English Mastiff'
An English Mastiff.
Other names	Mastiff Old English Mastiff
Country of origin	England
Traits

The English Mastiff, often called simply Mastiff, is a large breed of dog of the general mastiff or Molosser type. Dog breeds are groups of closely related and visibly similar domestic Dogs with characteristic traits that are selected and maintained by humans bred from a known foundation The dog ( Canis lupus familiaris) is a domesticated Subspecies of the gray wolf, a Mammal of the Canidae family of the order Molosser is a type of large solidly-built Dogs comprising several breeds probably all descended from the same root stock

Description

Appearance

This breed is powerfully built, with a massive body, broad skull and head of generally square appearance. It is also one of the largest dog breeds, larger than the Irish Wolfhound, but not in height.

Their size is very large and gives an impression of power and strength when viewed from any angle. The body is massive with great depth and breadth, especially between the forelegs, causing these to be set wide apart. The AKC standard height (per their website) for this breed is 75cm (30 inches) (minimum) at the shoulder for males and 69cm (27½ inches) (minimum) at the shoulder for females. A typical male can weigh 45. 4-90. 8+ kilograms (100-200+ pounds), a typical female would weigh 45. 4-72. 6+ kilograms (100-160+ pounds).

The short coat is close-lying and the color is apricot-fawn, silver-fawn, fawn, or dark fawn-brindle, always with black on the muzzle, ears, and nose and around the eyes.

Guinness Book of World Records recognizes a mastiff from England named Zorba as the heaviest dog in the world, at over 315lb (142. Guinness World Records, known until 2000 as The Guinness Book of Records (and in previous U England is a Country which is part of the United Kingdom. Its inhabitants account for more than 83% of the total UK population whilst its mainland 8 kg). ^[1] Zorba stood 37 inches (94 cm) at the shoulder and was 8 feet 3 inches (251 cm) from the tip of his nose to the tip of his tail. Zorba set this record in November 1989, when he was 8 years old, and about the size of a small donkey. The donkey or ass, Equus asinus, is a member of the Equidae or horse family and an odd-toed ungulate.

Temperament

Two Mastiffs.

The Mastiff breed is a combination of grandeur, dignity, and courage; calm and affectionate to its master, but capable of protection. This particular mastiff-type breed is an extremely capable guard. If an unfamiliar person approaches near their perceived territory or its master, the Mastiff will immediately position themselves between its master and the stranger. If the approaching person does not back down, they take immediate defensive action. It is because of this instinctive behavior that English Mastiffs have earned themselves a spot in the world's top 10 guard dogs. The breed is innately good natured, calm, easygoing, and surprisingly gentle. It is a well-mannered house pet but needs sufficient room for exercise and activity. The Mastiff is an extremely loyal breed, exceptionally devoted to its family and good with children.

Health

Mastiff puppies require a carefully watched diet due to their very rapid growth.

The mastiff is a particularly large dog demanding correct diet and exercise. Excessive running is not recommended for the first two years of the dog's life. However, regular exercise must be maintained throughout the dog's life in order to discourage slothful behavior and to prevent a number of health problems. A soft surface is recommended for the dog to sleep on in order to prevent the development of calluses, arthritis, and hygroma (an acute inflammatory swelling). Due to the breed's large size, puppies may potentially be smothered or crushed by the mother during nursing. A whelping box, along with careful monitoring can prevent such accidents. The expected lifespan is about 7 to 10 years.

Major issues include hip dysplasia and gastric torsion. Bloat is a medical condition in which the Stomach becomes overstretched by excessive Gas content Minor problems include obesity, osteosarcoma, and cystinuria. Obesity is a condition in which excess Body fat has accumulated to such an extent that health may be negatively affected Osteosarcoma is the most common type of malignant Bone cancer, accounting for 35% of primary bone malignancies Cystinuria is an inherited autosomal recessive Metabolic disorder that is characterized by the formation of Cystine stones in the Kidneys Problems only occasionally found include cardiomyopathy, allergies, vaginal hyperplasia, cruciate ligament rupture, hypothyroidism, OCD, entropion, progressive retinal atrophy (PRA), and persistent pupillary membranes (PPM). Cardiomyopathy, which literally means "heart muscle disease" is the deterioration of the function of the Myocardium (i Allergy is a disorder of the Immune system often also referred to as Atopy. Hypothyroidism is the disease state in humans and animals caused by insufficient production of Thyroid hormone by the Thyroid gland. Osteochondritis is a painful condition where the Cartilage and Bone in a Joint is Inflamed. Entropion is a Medical condition in which the Eyelids fold inward Progressive retinal atrophy (PRA is a group of genetic diseases seen in certain breeds of Dogs and more rarely cats Persistent pupillary membrane (PPM is a condition of the Eye involving remnants of a fetal membrane that persist as strands of tissue crossing the Pupil.

When purchasing a purebred Mastiff, experts often suggest that the dog undergo tests for hips, elbow, eyes, thyroid, and DNA for PRA. The thyroid is one of the largest Endocrine glands in the body Deoxyribonucleic acid ( DNA) is a Nucleic acid that contains the genetic instructions used in the development and functioning of all known

History

The Mastiff has a distinctive head with a large dewlap and flews. A dewlap is a flap of Skin that hangs beneath the Lower jaw of Tetrapods that is Amphibians Reptiles Birds Mammals

The Pugnaces Britanniae (Latin) is an extinct breed of dog and progenitor to the English Mastiff. Latin ( lingua Latīna, laˈtiːna is an Italic language, historically spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. In Biology and Ecology, extinction is the cessation of existence of a Species or group of taxa. Dog breeds are groups of closely related and visibly similar domestic Dogs with characteristic traits that are selected and maintained by humans bred from a known foundation The dog ( Canis lupus familiaris) is a domesticated Subspecies of the gray wolf, a Mammal of the Canidae family of the order An ancestor is a Parent or ( recursively) the parent of an ancestor (i ^[2]

The Mastiff name probably evolved from the Anglo-Saxon word "masty", meaning "powerful". The Mastiff is descended from the ancient Alaunt and Molosser and is recognized as the oldest British breed. The Alaunt is a now extinct Molosser Dog breed. A number of modern breeds are believed directly Molosser is a type of large solidly-built Dogs comprising several breeds probably all descended from the same root stock See also Kingdom of Great Britain Great Britain (Breatainn Mhòr Prydain Fawr Breten Veur Graet Breetain is the larger of the two main islands The Mastiff might have been brought to Britain in the 6th century BC. It was used in the blood sports of bear-baiting, bull-baiting, dog fighting, and lion-baiting. Bloodsport or blood sport is any Sport or Entertainment that involves violence against animals Bear-baiting is a Blood sport involving the baiting of Bears. Bull-baiting is a Blood sport involving the baiting of bulls. Dog fighting is a Fight between game Dogs This Blood sport is utilized for Entertainment and may also create a revenue stream Lion-baiting is a Blood sport involving the baiting of Lions Antiquity Antiquity has examples of the eternal dream of man's Throughout its long history, the Mastiff has contributed to the development of a number of dog breeds.

When Sir Peers Legh was wounded in the Battle of Agincourt, his Mastiff stood over and protected him for many hours through the battle. Sir is an Honorific used as a title (see Knight) and in several other modern contexts Sir Peers Legh was wounded in the Battle of Agincourt on October 25 1415 The Battle of Agincourt was an English victory against a larger French army in the Hundred Years' War. Although Legh later died, the Mastiff returned to Legh's home and was the foundation of the Lyme Hall Mastiffs. Lyme Park is an estate and Park near Disley, in the county of Cheshire, England. Five centuries later this pedigree figured prominently in founding the modern breed. Purebred dog refers to a dog of a modern Dog breed that closely resembles other dogs of the same breed with ancestry documented in a stud book and registered ^[3]

Some evidence exists that the Mastiff came to America on the Mayflower but the breed's documented entry to America did not occur until the late 1800s. The Americas are the lands of the Western hemisphere or New World, consisting of the Continents of North America and South America The Mayflower was the famous Ship that transported the English Separatists better known as the Pilgrims, from Southampton, England

In 1835, the Parliament of the United Kingdom implemented an Act called the Cruelty to Animals Act 1835, which prohibited the baiting of animals. Year 1835 ( MDCCCXXXV) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar (or a Common The Parliament of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is the supreme legislative body in the United Kingdom and British overseas territories An Act of Parliament is a Law enacted as Primary legislation by a national or sub-national Parliament. The Cruelty to Animals Act 1835 was an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom (citation 5 & 6 Will Subsequently, the Mastiff lost popularity and was extremely rare in England by the Second World War; however, sufficient numbers had been brought to America by that time to keep the breed going. England is a Country which is part of the United Kingdom. Its inhabitants account for more than 83% of the total UK population whilst its mainland World War II, or the Second World War, (often abbreviated WWII) was a global military conflict which involved a majority of the world's nations, including The United States of America —commonly referred to as the Since that time, it has gradually been restored in Britain.

Miscellaneous

Edwards, S. (1800), wrote in the Cynographia Britannica, London: C. Whittingham:

"What the Lion is to the Cat the Mastiff is to the Dog, the noblest of the family; he stands alone, and all others sinking before him. His courage does not exceed its temper and generosity and in attachment he equals the kindest of his race. His docility is perfect; the teasing of the smaller kinds will hardly provoke him to resent, and I have seen him down with his paw the Terrier or cur that has bit him, without offering further injury. A terrier is a Dog of any one of many breeds or Landraces of terrier type which are typically small wiry very active and fearless dogs Cur refers to a dog usually of mixed ancestry. Fighting dogs that regress to growling rather than maintain calm are referred to as 'cur' In a family he will permit the children to play with him and will suffer all their little pranks without offence. The blind ferocity of the bulldog will often wound the hand of the master who assists him to combat, but the Mastiff distinguishes perfectly, enters the field with temper, and engages the attack as if confident of success: if he overpowers, or is beaten, his master may take him immediately in his arms and fear nothing. This ancient and faithful domestic, the pride of our island, uniting the useful, the brave and the docile, though sought by foreign nations and perpetuated on the continent, is nearly extinct where he was probably an aborigine, or is bastardized by numberless crosses, everyone of which degenerate from the invaluable character of the parent, who was deemed worthy to enter the Roman amphitheatre and in the presence of the masters of the world, encounter the pard and assail even the lord of the savage tribes, whose courage was sublimed by torrid suns, and found none gallant enough to oppose him on the deserts of Zaara or the plains of Numidia. An amphitheatre (alternatively amphitheater) is an open-air venue for spectator sports concerts rallies or theatrical performances The leopard (lɛpɚd Panthera pardus) is an Old World Mammal of the Felidae family and the smallest of the four roaring Zaara is an archaic variant of Sahara, both being English transliterations of the original Arabic word for desert. Numidia (202 BC – 46 BC was an ancient Berber kingdom in present-day Algeria and part of Tunisia ( North Africa) that later alternated "

Westgort Anticipation

Famous English Mastiffs

• Trevor Dwyer-Lynch aka "Patrick" from Coronation Street owns an English Mastiff named Cash, which also appeared in an episode with him.
• "Hercules," a. k. a. "the Beast," from the film The Sandlot
• "Goliath," a. The Sandlot is a 1993 Film about young Baseball players The film was directed by David Evans and was released with the title k. "the Great Fear," from the film The Sandlot 2
• "Carlo" in The Adventure of the Copper Beeches, a Sherlock Holmes story
• Sir Peers Legh's Mastiff, from the Battle of Agincourt
• Paul Levesque aka Triple H and Stephanie McMahon own an English Mastiff named Bluto. The Sandlot 2 is a Direct-to-DVD 2005 Sequel to The Sandlot. Plot The movie is set in 1972 10 years after the events of "The Adventure of the Copper Beeches", one of the 56 short Sherlock Holmes stories written by British author Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, is the last of Sherlock Holmes is a famous fictional detective of the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries who first appeared in Publication in 1887 Sir Peers Legh was wounded in the Battle of Agincourt on October 25 1415 The Battle of Agincourt was an English victory against a larger French army in the Hundred Years' War. Paul Michael Levesque better known by his Ring name Triple H, an abbreviation of his former ring name Hunter Hearst Helmsley Stephanie Marie McMahon-Levesque She is the daughter of WWE Chairman Vince McMahon and WWE CEO Linda McMahon, and is the younger sister of Shane McMahon
• Kazak is the pet Mastiff of Winston Niles Rumfoord, a wealthy space traveler in Kurt Vonnegut's novel The Sirens of Titan.
• "Moss and Jaguar" of the Japanese series Ginga: Nagareboshi Gin and its sequel Ginga Densetsu Weed
• Mason The Mastiff in the 2007 film Transformers
• Zorba, listed by the Guinness Book of World Records as the heaviest (and longest) dog in the world

Clubs by country

See also

• Molosser
• Bullmastiff
• Spanish Mastiff
• Neapolitan Mastiff
• Tibetan Mastiff
• Dogue de Bordeaux (French Mastiff)
• American Mastiff

References

External links

• Mastiff Tips - Online guide to Training and Breeding Mastiffs
• The UK Mastiff website and discussion forum
• Mastiffs in Need or Distress Rescue
• Great Lakes Mastiff Rescue
• Mastiff Association
• Molosser World
• Mastiff Online Community