and by the 1920's they were almost extinct in that country in their pure form. World War II all but finished the breed in England and at the end of the war fresh blood was imported from Canada and the United States to revive the breed. Now, fortunately, Mastiffs are well established again.
In recent years, there has been a revival of interest in the brindle-colored Mastiff. Unfortunately, the brindle color has been neglected by breeders and fanciers for so many years that it has become almost extinct.. In fact, a large percentage of the public no longer recognize a Mastiff of this color.. Yet the brindle is one of the oldest colors, or perhaps the oldest of all and the brindle Mastiff has contributed greatly towards building up and maintaining the best specimens of the breed.
A Mastiff should be a very large, massive, well balanced combining grandeur, good nature, courage and docility. The Mastiff is not as easy to rear and it will probably always expensive to do this properly. This is particularly true with puppies up to the age of two years, inasmuch as the quantity and the quality of food must be meticulously watched to ensure proper growth of bone and muscle. The breed is, however, well worth the expense and trouble. It has a noble and generous disposition and will respond to kindness and makes the best of all house dogs and companions. Under no circumstances will the dog become a roamer or a tramp if a reasonable amount of early training is given.
When you purchase a Mastiff you are adding a new member to your family, so it is important to research kennels and breeding stock. Shopping around for a "bargain puppy" invites disappointment later. Purebred Mastiffs cost money to breed and raise, and in the final analysis you must expect to get just about what you paid for.. Perhaps as good a guide as any is to purchase from a member of either the Mastiff Club of Canada or the Mastiff Club of America. Membership in either organization should denote a serious interest in the advancement of the breed. If you choose a Mastiff, you are buying one of the oldest breeds of dogs, the Mastiff, the Lion of Dogdom.
Mastiffs are bigger than a St. Bernard; not as tall as a Great Dane, but heavier. The Mastiff breed standard sets the desired minimum height at the shoulder at 30" for males, 27 1/2" for females; Mastiffs generally weigh between 135-185 pounds. Mastiffs do not eat as much as people would think. Pound for pound, the larger the dog, the less food it needs for each pound of body weight. They should be fed a good quality balanced diet.
Mastiffs are good with children, they are gentle and protective, providing they have been raised with children and are accustomed to them. However, small children should not be allowed to play roughly with a puppy. Mastiffs are clean, quiet and undemanding in the house. Heaven to a Mastiff is a rug beside his owners chair. Mastiffs are naturally clean and quick to house break. Mastiffs are excellent guard dogs. They go to the door and bark, their hackles stand up and they look formidable, but Mastiffs do only enough to control a given situation.
Hip Dysplasia occurs in many breeds and the Mastiff is no Exception. A positive diagnosis of hip dysplasia can be made only with x-rays and often only after the dog is mature. Puppies from dysplasia free parents are less likely to become dysplastic, but even they are not immune. It is important to buy your Mastiff from a reputable breeder, not a pet shop or middle man. Reputable breeders put the welfare of their dogs and the improvement of the breed above their desire for financial gain.
