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Because of their huge size, guarding skills, cuteness, and friendly nature, mastiffs have become really popular.
Yes, there is no doubt that mastiffs are amazing. In fact, everyone should pet at least one mastiff in their lifetime.
However, should a first-time owner go for a mastiff? Or should they pet a small breed first and then go for mastiffs?
Stick to this post to find out!
No, they are not recommended for first-time owners. Petting a mastiff can be really challenging as they are huge dogs and they need a lot of care.
They could be too much for first-time owners. Start with a dog breed that is easier to control and doesn’t need a lot of care, like a Labrador, Golden Retriever, Papillon, or Cavalier King Charles spaniel.
Experience how it feels like to have a pet first. Once you have enough experience, then go for a Mastiff.
To know more about why you shouldn’t pet a mastiff first, I’ve mentioned 9 reasons below.
Mastiffs are pretty massive dogs. They can weigh up to 250 Pounds and their height can reach up to 35 inches, which is astonishing.
In videos and pictures, mastiffs look amazing, and it seems like it’s very easy to control them, but believe me, it’s not as easy as it seems.
Mastiffs are hard to control, especially if they are not trained. Their massive bodies can pull you easily.
Some mastiffs have temper issues as well, their guarding skill can kick in and they might attack someone.
And, if a 200 Pound mastiff starts attacking someone, it would be incredibly hard to stop them from attacking. That’s why petting a mastiff needs experience.
However, if you still believe you can pet a mastiff, make sure to get them socialized at an early age and give them complete training.
Mastiffs have strong food desires. Their body needs a lot of protein, and nutrient-rich foods to work properly.
It could be difficult for first-time owners to select/give the right food to Mastiffs. And, without the right food, the mastiff might go ill soon.
Furthermore, Adult Mastiffs eat 2.5-7 pounds of muscle meat, organ meat, and bones daily. It means, if you have a tight budget, think twice before going for a Mastiff.
Their poop size is massive. Generally, mastiffs poop once every day, but some mastiffs poop up to five times a day, which is crazy. More than five is a concern btw.
Potty training is necessary for Mastiffs. And as I said Mastiffs are slow learners, they might take months to learn where to poop and where not to, and that could be a headache for some first-time owners.
They are not your everyday apartment dogs, they require big space to move freely. If you live in a 2X2 Apartment, it’s better to not go for a Mastiff.
I know some people will say that Mastiffs can live in an apartment if they are getting enough exercise every day, it’s true but have you ever thought about what Mastiffs want?
They are huge dogs and they don’t like to stay in tight places, they need a lawn or big halls where they can move and play freely.
Also, if you don’t make them exercise regularly and keep them in a small room, they could become obese.
An obese dog can catch a disease much faster than a healthy dog.
Mastiffs are not stupid, but they sometimes struggle to understand commands. They can be stubborn at times as well.
If they are not in the mood, they’ll not move no matter what you do.
However, because they have strong food desires, they do enjoy training sessions, but again, if they are scared, confused, not in the mood, or their sensitive feelings are hurt, it can be impossible to get them to do anything. Even American Kennel Club has accepted that.
Now, training is essential for mastiffs. If they are not trained well, they might attack someone and hurt them brutally.
Their size is enough to scare anyone, and just imagine what would happen if they attacked someone. You could get in legal trouble.
Training small dog breeds like Bichon Frise, Shih Tzu, and Chihuahua isn’t as important as training a giant breed as small breeds can’t do much damage even if they try, but giant breeds can hurt someone even if they don’t try.
Furthermore, even if a mastiff is well trained, they still need an experienced owner because Mastiffs are guard dogs, they can sometimes get irritated by people or animals and lose control, so you have to have some sort of experience to handle Mastiffs.
Most mastiffs have a life span of about 10 years which is quite short if compared to Chichua, Dachshund, or Toy Poodle.
So if you are looking for a canine companion who can be with you for a longer period of time, mastiffs aren’t the ideal choice sadly!
Mastiffs are prone to diseases, that’s why they have such a short lifespan. The chances of diseases like Distemper, Hipdsipalcia, and Parvo are high in this breed.
They require complete vaccination to stay healthy. For some first-time owners, it can be difficult to get their mastiffs fully vaccinated.
If you live somewhere where the average temperature stays above 25°C or 77 °F, don’t get yourself a Mastiff.
Mastiffs don’t do well in the heat/humid weather. They have a thick coats which can help them stay warm in cold weather, but that coat won’t help them in tackling hot weather, instead, it will increase their body temperature.
Mastiffs such as Dogue de Bordeaux, Neapolitan Mastiff, and Bullmastiffs drool heavily. Drooling in mastiffs is very common, there is not a single Mastiff that doesn’t drool.
So that is another concern you should be aware of before going for a Mastiff.
Those were the 9 reasons why a Mastiff might be a bad choice for first-time owners.
I hope you got there answer you were looking for.
Thanks for reading!
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