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When we look at mastiffs and their big size, a lot of questions start to pop up inside our heads, and one of them is, “Are mastiffs good family dogs? Are they good with kids?”
I mean even though we have read many reviews about Mastiffs and their sweet nature, we still hesitate to let our kids touch them.
If you are here, you probably have that same question on your mind as well. Are mastiffs good with kids, or are they not?
Well, you’ll find your answer here in this post!
Mastiffs usually don’t show aggression toward kids; however, we still don’t recommend you let your kids go and play with mastiffs, especially when you are not there to look after them.
Even though mastiffs are very polite toward kids, they can still be aggressive at times. Also, they are giants, which means they might hurt your kid unintentionally.
You should not let your kid go near a mastiff if they are younger than 5 years.
If a Mastiff is in a playing mood and he jumps on your kid with the intention of playing, his paws can hurt your kid.
It will count as your mistake, not the kid’s or Mastiffs.
If you still believe that your loving Mastiff won’t hurt your kid, then make sure to look after your kids whenever they go near the mastiff, so if anything unfortunate happens, you will be there to save your kids.
Yes, they are! Mastiff puppies love playing with their owners. Your kids will be much safer with them than with an adult Mastiff.
At such a young age, puppies don’t have any guarding tendencies. They hardly bark and show aggression; they only focus on eating food, sleeping, and playing as much as they can.
However, remind your kids not to go too hard on puppies. I mean, tell them to play with them gently.
Even though puppies are small in size and can’t do much damage even if they try, some puppies do have strong and long teeth and paws that can hurt kids.
Furthermore, an untrained Mastiff is much more dangerous to kids than a trained one.
Untrained mastiffs are not only bad for kids, but they are bad for other animals and humans as well.
It is important to train your mastiff at a young age. However, some first-time owners ignore training sessions, and because of that, their Mastiff becomes aggressive.
You must not let your mastiff stay untrained. Again, it is really, really important!
Hands down the best mastiff on planet earth, the English mastiff is our number one choice if you are looking for a giant family dog.
They are great guard dogs, which means they will protect your kids in case of trouble. However, they are the biggest dogs which mean they need space and a lot of food.
They are a little lazy as well and they don’t need a lot of exercises. 40 to 45 minutes of walking is enough for them.
To know more about English Mastiffs, check out my post; English Mastiff Temperament: Revealing 10 Things
German Mastiffs also known as Great Danes are famous for their tall stature and polite nature. Their height can reach up to 35 inches.
Great Danes are very good with kids. They get along with other animals too if they are raised with them.
But some individuals in this breed can be aggressive toward dogs they don’t know.
Overall, German Mastiffs are one of the best on this list. If you don’t want an English Mastiff, go for German Mastiff, they are great family dogs.
Bullmastiffs are not as big as Great Danes or English Mastiffs, but they are one of the bravest dogs. They are gentle and affectionate with their owners, but they can be wary of strangers.
Neapolitan Mastiffs were bred in Southern Italy as family and guard dogs. They are known for their wrinkled face and heavy drooling.
Neapolitan Mastiffs like other mastiffs are huge in size. They can weigh up to 150 Pounds and grow as tall as 30 inches.
They are a perfect family dog.
Fun Fact: They were featured in Harry Potter Films.
French Mastiffs AkA DOGUE DE BORDEAUX are sweet, gentle, and great family dogs. They are not too large like other dogs mentioned on this list, but they are not small like bulldogs.
They have a nice bonding with their owners but can be aggressive toward people and animals they don’t know.
Early socialization is important!
Early socialization is crucial. If you don’t do that, your mastiff could become aggressive toward other dogs, animals, kids, and adults.
Mastiffs can hurt people badly because they are huge and their bite force is very high. You could face legal troubles if your Mastiff hurt someone.
If you don’t want to get in trouble in the future because of your Mastiff, it’s better to get them socialized early.
Here are some tips to make your mastiff a great friendly dog:
Walking is not only beneficial for a dog’s health, but a good 40 to 45 minutes of walking a day can help your dog get socialized.
When dogs go for a walk, they understand that they live in society, they see many people walking by, and they see many pets as well.
It helps them understand that barking at everyone without any reason is a waste.
Also, don’t forget to bring treats with you, and once your dog completes the walking session give them treats.
It’s a really important part. Introduce your dog to fellow canines. The best way to do this would be through a familiar activity and that is walking.
Meet a friend who has a dog. Don’t let your dog go near your friend’s dog instantly. Wait for a few minutes, and if your dog is calm and polite, give them a treat.
If both dogs aren’t showing any negative signs, allow your dog to sniff the other dog. Make sure the lashes are still on. Once the interaction is over, treat your dog again.
Once your dog is cool with other dogs, introduce your dog to people. You should get a good response. Again, don’t let your dog go toward your friends or neighbors instantly.
Hold your dog for some minutes, and see how they are reacting. If everything seems alright, introduce your dog.
If you do all these things, your dog will become a perfect canine companion, and won’t hurt any kid.
Hope you got some information through this post.
Thanks for reading!
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