Description: The Mastiff is a large dog. With the 30 inch dog and the 27 inch bitches, the dogs are 160 pounds and the bitches are 150 pounds. This is one of the heaviest dog breeds. The Mastiff has a huge square head with a marked bag between the eyes. The muzzle should be half the length of the skull. With medium brown to dark hazel eyes and a black mask around them. The ears are small and V-shaped, and in proportion to the head, these are dark in color. The nose is also dark in color. The teeth should meet in a scissor bite, and may sit slightly below. This is also acceptable in the show ring, as long as the teeth are not showing when the mouth is closed. The tail is set high and broad at the base, tapering to a fine point reaching to the hocks. The coat colors we see are; golden fawn, apricots, light fawn, tiger, silver or brindle.

History: The Mastiff is a very ancient breed of dog, and there is evidence that it dates back to Egyptian times. 3,000 BC. Caesar had brought a pack of mastiffs to Rome, where the dogs were put on display and used to fight in the gladiatorial arena. This large dog was used in the sport of fighting, often pitted against lions, bears, dog-on-dog combat, and even human gladiators. This breed later came to England and was used by local peasants as bodyguards to protect the person from wolves and other dangerous predators. The Mastiff has been described “As a lion is to a cat, so is a Mastiff compared to a dog.” The mastiff is believed to have arrived in the United States on the Mayflower. By the end of World War II, this breed was nearly extinct in England and it was necessary to import dogs from the US and Canada to once again establish the dog in the UK. Some of the Mastiff’s talents include; surveillance, police work, search and rescue, military work, surveillance and weight lifting.