Dog Breed Guide

Mastiff

Profile

Size

Extra Large

Country of origin

United Kingdom

Origin

Ancient

Bred for

Watchdog, Guard dog

Height

male 76cm (30in) and over, female 70cm (28in) and over

Weight

male 73 - 100kg (161 - 220lb), female 54 - 77kg (119 - 170lb)

Life span

6 - 10 years

With its broad head, black mask and massive body, the Mastiff is one of the largest dog breeds in the world. Standing on its hind legs, a big one can be taller than an adult. The short coat comes in fawn, apricot and brindle.

Despite its size, the Mastiff is gentle and calm and shows deep affection for its family. It spends much of the day dozing peacefully, but it can be counted on to protect its family when it matters. It is patient with children, but because of its size it should always be supervised when playing with small kids.

Because it is so heavy, exercise should be kept moderate during the growth period to protect the joints, and it is important to prevent obesity in adulthood. It drools a lot and is sensitive to heat. Food and veterinary bills are large as well.

Good to know

It is also called the English Mastiff. According to a well-known story, when the English knight Sir Piers Legh fell badly wounded at the Battle of Agincourt in 1415, during the Hundred Years' War, his female Mastiff stood over him for hours and protected him. She was later brought back to the Legh family's estate, Lyme Hall, and her descendants, the Lyme Hall Mastiffs, became one of the foundations of the modern breed some five centuries later.

Mastiffs are also said to have sailed on the Mayflower from England to America in 1620.

In 1989 a Mastiff in London named Zorba weighed in at over 155kg (343lb), and Guinness World Records recognized him as the heaviest dog in the world. Guinness later dropped the category so that no one would overfeed a dog to set a record.