Looking into American Mastiff

[Hogleg]

I am researching this big dog, loves kids, protective but not aggressive, gentle giant. Masad Ayoob wrote of one taking on 6 coyotes that were threatening a puppy.

Any one have experience with these? Know a good breeder?

Thanks

[panzer426]

They are called Bullmastiffs, not American Mastiffs. *There is a breed known as American Mastiff but it is very rare and not a true breed but a selectively cross bred breed. * If you are interested in Bullmastiffs my recommendation is to google AKC and find the national breed club for Bullmastiffs. *Through their website, research breeders.

They are great dogs, I have trained many of them. *They need a securely fenced yard, and experienced owner, early obedience training. *By experienced owner I don't mean simply someone who has been around dogs. *I mean someone who has personally trained and lived with very powerfull and very dominant/stuborn dogs.

Massad Ayoob is a gun guru but his article about the Bullmastiff taking on 6 coyotes was full of red flags. First off, the dog should not have been left alone outside. No responsible dog owner would ever leave a dog unsupervised outside.

If Massad says X gun is worth the money, believe him. If he says X dog is the best...he doesn't know jack about dogs.

[Hogleg]

My post was not very clear, sorry. I know Massad wrote about the bullmastiff, I am actually interested in the American Mastiff. They are apparently more of a dry mouth, less slobery. I thought the breed was not supposed to roam much, why the need for a fence? I will have the dog on 12 acres.
Thanks for the input.

[BamaGator]

Here is an interesting bit of trivia. I read that the only time a judge at the Westminster Dog Show has been bitten was by a Mastiff. It may have been the big AKC show,not Westminster. I read it a couple of years ago somewhere. Dont remember what type of Mastiff.

[AlchemyAcres]

My post was not very clear, sorry. *I know Massad wrote about the bullmastiff, I am actually interested in the American Mastiff. *They are apparently more of a dry mouth, less slobery. *I thought the breed was not supposed to roam much, why the need for a fence? *I will have the dog on 12 acres.
Thanks for the input. *

Amerinca Mastiff (Mastiff X Anatolian) and Bullmastiff (Mastiff X Bulldog) are outcrosses of true Mastiffs (English Mastiff)....Bullmastiffs are also drymouthed compared to true Mastiffs....great dogs who love children and are VERY protective....I'm housesitting for my sister....there's one laying right beside me....her name is "Baby"...that should tell ya something. :)

~Martin :)

[Doglover]

The American Mastiff is not really a breed by a hybrid of (like mention above) two other breeds.

You might want to check our an Akbash they are long lived (for a big dog) and would do well in the job you are asking about.

If you like the mastiff look better you might wish to check out the Fila

Links below of each
Akbash
http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/akbashdog.htm

Fila Brasileiro
http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/filabrasileiro.htm

Both these breeds are a handful and you should do lots of research before buying one! However they are excellent at what they do.

[Hogleg]

Thanks AlchemyAcres,
I am now planning on adopting an English Mastiff. I found a breeder near me. Mountain View Mastiffs, in Bellingham Washington. They have a good reputation and the references check out. I think this dog will work well with our family. The are an impressive breed.

Thanks again

[mangyhyena]

Hogleg, I currently have a Great Dane and a Lab. (Don't tell my Lab, but my Great Dane is my favorite. lol)

In the future, when these two are no longer living, I plan to get 2 English Mastiffs. I may breed them if both have a good bill of health and papers to establish their purebred bloodlines.

One piece of advice I would give to owners considering getting a large breed dog is to have the tail bobbed. I didn't do that with my Great Dane when she was a puppy and on occasion I pay dearly for that oversight. (Her tail is at the exact height as my groin. Feels like getting whacked with a baseball bat. Darn near cried on a few occasions.)

Anyone have any advice about English Mastiffs?

[MYellowRose]

I used to own a mastiff of some kind. Didn't even know what he was to begin with as the lady I got him from thought he was something mixed with Shar Pei since his face was wrinkly. His name was Funny Face and he was absolutely adorable. Full grown his head came almost to my shoulder, I'm 5'8", and when he stood on his hind legs and put his front paws on my shoulders he was actually a good bit taller than me. Was sorta a butter color with what I called 3/4 length tail.
My only problem was he had no training and had unbelieveable strength, could pull me anywhere he wanted me to go. Got a knock on the door one evening from the neighbor telling me the dog was dead. I never did find out what happened though I think he may have been poisoned as the kids in the house next door kept dragging their pit bull over to the fence to annoy him. I finally got mad and told them to quit or I would call the cops and report them as trying to start a dog fight! One of the reasons I keep the dog I now have inside. I don't want to go through such anguish again for a long time.
Believe me, if I had a house with a large yard I'd get another one and make sure he was obedience trained.