American Mastiff

		American Mastiff
		He is not recognized by the F.C.I.


Origin			U.S.A.
Translation			Francis Vandersteen

A brief presentation of the American Mastiff

The American Mastiff can only be described as a giant dog. This colossus can weigh close to 85 kilos and can reach heights of up to 91 centimetres. That's a lot for a dog, but fortunately, they have a gentle temperament and are not aggressive. They can be stubborn and like to have their own way. So they need an experienced handler to bring them up to their best. A good leader with lots of patience is the best owner for this dog, otherwise they can tend to take over and become demanding. But they have a heart of gold and adore their family. They are kind and gentle with children, showing patience and tolerance for their antics. As with all dogs, this one needs socializing at an early age to encourage positive interaction with strangers and other dogs. The American Mastiff has a drier mouth than the English Mastiff, which means less drool, if any. A huge dog means they need a house or apartment that gives them that extra space, but fortunately, they're more of a couch potato, are relatively inactive indoors and rarely bark. They make wonderful companions and excellent watchdogs.

History of the American Mastiff

The American Mastiff is a relatively new breed, although Mastiff dogs have been around for centuries. They were originally bred as English war dogs, where their task was to attack enemy soldiers. Fierce and tenacious, they were a dog to be feared. Between wars, they guarded wealthy farms and were occasionally trained to hunt bears. Fortunately, in recent years, aggression has set in and the dog has mellowed into a gentle giant. Mastiffs came to America with their colonial owners on the ship the Mayflower and were used as protection for families, stock and possessions. Unfortunately, there were many inbreeding problems which began to cause health problems and a breeder called Fredericka Wagner in Piketon, Ohio, decided to breed a new Mastiff to overcome these problems. She started in the late 1980s and carefully matched the Anatolian Shepherd to the Dogue. The offspring were vigilantly regulated with whom they were bred and eventually Fredericka developed the dog that had a tighter lip line. The dog she named American Mastiff had a drier mouth and drooled less than the parent Mastiff. In the late 1990s, Wagner stopped cross-breeding and bred with her existing dog lines. Later in 2002, Wagner began allowing a few breeders to join his newly-formed American Mastiff Breeders Council. This expanded the gene pool to just 11 breeder members, and they work hard to ensure the health and temperament of their dogs. Debate still rages as to whether the American Mastiff is as good as breeders claim, but the fact remains that they have succeeded in making a gentle giant of a dog that excels so far in health and temperament.

Appearance of the American Mastiff

The American Mastiff is a giant dog weighing up to 85 kilos. Although they resemble their English counterparts, they are much slimmer than the English Mastiff and have a longer muzzle, fewer wrinkles and seem to have a kinder expression. They have a solid rectangular head, high, floppy ears, a drier, less drooling mouth and a black nose. The body of this imposing dog is massive and a solid muscle, although they still have that athletic look. Their neck is thick with a slight arch that blends into the chest. A long, straight back and strong, powerful legs are complemented by a set of massive, padded paws. They have a long, muscular, whip-like tail. This breed comes in colors such as fawn, brindle and apricot and can vary in tone, as well as complementary white markings and a black mask that gives them a mysterious, almost forbidding look at first glance. That's until you see their warm brown eyes sparkling with humor.

Temperament of the American Mastiff

Although the size of this friendly dog may seem disconcerting to a visitor, it's not an aggressive dog, unless you or a family member is threatened. Then beware, for they will defend their family with remarkable courage and determination. The American Mastiff is a calm, dignified dog that is totally loyal and devoted to you, they are kind and gentle and can even tend to be clingy. They love to be with their family and become exhausted when left alone. They have certain habits that sometimes take some getting used to, such as flatulence, snoring, shedding hair and mud. They may be dignified, but they are not refined. They can be wary in the presence of strangers, but once they've gotten to know someone, they're back to their usual friendly selves. They make good watchdogs as they will alert you to intruders. They can be stubborn to train, as they like to do things their own way and can put off your methods. Patience and kindness are required; yelling or losing your temper will do nothing with this dog. Instead, make training fun. Plan fewer repetitions to avoid boredom, and incorporate challenges that stimulate their mental abilities to get them to think harder about how to solve a problem. They love children and are patient and gentle with them, but always supervise a young dog as their size can cause unwanted injury to toddlers.

Needs and activities of the American Mastiff

American Mastiffs need a certain level of exercise to keep them healthy and happy, although they can tend to get lazier as they get older. A daily walk or two is ideal, as they'll happily stroll alongside you and drink within sight. Walking is an excellent opportunity to socialize your dog and get him used to meeting other people and other dogs. Forget long runs or cycling with this dog, as their size cannot maintain a fast pace for long. They need to be challenged mentally and physically. If either is lacking, this puppy can become nervous, destructive and generally difficult to live with, as they can become stubborn and disobedient. Although they are very intelligent, they can be difficult to train as they want to do things their own way. Make sure training isn't too repetitive, otherwise they'll lose concentration and get bored, which means they won't obey you when you want them to. They need a strong leader/owner, who respects their training and abides by their own rules. This impressive dog is best for the experienced handler who is used to managing a huge dog.

Maintenance of the American Mastiff

Generally, you can brush once a week, but if your dog is in a heavy shedding phase, you should at least increase brushing sessions to at least twice a week. American Mastiffs rarely need to be bathed, but it's a good idea to rub them every two weeks with a damp cloth, just to keep them smelling sweet. Although the coat is short and straight, the sheer size of this dog means it will take some time to complete its grooming. Grooming time won't worry your massive companion as he loves your attention and solicits your interaction. It's a good idea to train your dog when he's still small to get him used to having his teeth brushed almost every day, his ears examined and his nails trimmed. If you leave it until later, your gentle giant may push you away and refuse to cooperate. This large dog needs to have his mouth wiped after eating and drinking to avoid any smudging.