The Mastiff dog breeds such as many dog breeds has a history that goes back over 2,000 years. Used in Britain, Rome and other ancient civilizations as hunting dogs, warrior dogs and guard dogs, the Mastiff has had a long, illustrious past. The Mastiff was brought to Britain by the Phoenicians in the 6th century BC. The Romans discovered this incredible dog when they invaded Britain, and took some back home to Italy. Reputedly, Julius Caesar’s favorite dog was a Mastiff breed. Kubla Khan kept thousands of Mastiffs as part of his army, and Hannibal brought several battalions of these massive dogs with him when he made his famous crossing of the Alps.

The Mastiff dogs remained a favorite of British royals, guarding castles and estates. Mastiffs were used for bear baiting between the 12th and 19th century. This was a very popular sport at the time. The dogs were used to attack chained bears, tigers and bulls.

Mastiffs arrived in the new world in the 17th century, though it wasn’t until nearly 200 years later that the breed became popular in the Americas. Today, mastiff dogs are trained to be working dogs performing duties including search and rescue, guard duty and law enforcement as well as household pets. These dogs are among the very largest breeds, often weighing in at more than 200 pounds and with a height of 30 inches at the shoulder. These are very muscular and powerful dogs; they have fur which may be pale orange, fawn, silver or brindle with black ears and muzzles.

The Mastiff used to be trained to be fearsome warriors and hunters, but now these dogs are trained to be loving, gentle pets and helpful working dogs. Of course every dog is a little different, but most Mastiffs are exceptionally calm and even tempered animals. However, they can be a little stubborn, especially once they get older and set in their ways (not to mention very large). It’s best to make sure that your Mastiff is well trained while they’re still very young.

While yesterday’s Mastiff breed was a fierce opponent, today the Mastiff is gentle and affectionate. While every Mastiff is an individual, the majority of dogs are calm and easy going. Mastiffs can be a bit of a challenge to train. They can be a bit stubborn, and with their size, you’re better off if you get all your training done when the dog is young and of smaller stature. At the same time, some Mastiffs are very sensitive to harsh words from their family.

Adults love Mastiffs too and vice versa. If you have a Mastiff, you have a friend for life this is a dog which wants to be where you are, whether you’re relaxing or going for a run. Mastiffs prefer the company of their families above all else.

Mastiffs tend to be shy around new people and will often sit quietly close by until introduced. They generally get along with other pets if they have been socialized well when young. If your new Mastiff hasn’t had this training as a puppy, you’ll have to either train them how to interact appropriately with other animals or make sure that your dog can’t be around other pets without close supervision.

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