Mastiff is the largest breed of dogs found on Earth. This breed is ancient, militant, originated in the UK. The modern English mastiff, the description of the breed which is given below, has somewhat lost the savagery of the character in comparison with its distant ancestors. However, due to their colossal potential, they remain the most powerful fighting dog in the world. A typical representative of such a breed always stands out among other breeds of dogs, like a lion among cats. Males are bigger and more massive than bitches. They have a larger and more powerful head, they are more courageous. Females have less growth and easier addition.
Nature and description of the breed
Mastiffs odnolyuby. They combine qualities such as good nature and greatness, gentleness and fearlessness. Virtually all mastiffs have a strong bodyguard instinct, that is, they show activity against the aggressor, especially in cases of attacks on the host. However, the functions of the guard are not the main functions of the mastiffs. They are, first of all, companion dogs, and only then the watchman. The nature of many may seem that the mastiff is a terrible, huge, formidable animal. Some believe that dogs of this breed are very aggressive and ferocious. Of course, in the case of their hard training in isolation, limiting communication with people, the mastiff can match the above characteristics.
It should be said that the fighting past of dogs of this breed is already in the past. The modern mastiff is a peace-loving and kind dog that loves its owner and its children. Due to his boldness and inflexibility, the English mastiff is considered a reliable watchman. He is majestic, self-assured, loyal - these features distinguish the English mastiff of today from his ancestors, who had a violent temper. Mastiff is far from vanity.
Remember that controlling the behavior of a dog reaching 100 kilograms of weight is not easy, so you need to pay attention to its strict training.
Care and maintenance rules
For normal nutrition of the mastiff, you do not need as much food as it might seem. A special diet, rich in vitamins and mineral supplements, requires mastiff in puppyhood, when it grows rapidly and develops. But do not let him get fat. At home the mastiff is almost invisible, despite its large size. He prefers to lie at the feet of the owner on the carpet. He is clean; Mastiff puppies do not spoil anything in the apartment even during the period of changing teeth.
Mastiff is considered a homebody. He prefers long quiet walks. His coat requires care: brush her regularly.
Dogs of this breed, unfortunately, are not long-lived: their average life expectancy is 9-10 years.
History of the breed
The history of the amazing breed mastiff goes back to ancient times. Due to its size, the mastiff could not remain unnoticed by chroniclers and authors of ancient chronicles. The history of these dogs is full of the most amazing details, often contradictory, weird and even mystical. Many facts from the history of this breed are collected in Wynne's book The History of the Mastiff. Of the modern works that are distinguished by a serious coverage of the issue, it is worth mentioning Elizabeth Baxter's The History and Contents of the English Mastiff and Douglas Oliff's The Handbook of the Lover of the Mastiff and Bullmastiff. Other well-known editions on the history of the breed are similar to Victorian literature and are the result of a rich imagination, rather than a serious scientific work.
Origin of the breed
For a long time it was believed that the ancestors of the Mastiff were imported by the Phoenicians. But it is difficult to imagine how this is possible in the conditions of the then-current state of water transport, which the Phoenician merchants could use to get to Cornwall. The Phoenicians had primitive ships, more like small catamarans, and their trade route was "tied" to the shoreline. In this regard, a trip to Britain would be for them a severe test, which would last several months. Moreover, it is very doubtful that merchants could lead live mastiffs on their small ships as a commodity, because in addition to the place, they needed a lot of food. It is difficult to imagine how a dog can survive in such conditions. Dr. Bennet (UK) believes that such an experiment could be in the hands of Tour Heyerdahl, however, he did not do it. Another fact that refutes the Phoenician theory is that only one case was actually recorded when a Phoenician named Khilil reached the coast of England. And most likely, that in such a difficult journey he went with the import of the tribal ancestor of future mastiffs.
One of the versions, most probable, is the assumption that the ancestors of the Mastiffs came to England with the help of the Celts. This Indo-European people conquered the whole of Europe, moving from east to west in the IV-III centuries BC. In the heyday of the Celtic tribes, they inhabited a vast territory that encompasses modern France, Britain, Belgium, Southern Germany, Switzerland, and North America. - Zap. Spain, North. Italy, Hungary, Czech Republic, Bulgaria, part of Poland, Ukraine. However, in the middle of the 1st century BC the Celts were defeated by Rome. In Asia Minor in the V-III century BC. e. there was a Celtic state. It is assumed that it was from there along with nomadic tribes that the descendants of heavy fighting danes could spread. Nomads constantly changed places of their deployment, some of them preferred to move to a settled way of life. In turn, this contributed to the formation of local groups, and then the types of sentry and fighting dogs. Due to the fact that Britain is an island, there was an isolation of the dog population there. In turn, this led to the formation there of a special type of fighting dog - the English mastiff.