Mastiff Questions and Answers

Here are the most frequently asked questions about mastiffs:
(A much more detailed list you can find in my book Mastiff Secrets)

Question: What types of mastiffs exist?

Answer:

Molosser, a group of several breeds of dog also known as Mastiffs.
American Mastiff, a breed of dog in the Molosser group.
Bullmastiff, said to be a cross between the English Mastiff and the Bulldog.
English Mastiff, a breed of dog in the Molosser group.
Spanish Mastiff, an ancient breed of dog originating in Spain.
Neapolitan Mastiff, an ancient breed of dog originating in Italy.
Tibetan Mastiff, an ancient breed of dog originating in Tibet.

Question: Where should I get a Mastiff?
Answer: If you want a puppy, the best choice is to buy one directly from a reputable breeder. How do you know if a breeder is reputable?

Ask the local kennel club
Visit dog shows
Get a breeder referral list from the Mastiff Club of America (www.mastiff.org)

Once you think you have identified a reputable breeder, check the breeder’s credentials, background, and contract. A reputable breeder will always take back or replace a puppy that is found to have a congenital defect. In addition, a breeder will help you choose a puppy with the right temperament to fit into your family.

Question: What if I don’t want a puppy?
Answer: Your best choice if you want an older Mastiff is to notify your local rescue group. Mastiffs sometime end up in rescue homes simply because their owners did not take into account their eventual size.

One issue with getting a Mastiff from a rescue group is that you don’t know whether the Mastiff was properly trained and socialized as a puppy. Talk to the Mastiff’s “foster family” if it had one to find out how it behaves in a home setting and how well-socialized the family judges it to be.

Question: What about a pet shop?
Answer: It is never a good idea to buy a dog from a pet shop. Pet shops can give you no information about your dog’s background or breeding, and the dog may have been exposed to untold diseases. In addition, a pet shop environment does not give a Mastiff puppy the early socialization it needs.

Question: What about a backyard breeder?
Answer: It may be tempting to buy a Mastiff from your neighbor down the street who is breeding his own dog, especially if he is charging significantly less than the full-time breeder. However, you do not get the breeder’s experience, careful selection of bloodlines to enhance the Mastiff breed, and extensive testing for congenital defects. In addition, the backyard breeder will probably not give you a contract to take back or replace a puppy that does have a congenital defect.

Question: Should my Mastiff live indoors or out?
Answer: Mastiffs are truly happier indoors next to you. Mastiffs seem to have an instinctive need to be as close as possible to their human family, to the point that their emotional development and socialization can be stunted if they are deprived of that closeness. In fact, many breeders will refuse to sell a Mastiff unless the new owner guarantees that it will be kept as a house dog.
What kind of living quarters does a Mastiff require? Where do they sleep?
Mastiffs need a place of their own where they feel comfortable and secure. Wire crates are a practical solution, especially for a puppy being house-trained: they allow the Mastiff to see out and are harder to chew or destroy.

Another option is a pallet by your bed, whether a soft pad or a baby bed mattress covered with blankets. It is generally not a good idea to let a Mastiff sleep on the bed with you because of its eventual size. In addition, jumping off a bed is not good for the joints of a young Mastiff.

Question: What other stuff do I need to buy for my Mastiff?
Your Mastiff will need toys, chew bones, collars and leashes, grooming equipment, and food and water dishes, Toys. Toys need to be durable and able to withstand the Mastiff’s tremendous strength. Always supervise your Mastiff with a new toy: if it rips the toy to shreds and starts swallowing the pieces, take the toy away. Good toys for puppies include