DESCRIPTION
The American Mastiff is a new and rare breed developed over twenty years ago by Fredericka Wagner of Flying W Farms. She crossed the English Mastiff with the Anatolian, being very selective about her breeding stock. The cross created a dog which looked very similar to the regal English Mastiff. However, the American Mastiff has a "dry mouth", excellent life expectancy for a large dog (10-12 years average), and through careful breeding, hip problems have been avoided. The American Mastiff is recognized and registered with the Continental Kennel Club (CKC).
The American Mastiff requires little exercise. As puppies, they grow so quickly and their bones develop so rapidly that they spend a lot of time sleeping. They will wake up, play for a little while and then they are asleep again. As they grow older, they can exercise more and when full grown they will go for long walks with you but jogging is not their thing. They are calm and quiet in the house; therefore, though large, they make an ideal house pet. The American Mastiff does well in a wide range of environments, from an apartment with walks in the park, to a farm or a home with a big yard.
The American Mastiff is a wonderful family pet and a noble watch dog. This breed does not bark senselessly, but if a stranger approaches, the American Mastiff will be there to determine whether he is friend or foe. They are accepting and non-aggressive to visitors. However, the American Mastiff is very positive in his expression of protection, and it is in a stranger's best interest to pay attention to him. Fierce, courageous and selfless, an American Mastiff would gladly give his life to defend his family. In spite of their great size, the American Mastiff is sensitive and affectionate; they live to please those they love. Nothing beyond your tone of voice is ever necessary to discipline. They thrive as a member of the family and are totally devoted companions, especially with children, being very patient, forgiving, and understanding with them. This wise, kind, and gentle breed is a wonderful addition to any family. The American Mastiff is truly a Gentle Giant.
TEMPERMENT
The mastiff is an agreeable, laid-back dog – a “gentle giant.” It is loyal, courageous, and confident. It is not a playful breed, but rather calm and dignified. It rarely barks, drools excessively, and tends to snore loudly. It is patient with children, but not recommended for toddlers due to its large size. It is possessive of its home and family and makes an excellent guard dog. It will not attack intruders, but holds them at bay with its large size. It will refuse to let strangers enter the house unless its owner accepts them. If properly socialized as a puppy, it will accept other dogs. It can be difficult to train.
HISTORY
The history of the Mastiff stretches back over 2,000 years ago in England; however, ancient Babylonian artifacts showing pictures of Mastiff-type dogs date back nearly 5,000 years! There are Asian arts that show Mastiff-type dogs around 1121 B.C., and they are included in writings of Herodotus, Caesar, Marco Polo, Chaucer, and Shakespeare.
The Mastiff was bred to be a war dog, which is hard to believe if you are the beloved parent to a Mastiff! History shows Mastiffs hunting lions, fighting bulls, and even driving an elephant to its knees. Mastiffs were also known to be led into war by the thousands and being fierce fighters! There are even records of them being fought in the Roman Coliseum against bears, lions, tigers, bulls, boars, other dogs, and humans.
Even though their reputation was as a vicious fighter, they were also well known as guard dogs and loyal companions. In later years, the Mastiff was bred less to attack and more as a guardian and pet. When visitors came to the castles, the Mastiff was trained to walk close to the guest and lean heavily against them and growl. This was a show of, "I'm watching you!" rather than, "I'll eat you," and if you've ever had a 250 lb. dog lean all its weight against you and lowly growl, you can see that it's enough to know that you're on notice and best behave yourself.
During harder years, Mastiff numbers waned, as people couldn't afford to care for such large dogs. As times improved for the human population, Mastiffs were crossbred with a number of other types of dogs, and it wasn't until around 1873 that pedigree records began to be kept, and the breed we know today began to be developed. In 1883, the Old English Mastiff Club was formed, but again by the 1900's, wars again diminished the Mastiff numbers.
By 1912, there were no registered Mastiffs in the United States. A breeder from Canada named C. W. Dickinson from Wingfield Kennels is responsible for keeping the Mastiff breed alive, and today, almost all Mastiffs have descended for Wingfield's breeding! In 1929, the Mastiff Club of America was formed, and today, America has more Mastiffs than anywhere else in the world.
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