Mastiff Dog Breed

The Mastiff has short hair and a few colors – usually some type of fawn, apricot or brindle. They have a black mask on their face and are giant dogs. With their size, heavy bones and dignified gait, these dogs can be terrifying if you encounter them suddenly.

Adaptability

Even though they are large, these dogs prefer to be indoors and with their family. They will usually be fine in a small house such as an apartment or a condo so long as they have enough exercise – but you will need to make sure that there’s room for them to move! They can become anxious or destructive if left by themselves for too long.

Friendliness

If they are raised with other animals, Mastiffs will get used to them and get along. But if you introduce them at a later date he may become aggressive, since he is protective of what he considers to be his territory. They are reserved with strangers but very good with kids – as they are gentle and patient. They are also tolerant of what children do to them, and protect them if strangers come.

However they do need socialization from an early age to make sure they turn into a well-rounded dog. They should be kept on a lead and in a fenced in yard, as there have been cases of aggression and bites, even though they are usually well behaved. And you will need to be careful if you have small children, since they can easily be knocked over by a swipe of your giant’s tail.

Grooming

These giant dogs have a large amount of drool, so be aware that you might have some cleaning up to do on a regular basis, and most owners keep a slobber cloth handy. They do shed a moderate amount of hair, but a weekly brushing will help to keep your house from being too hairy. Once or twice a year there may be a season of more heavy shedding where they will need brushing more often. Their ears and wrinkles around the face should be checked and cleaned regularly, and their nails kept trimmed. Get your dog used to being touched while he is a puppy so that he won’t have any problem with it when he’s huge.

Trainability

Early obedience training and socialization should be given to your Mastiff puppy. A puppy class is a great way to both get in some training and also some socialization with other dogs and humans. They should also be exposed to lots of different situations and experiences, of things like fireworks, mowers, people jogging, and so on.

They learn well and are eager to please, but may refuse to learn something if they are bored – so you should try and keep training fun, and vary what you do. It helps to make eye contact as they are good at reading your facial expressions, and you should use positive encouragement rather than harsh correction. They don’t bark much, but when they do they have a tendency to bark very loudly, so if you train them to stop barking that will help.

Exercise Needs

Mastiffs don’t need a whole lot of exercise, but daily walks are good for them, as is some romping around and playtime. But be careful with puppies, as they shouldn’t be exercised too much or allowed to run up and down stairs or jump from high furniture – just playing is enough exercise for them. If Mastiffs are walking with you and feel tired, they will often just stop and lie down, so you might not want to take them too far from home!