Quick search
CTRL+K
Quick search
CTRL+K
English mastiffs are one of the largest and nicest dog breeds. They can weigh up to 230 pounds, and grow up to 30 inches.
Their enormous size catches the attention of everyone.
Some people think that because of their large size and combat past, they must be aggressive dogs, but the truth is quite different.
They are literally giant puppies.
They never show aggression toward their owner and if trained well, they don’t show aggression toward other animals and humans as well.
However, untrained English mastiffs may hurt people and animals if they perceive them as a threat. We’ll learn more about this later!
Most English mastiffs have cool and calm nature. They hardly show any aggression.
But because of their huge size and heavy weight, they might hurt small animals unintentionally, so proper training is a must.
Furthermore, they have a deep bark which is enough to scare anyone, especially, burglars.
Their guarding instinct kicks in when they feel you are under a threat. They might not attack the attacker but shield your body.
However, if an attack is necessary, they might attack the attacker as well.
English Mastiffs were bred for dog battles, guarding, and war. But nowadays, they have turned themselves into giant puppies.
Another good thing about English mastiffs is that they get along with cats and other dogs if they are introduced at a young age.
Again, proper training is needed if you want to make your English mastiff respectful towards other animals and humans.
They are good with kids, but if your kid is very young, like younger than 5 years old, you must not let your English mastiff go near them, especially, if you are not at home.
Even though English mastiffs never show aggression towards kids, they still might hurt them unintentionally.
They have massive paws, and even if they swing it with the intention of playing, they’ll eventually end up hurting your kid.
You may find many videos on the internet where kids are pulling their ears, putting their hands inside their jaws, dragging them, etc. It doesn’t mean you should also let your kid do that.
Just one swing or one attack of an English mastiff is enough to hurt your kid significantly, remember that! I mean, 99% it won’t happen, but just in case!
They can be overly protective at times if they aren’t trained well. Just look at this video.
This incident took place in Chennai India.
You can clearly see how brutally that dog attacked that person. At first instance, we can see that when the person came near him, the dog perceived it as an attack, and his guarding instinct kicked in, and he attacked that person brutally.
It’s still not 100% clear why he attacked that person, but there was one thing that was visible clearly, he wasn’t trained well.
You can also see how strong their jaw is. He almost ripped that man off!
You may have seen many videos, read many articles, and books about English mastiffs before coming to this post.
And, I guess you have only heard positive things about English mastiffs, in fact, I have praised them as well on my blog many times, but you must not trust an animal 100%. An animal will always be an animal!
I would not say they are difficult to train, but they are certainly slow learners. English mastiffs take time to understand the command, they are not stupid, but they are not as smart as Poodle, Border Collie, and German Shephard either.
With an English mastiff, you need patience and time. Once they are trained well, they will turn into extremely good dogs.
English mastiffs prefer cold weather more. Because of their thick double coat and massive bodies, the risk of overheating, dehydration, and stroke increases if the place is hotter than 25.56 °C or 78 °F.
If you live somewhere where the average temperature stays above 25.56 °C every day, don’t go for them. Go for other breeds, especially, breeds that can sustain hotter temperatures.
Now, does it affect an English mastiff’s temperament? Yes, weather can affect your mastiff’s temperament.
In fact, according to American Kennel Club, dogs become cranky and less active, especially, in the hot season.
They might also become a little aggressive because most mastiffs are not made for hot weather.
Yes, in fact, it’s crucial!
English mastiffs need a meat diet. Avoid giving them sugary, fatty, and carbonated food.
Sources say high-sugar food can make them lazy, affect their stomach, and increase the chances of obesity.
Only a meat diet is recommended for mastiffs older than 12 months.
If you leave them home alone and they have completed their sleep, they can be destructive.
English mastiffs when they feel bored, they start chewing, sofa pillows, bed sheet, toys, nearby clothes, etc to release their boredom.
Tbh, no they are not good for first-time owners as mastiffs have a huge size and they need proper guidance/training.
Most first-time owners lack training skills and they end up making their dogs aggressive. It’s better to start with a breed that is much easier to control, like a Golden retriever, Labrador retriever, Bulldog, etc.
You can check out the post by American Kennel Club in which they discussed which dog breed is best for first-time owners.
They are a bit lazy, but not as lazy as Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, English Bulldog, Miniature Pinscher, and Italian Greyhound.
In fact, when they feel fresh, they become very active. They love playing with their owners and love going on a walk with them.
No, they have massive bodies which get heated up easily. 40 to 45 minutes of walking is enough for them, however, if you want to turn your English mastiff into an active beast, then start slowly, start with easier exercise, and gradually increase the difficulty.
Remember, they are heavy dogs, and their joints can get hurt if they jump too much. So a slow start is necessary!
They are gentle dogs. I recommend this breed highly if you are looking for a giant breed that can be a good guard dog.
Early training is crucial, otherwise, they might show aggression toward other dogs, animals, and humans.
Remember to not let your giant canine companion go near your kids, especially, if your kid is younger than 5 years, as their giant paws might hurt them.
Should You Go For this Breed? Of course, you can go for them if you have some experience! They are awesome! Again, don’t forget to get them to socialize early and train them properly!
Thanks for reading!
Copyright © 2024. All rights reserved. Create a website for FREE!