Mastiffs - Pictures - Notes on the Past
Mastiffs are thought to be ancient dogs whose common ancestor is the Molossus. The Romans used it as a war dog and a gladiator. The Tibetan, a descendent of the Molossus is generally accepted as the forefather of all Mastiff-like breeds.
Mastiffs were popular on the territory of modern Europe in both ancient and medieval times, and appeared in America and other continents centuries later. The English Mastiff, for instance, was widely spread in England. There are a few versions concerning the way it got on the islands. One of them states that Phoenician traders brought the ancestors of the English Mastiff to England. Celtic tribes might have also brought their dogs, which crossed with native dogs later to produce the English Mastiff.
This way or another, England is thought to be the second motherland of the English Mastiff. It was there where working qualities of the dog developed to their greatest.
The Neapolitan Mastiff originated in Italy. A dog with awesome appearance and good guarding qualities was rather popular in this southern country, especially in the area of Naples. Another name of the breed is Mastino Napoletano. It was used mainly for guarding large estates.
The Dogue de Bordeaux, also called the French Mastiff, appeared in France. At the first show held in 1863, a dog from Bordeaux turned out to be a winner. An official standard appeared years later, in 1926.
Mastiffs - Pictures - A Fight for Their Future
The first half of the 20th century was equally destructive for all Mastiff-like dogs. World wars made keeping giant dogs out of the question since they needed much foods and care. The population of Mastiffs decreased steadily throughout the first decades of the century on the European territory.
Considerable efforts had to be taken to preserve Mastiffs. American owners helped to save the English Mastiff by exporting individual dogs to Europe. Neapolitan Mastiffs survived thanks to Piero Scanziani, who spared no pains to restore good breeding tradition and promote the breed.
Mastiffs - Pictures - Today
Mastiffs are getting more and more popular in many countries. Appearance and relatively rapid speed of Mastiff distribution in Eastern Europe and Australia confirm the fact that the situation has improved. The first Neapolitan Mastiff was imported to Australia in 1991. Mastiff availability is low there, as well as in the US. Yet, clubs and other Mastiff organizations are doing their best to educate the public about these remarkable dogs and stimulate their distribution.
Mastiffs - Pictures - What Are They Good For?
Mastiffs make good watchdogs and guardians. They have preserved their working qualities and have acquired new ones. Breeders have softened the temperament of Mastiffs to a degree that a dog can function as a wonderful companion. Some Mastiffs are even involved in therapy work. Still, the most common roles of Mastiffs are weight pulling, guarding, and companionship.
Mastiffs - Pictures - General Information Links
American Canine Association Breeds of Dogs - General information on the breed.
ANKC - Neapolitan Mastiff - Brief historical summary and the breed standard from the Australian National Kennel Club.
Breed Profile - Mastiff - History, characteristics, and health concerns of the breed.
Burke's Backyard Facts - Neapolitan Mastiff - Background, maintenance, and possible costs.
Canil True Born Neapolitan Mastiffs - A picture gallery. Brazil.
Chautepek Mastiffs - Pictures of English Mastiffs.
CKC - Mastiff - General information about the breed from the Continental Kennel Club.
Delagodaverno Mastiffs - Pictures of English Mastiffs from Italy.
Dogue de Bordeaux Breed Guide - Find a concise profile of the breed, covering characteristics and health concerns, accompanied by a representative picture.
Dogue de Bordeaux In Canada - Origin, temperament, activity level, and other info. Contains a list of breeders with links to their sites and other information.
Dogue de Bordeaux Breeder Directory - Links and pictures of the Dogue de Bordeaux.
Dogue de Bordeaux Web Ring - Ring of websites about the breed.
Mastiff - History and description of the breed.
Mastiff Breeders - Find English Mastiff breeders, clubs, articles, health issues, and more.
Mastiff Origins - Find information about the history of the Mastiff.
Mastiff Photo Gallery - Pictures of Mastiffs.
Mastiff Pictures - Breed photo gallery.
Mastiff Web - Mastiff breeders, discussion of temperament and training. Lots of information and pictures.
Mastiff World - View English Mastiff pictures.
Mastiffs In Weight Pulling - An interview with Mastiff owners having experience in weight pulling.
Neapolitan Mastiff History - History and characteristics of the breed.
|
|
Source:
Magnufi Neapolitan Mastiffs
|
Neapolitan Mastiff Info - History, description, and characteristics of the breed.
Neapolitan Mastiff Overview- Description and standard of the Neapolitan Mastiff.
Neapolitan Mastiff Standard - History and standard of the Neapolitan Mastiff from the AKC.
NZKC - Dogue de Bordeaux - Breed history, description, and needs.
The Mastiff Web Ring - Links to web pages about Mastiffs.
Therapeutic Companionship - Article in Lubbock Avalanche-Journal 1997 about some Mastiffs who are therapy dogs.
Von Canyaya - Gallery of Dogue de Bordeaux from a breeder located in Germany.
What Is Dogue de Bordeaux? - History, description, and characteristics of the breed.
Mastiffs - Pictures - Other Mastiffs sites
English Mastiffs Breeders - English Mastiffs are definitely ancient dogs. Their history is hard to trace now, even though many brilliant people racked their brains to solve the mystery. What aggravates the task is confusion of the name "Mastiff" that denotes both the family and the breed. However, there are a few suppositions that are adhered to by the majority of English Mastiff lovers.
Mastiff-like dogs probably originated in Assyria. Archeological digs held in Niniveh city revealed some pieces of Assyrian art, among them being an ancient vase. That item, dated about 612 BC, depicted a massive dog with a square head wearing armor. This fact confirms that the ancestors of the English Mastiff were used as war dogs.
English Mastiffs Puppies - English Mastiffs are large dogs weighing about 175-190 pounds, and more. They have a massive head with a square, broad muzzle. Eyes are of medium size should not be protruding. Small ears are black, and set apart.
The English Mastiff is very muscular. It has a rounded chest, long legs, and a tail that never curves over the back. English Mastiffs from American breeding lines are said to be lighter than those from European ones.
English Mastiffs Pictures - English Mastiffs are working dogs that are used in a number of activities. They are considered to be the heaviest breed of dog. According to the standard, the English Mastiff should weight about 175-190 pounds. Some lines though are much larger.
The English Mastiff is a powerful dog. The whole build of its body build gives evidence of great strength and endurance. Long legs carry a massive body and a square-shaped head. The moderately long muzzle which is always black in color matches black, small ears rounded at the tips. Medium-sized eyes are usually dark. The nose is broad and black.
English Mastiffs - English Mastiffs, also called Old English Mastiffs, are one of the biggest breeds of dog. They are known for their huge size and a quiet, yet cautious temper. These diligent dogs are always ready to please their owner, and are said to make wonderful guard dogs. They also serve as watchdogs, weight pulling and obedience competitors, and devoted companions.
English Mastiffs are well-balanced dogs, noted for their size and strength. The head is square, with a moderately long muzzle. Muscles are well developed on the temple and jaw areas. The skull is slightly rounded with a relatively thin skin that tends to form wrinkles when the dog is at action. Small ears set widely apart are of black color matching the black muzzle. Brown eyes are of medium size.
Mastiffs Breeders - Mastiffs are ancient dogs whose history is closely connected with fighting and guarding. The Tibetan Mastiff is thought to be the ancestor of all the present day Mastiffs. This dog in its turn originated from the Molossus, a war dog known in the times of the Roman Empire. All the Mastiffs and some other breeds of dog are regarded as Molossers. They have some common features. Yet, certain differences make each of them specific.
The Dogue de Bordeaux, otherwise called "the French Mastiff," was probably developed in France. It might have originated from a dog that was distributed on the territory of France. In addition, it could have taken its roots from the Alano, an ancient dog that had been brought to Europe by a people called Alano. If this theory is true, the Dogue de Bordeaux can be considered a close relative of the Neapolitan Mastiff.
Mastiffs - Mastiffs are working dogs that can be used in a variety of activities. Their historical uses range from serving as war dogs and guardians to herding dogs and human companions. Many of their physical attributes and basic personality traits have been preserved, which makes it possible to use them in herding, tracking, weight pulling, sledding and some other activities. Today, Mastiffs are primarily companions.
Mastiff owners have faced a problem of late connected with the Breed Specific Legislation. Mastiffs are among breeds that fall under the category of dangerous dogs. BSL has raised much concern in the world of dog ownership by aiming at banning some breeds. As the discussion is still going on, the popularity of Mastiffs increases all over the world.
Mastiffs Puppies - Mastiffs are usually very small as puppies. One can hardly believe they can grow into large powerful dogs. Nevertheless, Mastiff puppies grow very rapidly increasing their weight tens of times during the first years of their life. English Mastiffs, for instance, can weigh about 145-170 pounds as adult dogs. They are considered the heaviest dogs in the canine world. Other Mastiffs are a little smaller. Yet, when full grown they can weigh about 110-150 pounds.
All the Mastiffs are heavy-boned dogs. They have large heads and move gently. Thus, the Neapolitan Mastiff's gait is often compared to that of a cat. This breed has some characteristics common to all the Mastiff-like dogs. It has a broad muscled back, strong legs, and loose skin. Unlike other Mastiffs, Neapolitan Mastiffs have cropped ears and a docked tail. A profound lower eyelid is also a specific feature, which makes them easily recognizable.
Mastiffs - There exist three versions of Mastiffs: the Dogue de Bordeaux (French Mastiff), the Neapolitan Mastiff and the English Mastiff. All European Mastiffs have descended from the Tibetan Mastiff, the most ancient domestic dog. It's believed that Alexander the Great brought them to Greece from India in about 300 B.C. Later Romans adopted them for circus combats. The Latin word Molossus, for the Mastiff, means "massive." English scientists have a theory that the Phoenicians brought the Mastiff right to Britain around 500 B.C.
Dogue de Bordeaux were known as hunting dogs in France since the 12th century. They hunted large game: bears, wolves, boars, pigs, and deer. Natural born killers, they were used in wars, and helped to guard and drive cattle. It's the main breed to participate in dog fighting that was extremely popular in the 20th century.
