Mastiff

Description:
The grandeur and dignity of the Mastiff can be found in its massive size and symmetrical and powerful body structure. Males are usually around seventy-six centimeters from the wichers and females around sixty-nine centimeters. It has a kind of rectangular shape to its body, which is somewhat longer than it is in height. It should have a heavy and muscular look to its body as well. The head of this dog is massive, it has separate eyes that are small, dark, you should not be able to see the third eyelid; the ears are small and shaped in a v; the skull is wide and flat, and has a very defined stop; the muzzle is short and wide. The neck of this dog should be somewhat arched, very muscular and should not have too much loose skin on it. The top line is straight and firm; the chest is big, long and rounded; the stomach somewhat retracted; the back straight and the tail is highly inserted and reaches down to the hocks or a little below them. The front legs should be straight and the hind ones should be very well developed and moderately angled but should not look straight. The mastiff has a double coat, the outer coat is coarse and somewhat short; the outer coat is short and stuck closely to the body; there shouldn't be any fringes of hair on the legs, nor should its hair be long or wavy. The color of this dog can be either tawny apricot, tawny tabby, tawny silver; some of them also have a white spot on their chest.

Ideal owner:
If you are looking for a big dog, well, this is definitely the dog for you. The mastiff is literally a giant with a heart that matches that size as well. This dog is perfect for a family that has a lot of space since it is such a big dog. This dog like people and it can adapt to many different life styles making it a great family dog. Although it does need a lot of space, it should not be left outside all the time. Some of these dogs have even learned to adapt themselves to apartments as long as the owner takes them out regularly. These dogs are great eaters and they require of a strong and gentle owner and trainer. Mastiffs are not stubborn, however they do take their time to learn things so give it time to learn and it will.

Growth:
At birth the mastiff weighs around 500 to 750 grams. It grows very quickly, and the puppies usually need supplementary diets starting from a very young age. At eight weeks, males usually weigh around sixteen kilograms and females around two kilograms less. This dog, as it is, is very big so there is no use in trying to find one that has extra strong and big bones, which is something a lot of people try to obtain. Actually, an excess of body mass, whether it is because of overfeeding, or if it was bred this way, can actually bring about dire consequences to this breed. Anyone interested in getting one of these dogs should look for one that has a proportionate body structure, looks healthy and vibrant, and has a pleasant personality, has a short and thick coat, wide and square head, and a massive and deep body. An adult mastiff might have some confidence problems, so it needs an owner that is sensible and patient enough to resolve this problem. During puberty it will be necessary to check for skin problems. A mastiff will reach its full height around sixteen months of age, however it will continue to gain body substance until it is three years old.

General health:
Mastiffs are in general very easygoing, adaptable, yet very big dogs. Although they are not the most active dogs, they do require a big garden to get their exercise, if possible they should be allowed to get a few hours of exercise every day. Although this dog is very big in size it does not need to eat an extreme amount of food. The best way to know how to feed this dog is to talk to your dog breeder or veterinarian so they can prescribe exactly what and how much to feed it. It's important to focus on its diet since this breed sometimes suffers from stomach torsion, or could have improper bone growth and this can cause an excess amount of stress to the articulations and vital organs of its body. Other problems that have been seen in this breed are ectropion, persistent pupilary membranes, retina dysphasia, kidney stones and vaginal hyperplasia. The amount of care its coat requires is minimal, however it is important the owner makes sure to check the creases of its skin, especially those that are around its head which is where infections can show up very easily. It is also important to check its eyes and ears. Dog breeders warn that the veterinarian bills on this dog are usually twice as much as they would be in any other dog. The life span of these dogs is usually around seven to ten years, smaller ones usually live the longest and may even live over ten years of age.