Airedale Terrier
Bull Terrier
Cairn Terrier
Glen of Imaal Terrier
Scottish Terrier
Tibetan Terrier
Westhighland Terrier
Yorkshire Terrier

Dog Pound

English Mastiff Dog Breed

Most people have the impression of the English Mastiff dog as a huge and probably fierce animal, with enormous strength - definitely a dog to avoid.

In some regards you are right. Well, the English Mastiff is definitely on the large side, at about 30 inches at the shoulder for males, with the female a few inches shorter.

And he is no lightweight - a male English Mastiff can weigh in between 160 and 230 pounds, and the female around 140 and 190 pounds or more!

The English Mastiff dog has traditionally been seen primarily as a large and powerful guard dog, but many centuries ago he was bred as a fighting dog. Indeed there is evidence that the Romans, when they invaded Britain, discovered that their own fighting dogs were bettered by the native English mastiff breed. Whereupon they exported these English dogs back to Rome, to fight in the Colosseum, alongside all the other exotic wild animals from the length and breadth of the Roman Empire.

The English Mastiff is supposed to have originally arrived in Britain over 2 millenia ago on the ships of adventurous Phoenician traders.

Over the ensuing centuries, the English mastiff was used in many different capacities other than as a powerful guard dog. It was particularly renowned in the doubtful sports of bear and bull baiting, as well as dog fighting, which were enormously popular past-times in Britain until fairly recent times, but it was also used to hunt wolves and boar.

However, following the outlawing of such shameful activities, the numbers of English Mastiff dogs declined rapidly, so that there were less than 100 in Britain by the mid 20th century. Whereas the breed was declining in Britain, it was thriving in the USA, and stock was imported to strengthen and revive the breed in the Britain.

So why would you choose such a dog?

The modern English Mastiff dog is a mixture of grandeur, dignity and courage. He is also highly prized as a fearless and tenacious family guardian, loving and affectionate towards his family. He has a powerful protective instinct towards his family, and will place himself between his owner and any "threatening" stranger.

The Official Breed Standard for the Old English Style Mastiff from Kennel Club of the UK describes his temperament as : Calm and affectionate to his owners, and also capable of guarding.

A huge dog, with a natural guardian instinct, enormously strong yet gentle and loving to his family, the English Mastiff dog will reward the suitable owner with years of unswerving and loving care, protection, and gentle companionship. He is incredibly gentle with children.

About the Author
Discover more about this fascinating animal and the breeding program that produced it by clicking on this link English Mastiff dog

Mastiff Dog Gifts http://feed.zazzle.com/z.2/api/find.aspx?st=popularity&at=238041220427217308&isz=152&bg=FFFFFF&src=zstore&pg=1&cg=196602506073781437&ps=30&ft=gb&opensearch=true&qs=&pt=&ch=dogpoundgifts&ou=%2Fstore%2Fdogpoundgifts%2Ffeed%3Fst%3Dpopularity%26at%3D238041220427217308%26isz%3D152%26bg%3DFFFFFF%26src%3Dzstore%26pg%3D1%26cg%3D196602506073781437%26ps%3D30%26ft%3Dgb%26opensearch%3Dtrue%26qs%3D%26pt%3Den-usSun, 15 Jun 2025 18:44:52 GMT6015130 Mon, 01 Mar 2010 22:56:27 GMThttps://www.zazzle.com/mastiff_business_card-240302411694871717?rf=238041220427217308&zbar=1DogPoundGiftsMastiff dog business card.240302411694871717https://rlv.zcache.com/mastiff_business_card-r6015058b16dc407da890bd78999597dc_em40b_152.jpg?bg=0xFFFFFFzazzle$30.60zazzle_businesscard3.5x2USnewTue, 15 Jul 2025 18:44:52 GMT0-90true Sat, 26 Jun 2010 16:27:37 GMThttps://www.zazzle.com/english_mastiff_postcard-239852321306657364?rf=238041220427217308&zbar=1DogPoundGiftsEnglish mastiff dog photo design on gifts.239852321306657364https://rlv.zcache.com/english_mastiff_postcard-rbac28da1b4fe4582bba6717a3a0349a7_ucbjp_152.jpg?bg=0xFFFFFFzazzle$1.45zazzle_postcard24.25x5.6USnewTue, 15 Jul 2025 18:44:52 GMT0-90true Tue, 10 May 2011 19:47:25 GMThttps://www.zazzle.com/sleeping_mastiff_postcard-239298418647415823?rf=238041220427217308&zbar=1DogPoundGiftsSleeping Mastiff dog with a very sweet face.239298418647415823https://rlv.zcache.com/sleeping_mastiff_postcard-r244685a62d9d415abf951b87d91483e3_ucbjp_152.jpg?bg=0xFFFFFFzazzle$1.45zazzle_postcard24.25x5.6USnewTue, 15 Jul 2025 18:44:52 GMT0-90true Sat, 26 Jun 2010 16:27:37 GMThttps://www.zazzle.com/english_mastiff_greeting_card-137442876412962917?rf=238041220427217308&zbar=1DogPoundGiftsEnglish mastiff dog photo design on gifts.137442876412962917https://rlv.zcache.com/english_mastiff_greeting_card-r0780861a2c2b419fb886400eb30f1673_udff0_152.jpg?bg=0xFFFFFFzazzle$3.44zazzle_foldedgreetingcard5x7USnewTue, 15 Jul 2025 18:44:52 GMT0-90true Fri, 09 Jul 2010 14:05:43 GMThttps://www.zazzle.com/english_mastiff_keychain-146349957808611906?rf=238041220427217308&zbar=1DogPoundGiftsEnglish Mastiff on key chain.146349957808611906https://rlv.zcache.com/english_mastiff_keychain-rcbd4a64c8cac4ac6ac05c75d3077b8b6_c01k3_152.jpg?rlvnet=1&bg=0xFFFFFFzazzle$7.25zazzle_keychainaluminum_circleUSnewTue, 15 Jul 2025 18:44:52 GMT0-90true Fri, 25 Oct 2013 23:23:12 GMThttps://www.zazzle.com/sweet_english_mastiff_tile-227848496012069753?rf=238041220427217308&zbar=1DogPoundGiftsAdorable face of a sweet English Mastiff large breed dog.227848496012069753https://rlv.zcache.com/sweet_english_mastiff_tile-r70bbf6ef578e49cc8481a70e9b5e0ac6_agtk1_8byvr_152.jpg?bg=0xFFFFFFzazzle$16.50zazzle_tilesquare_smallUSnewTue, 15 Jul 2025 18:44:52 GMT0-90true Mon, 28 Apr 2014 15:36:47 GMThttps://www.zazzle.com/cute_english_mastiff_ceramic_ornament-175797754157896365?rf=238041220427217308&zbar=1DogPoundGiftsGorgeous English Mastiff with wonderful markings.175797754157896365https://rlv.zcache.com/cute_english_mastiff_ceramic_ornament-rebb12d0ad682440bbd006bf9afb7de49_x7s2g_8byvr_152.jpg?bg=0xFFFFFFzazzle$20.35zazzle_ornamentstarUSnewTue, 15 Jul 2025 18:44:52 GMT0-90true Mon, 04 Apr 2016 23:42:16 GMThttps://www.zazzle.com/brindle_mastiff_t_shirt-235211023672108979?rf=238041220427217308&zbar=1DogPoundGiftsVertical T-Shirt Template235211023672108979https://rlv.zcache.com/brindle_mastiff_t_shirt-r90cdad7114f34e6ca16d71d82d0ac5cc_k2gml_152.jpg?bg=0xFFFFFFzazzlewhite$16.80zazzle_shirthanes_womens_crew_tshirt_5680USnewTue, 15 Jul 2025 18:44:52 GMT0-90s,m,l,xltrue Mon, 28 Apr 2014 15:26:41 GMThttps://www.zazzle.com/cute_english_mastiff_ornament-256751993293108306?rf=238041220427217308&zbar=1DogPoundGiftsGorgeous English Mastiff with wonderful markings.256751993293108306https://rlv.zcache.com/cute_english_mastiff_ornament-r7fce4fcdf7f840f5a603d6f6dac70925_zh5w7_152.jpg?rlvnet=1&bg=0xFFFFFFzazzle$16.50aif_ornamentovalUSnewTue, 15 Jul 2025 18:44:52 GMT0-90true Mon, 28 Apr 2014 15:24:45 GMThttps://www.zazzle.com/cute_english_mastiff_ceramic_ornament-175601643670309959?rf=238041220427217308&zbar=1DogPoundGiftsGorgeous English Mastiff with wonderful markings.175601643670309959https://rlv.zcache.com/cute_english_mastiff_ceramic_ornament-r41ebac34af374a1d9eb2bc9487f354dd_x7s2y_8byvr_152.jpg?bg=0xFFFFFFzazzle$16.50zazzle_ornamentcircleUSnewTue, 15 Jul 2025 18:44:52 GMT0-90true Mon, 12 Jul 2010 13:36:23 GMThttps://www.zazzle.com/english_mastiff_dog_business_card-240623536761616031?rf=238041220427217308&zbar=1DogPoundGiftsEnglish mastiff dog photo design on a business card.240623536761616031https://rlv.zcache.com/english_mastiff_dog_business_card-rede637a739c5449890a732e0e74cf884_em40b_152.jpg?bg=0xFFFFFFzazzle$30.60zazzle_businesscard3.5x2USnewTue, 15 Jul 2025 18:44:52 GMT0-90true Mon, 28 Jun 2010 01:50:15 GMThttps://www.zazzle.com/english_mastiff_poster_print-228866253262713625?rf=238041220427217308&zbar=1DogPoundGiftsLarge english mastiff poster print.228866253262713625https://rlv.zcache.com/english_mastiff_poster_print-r9660876f72df44b594e6740a7255b973_wad_8byvr_152.jpg?bg=0xFFFFFFzazzle$14.60zazzle_print[11.0000,11.0000]USnewTue, 15 Jul 2025 18:44:52 GMT0-90true Thu, 26 May 2011 12:26:07 GMThttps://www.zazzle.com/sleeping_mastiff_dog_business_card-240968215471022363?rf=238041220427217308&zbar=1DogPoundGiftsSleeping Mastiff Dog Business Card.240968215471022363https://rlv.zcache.com/sleeping_mastiff_dog_business_card-rdd0d0f528a5548c99af4451ff7b766bb_em40b_152.jpg?bg=0xFFFFFFzazzle$30.60zazzle_businesscard3.5x2USnewTue, 15 Jul 2025 18:44:52 GMT0-90true Mon, 15 Nov 2010 23:45:15 GMThttps://www.zazzle.com/english_mastiff_return_address_label-106411322927463966?rf=238041220427217308&zbar=1DogPoundGiftsEnglish mastiff dog return address mailing label.106411322927463966https://rlv.zcache.com/english_mastiff_return_address_label-rad9572b945164d7290cf63f1d103250c_v113i_8byvr_152.jpg?bg=0xFFFFFFzazzlewhite$3.75zazzle_labelreturnUSnewTue, 15 Jul 2025 18:44:52 GMT0-90true Wed, 01 Dec 2010 11:56:49 GMThttps://www.zazzle.com/mastiff_puppy_dog_coasters-174907661684621772?rf=238041220427217308&zbar=1DogPoundGiftsMastiff Puppy Dog Coasters.174907661684621772https://rlv.zcache.com/mastiff_puppy_dog_coasters-ra3b3d6c5aa194660b93ea37f346414c4_x7jy0_8byvr_152.jpg?bg=0xFFFFFFzazzle$12.70zazzle_coastersandstoneUSnewTue, 15 Jul 2025 18:44:52 GMT0-90true Mastiff Business Card Mastiff dog business card. $30.60 English Mastiff Postcard English mastiff dog photo design on gifts. $1.45 Sleeping Mastiff Postcard Sleeping Mastiff dog with a very sweet face. $1.45 English Mastiff Greeting Card English mastiff dog photo design on gifts. $3.44 English Mastiff Keychain English Mastiff on key chain. $7.25 Sweet English Mastiff Tile Adorable face of a sweet English Mastiff large breed dog. $16.50 Cute English Mastiff Ceramic Ornament Gorgeous English Mastiff with wonderful markings. $20.35 Brindle Mastiff T-Shirt Vertical T-Shirt Template $16.80 Cute English Mastiff Ornament Gorgeous English Mastiff with wonderful markings. $16.50 Cute English Mastiff Ceramic Ornament Gorgeous English Mastiff with wonderful markings. $16.50 English Mastiff Dog Business Card English mastiff dog photo design on a business card. $30.60 English Mastiff Poster Print Large english mastiff poster print. $14.60 Sleeping Mastiff Dog Business Card Sleeping Mastiff Dog Business Card. $30.60 English Mastiff Return Address Label English mastiff dog return address mailing label. $3.75 Mastiff Puppy Dog Coasters Mastiff Puppy Dog Coasters. $12.70