Spotlight Breed Mastiff

Spotlight Breed: Mastiff

Welcome to our Spotlight Breed article of the week. We are excited to help you learn more about a fun dog breed from around the world! Our spotlight breed of the week is the Mastiff. One of the most interesting facts about the Mastiff is that their ancestor, the Molossus, was known over 5,000 years ago! There is much more to learn about this breed, so please continue reading.

You may have heard the Mastiff being called an Old English Mastiff.

This makes sense, given its rich history! The adaptability of the Mastiff is straightforward. This breed isn’t very adaptable! Given its size, we do not recommend that this breed is well suited for small home or apartment living. Furthermore, the breed is not ideal for novice owners as it may be harder to manage.

Let’s talk about the friendliness factor of the Mastiff. Foremost, this breed is incredibly affectionate with their family and the people that they are around the most. They love to form strong bonds, and it shows! Mastiff dogs also tend to be fine around children. However, they may struggle when faced with other dogs or strangers. Emotions such as anxiety, aggression, or uncertainty may occur. With this said, it would be best to enroll the Mastiff (and any other dog, for this matter) in basic obedience and socialization training. This will strengthen confidence, allowing the dog to have better experiences around other dogs or strangers.

You may run into some issues when it comes to training a Mastiff. They are so-so when it comes to training. Although they can form an association between prompt, action, and consequence, it may require more patience from the trainer. A little positive reinforcement with rewards will work wonders while you train a Mastiff.

The Mastiff loves to play and is always looking for the next adventure! So, it is best to keep things interesting. Consider activities outside of the regular games of fetch or tug-o-war. Think outside the box to ensure that the Mastiff gets the mental and physical stimulation they need.

Are you looking for a playful and loving dog? If so, the Mastiff may be for you! We will leave you with our favorite quote about the breed:

“It’s not dog hair. It’s Mastiff glitter!”