Aug
15
2009
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Mastiff Dog Breeds

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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Written by Eric Salson in: Dogs | Tags: , , , , ,
Aug
11
2009
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Mastiff Dogs The Basics

The Mastiff dog has a long history; these dogs have been domesticated for more than two thousand years. The Romans bred the ancestors of modern Mastiff dog breeds for use as guard dogs and hunting dogs and in brought these dogs to the British Isles in the 6th century when they conquered Britain. These dogs, already favorites with the Romans (including Julius Caesar, by many accounts) quickly became popular in Britain as well and became the ancestors of the modern English Mastiff. Mastiffs also were part of the war party when Hannibal crossed the Alps and were a favorite of the Kublai Khan, who kept a kennel of thousands of the dogs.

In Britain, the Mastiff became favored guard dogs with royalty, though they also found some less honorable work there. Mastiffs were used in the sports of bear, bull and lion baiting from the 1100s until the 1830s when the practice was outlawed in Britain.

Mastiff dogs are one of the largest domesticated breeds in existence and can weigh over 200 pounds and stand 30 at the shoulder. The Mastiff is a very muscular dog with black muzzles and ears and coats which are usually pale shades of fawn, orange, silver or brindle patterns.

Today, he is still the largest breed of dog, often reaching a weight of 220 pounds and a shoulder height of 30 inches. They should appear massive and powerful, with a black mask and ears highlighting a pale coat of silver, apricot, fawn or brindle short hair.

If you’re considering a Mastiff dog for your home, you’ll need to be prepared for some drooling and some snoring and snuffling as they sleep. However, they more than make up for this fault due to their loyalty and natural aptitude for guard duty. These dogs very rarely bark, but they will hold any intruder at bay until told that things are under control. Mastiffs also make excellent companions for children. While you’ll want to keep an eye of very young children while playing with Mastiffs, they love children and are very patient and gentle with even energetic kids.

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.

These dogs are often shy when meeting new people and will usually just sit quietly until being formally introduced. Mastiff dogs usually get along with other pets, as long as they’ve been properly socialized as pups. If your Mastiff dog hasn’t learned how to behave around other animals, you’ll need to teach them or simply keep them away from other animals unless they will be closely supervised.

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Written by Eric Salson in: Dogs | Tags: , , , , ,
Aug
10
2009
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Brazilian Mastiff

Male Brazilian mastiffs come in at well over 100 pounds and will stand upwards of thirty inches at the shoulder when they are full grown. Females are similarly large, though they tend to average around 90 pounds and are a few inches shorter as well. Both males and females will have short, soft fur, an extremely thick neck and resemble a bloodhound in the face. You might find this breed sporting coats of brindle, black, yellow and reddish tan, making it a very handsome dog.

The Brazilian mastiff was bred to run fast and to have a bone structure that could support an attack if need be. Their courage is known to be intense, and they are also known to be an alert dog. While they can be quite savage and hostile to strangers, they are considered to be very loving with children.

When you are looking at a Brazilian mastiff, there are a few features that you will notice right away. They have the hunting instinct of the bloodhound as well as the guarding instinct of the mastiff. They have been used to watch over cattle, and they are a wonderfully rounded animal. They are trained to attack and hold as well as to hunt and in years past and in more dangerous times, they were even trained and taught to hold wild jaguars at bay from the cattle that they were protecting.

The Brazilian mastiff also has a history as a slave tracking dog, and interestingly enough, the word Fila means to hold in Portuguese. Not only do these dogs excel at hunting and holding, they can also run fast and hold an impressive gallop.

Remember that when you are dealing with this dog that it is never so keen on strangers. They are suspicious of people that they do not know, and though this might be a good thing if they are guard dogs, it might be as good if you have visitors. In many cases, they will undergo character testing to see whether they can be trusted to only attack when they are instructed to. It is important to keep this mind when you are thinking about purchasing a Brazilian mastiff. During dog shows, they maintain this aloof and wary quality and judges are often instructed not to touch the dog.

While they can be absolutely savage with strangers, remember that the Brazilian mastiff is still a gentle and loving animal to his own pack. He can be very loyal to his master and is very protective of his own property. He will attack strangers and it is his natural instinct to attack when he is with someone he doesn’t feel comfortable with.

If you are thinking about adopting a Brazilian mastiff puppy, look for a good breeder. Consider going to the shows and going to the homes of private breeders. Do not stop at looking at just one breeder. Ask every question that you think of and see whether the breeder is someone who really feels for their dogs. Remember that they should be able to answer any questions that you throw out at them. Remember that you can always check out pictures of the breed online as well.

The Brazilian mastiff is quite adorable, with its blocky shape, its droopy long ears and its soft floppy lips. Always be careful when approaching an animal that you do not know well, and remember that the breed’s reputation as a guard animal is well earned. Despite this, you’ll soon see that with the right training, he can be amazingly sweet with the family in his care.

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Aug
07
2009
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The One And Only American Bandogge

American pit bull terrier with a huge Neapolitan Mastiff female. The breeder who started this evolution of mastiffs is John Swinford and then another one also assisted in getting this breed going, and his name is Joe Lucero.Of course, there are several different varieties in the breed, such as cross breeding an English mastiff with the American pit bull. The closer to the original initial breeds are the most stable. This particular breed is well known for its muscular and athletic look. Naturally, he inherits that from his pit bull bloodline. There is also a variety of color patterns that you may notice within this brilliant breed. Some of the colors may consist of tawny, blue, black and red. However, for the most part this dog is black brindle.

There are a few variations on this breed, with one of the more common being a cross of the American pit bull and the English mastiff. Those dogs whose parents are certified purebreds are the most attractive and healthy of the American Bandogge Mastiffs – known as a very attractive breed in their own right. They are muscular animals as you’d expect from their pit bull heritage. They also display the brindled patterns in their fur typical of the pit bull. Black brindle is the most common, but red, blue and tawny colors are also sometimes seen.

Exceptionally obedient, Bandogges take naturally to training and are renowned for their calm, even tempers. Given their size, an inheritance from the mastiff side of the family, these dogs also have confidence to spare. They are naturals at guard duty, but they’re also calm, gentle and highly intelligent however, they rarely bark, even at an intruder. However, it’s hard to imagine any burglar wanting to try their luck again if they’re surprised in the act by a dog which can reach weights of nearly 150 pounds!

Bandogges are very friendly and sociable, meaning that they tend to get lonely easily when their human family isn’t around and are known to need some coaxing to get over their separation anxiety. These imposing but loving and loveable animals may not do a lot of barking, but they might howl when they miss you. Like any other dog, they can get along with other dogs, cats or any animals if they’re introduced while young.

The American Bandog is also very easy to groom and maintain. They tend to have a little bit of dry skin. However, they are easy to take care of as far as brushing, for the most part. They have a short coat that is easy to maintain.

There you have it, an all American, well rounded dog. A family friendly, one hundred forty pound, pound gentle giant. He will ease up on an intruder without a sound, yet go hysterical when his loving family is away. Wonderful with kids that will most definitely defend his own. Not to mention he is easy to groom with the short hair. However, he may also have dry skin. This is a brand new breed that has only been around for about forty years and continues to thrive, today. If you can live with a huge dog and a little bit of slobbery kisses and love, then the American Bandogge may just be the right dog for you!

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Feb
14
2009
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Do You Have Insurance For Your Giant Mastiff

Most mastiff dog owners adore their animals but do not bother organizing dog insurance for them , though these same people would argue that they are part of the family. The average American will have health insurance , so it makes sense that we should consider insurance to protect our dogs.

This is an often overlooked area and thought to be superfluous by some , mastiff dog owners soon learn how costly it is when they require treatment. Like many other areas, the cost of vet fees has increased as well , for those people with dog insurance, they have witnessed this rise in the form of premium increases.

So other than rising costs, what are the main reasons you should consider cover for your mastiff dog. The problem is that domestic animals are often more liable to be involved in an accident or become sick; this can happen at any time and usually when you can least afford it!

If you are in this unenviable position then a choice may have to be made , you know that treating your animal will place financial strain on you.

I had doubts about treating our dog some time ago when he was involved in an accident. I have to admit to asking myself at the time if we could justify the expense. Especially when you know that even with the surgery and treatments, your mastiff could still die. There are no guarantees as complications are not uncommon.

The average person does not always consider the costs involved with owning a dog , this is even more relevant if you are experiencing financial difficulties. Raising (sometimes) large sums of money can be prove to be financially embarrassing especially when you are have money problems , which could mean contacting a relative or friend for the money.

If you are experiencing a cash flow situation, you probably won’t spend as much on your mastiff dog’s treatment as you would like. Arranging a mastiff dog insurance policy saves this type of predicament from happening in the future. The choice is yours, large vet bills or pet healthcare insurance policy for around 40 dollars (or Less) per month , cost of medical care is assured.

Various dog healthcare insurance options are available possibly to meet certain financial requirements. Hopefully this article will make mastiff dog owners think again about their responsibility , perhaps the information supplied here has made things are a little clearer now and you won’t delay further.

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Written by Eric Salson in: Dogs | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , ,
Feb
02
2009
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The Hounddog Brazilian mastiff

Tracking and sniffing is the Brazilian mastiff’s job, the gentle giants are a cross between a mastiff and a bloodhound. Giving them their full title of Fila Brasilerio they originate from Brazil and were introduced to the United States of America by the Conquistadors. In the early years of the breed its main purpose was to guard plantations.

As mastiffs go this breed is big, they can reach up to 2 feet tall and weigh in at over 100 pounds .The fur ranges from black to tan and even yellow, brindled dogs been high in value. The faculae features are very similar to that of the cross breed the bloodhound.

mastiffs can be gentle or aggressive when the situation requires it, very very loyal and make a valued member to anyone’s family, very good with children also.

the hunting instinct is real in the Brazilian mastiff because of its half brother the blood hound, the Fila part of the breeds full name means to hold in Portuguese which is part of the dogs role in the process of hunting, the mastiff will track, catch and hold the capture until it’s master arrives.

this breed is not prone to obesity so they are more athletic and a generally healthier dog’s, along with this comes the loyalty and protective side of the mastiff.

The Brazilian mastiff is like all others, they don’t like strangers, they feel at home with their own family but have been known to be aggressive to people who are unknown to them. So if you know you are going to have an unfamiliar face visit make sure the dog is out of the way.

The Brazilian mastiff is like all dogs, they need love and attention and a lot of food, spend time with your dogs and they will become a big part of your family, and I mean a big part. They are loyal and will protect you till the bitter end.

if you are purchasing a Brazilian mastiff puppy then make sure you do research into the steps to take to prepare yourself for the arrival of a small giant into you house, ask question to the right people if you are not sure of anything and make sure the breeder can give references upon request.

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