American Mastiff

[Buddha's Dad]

Thanks for the advice! You seem to be quite knowledgeable about mastiffs, so I hope you don't mind me asking some more questions I really love large breed dogs, and was thinking some type of mastiff would be good forour family. However, when I was talking about getting a mastiff with some friends at work today, one of them warned me that they can turn on young childrenwith no warning....Her mom had bullys crossed with boerbelles (?) and this had happened twice during her childhood. Are these dogs that unpredictable? What breed would be best with very young kids? I was thinking either bullmastiff or english. Also, can you recommend any good books about the care and training of these breeds? Sorry for all the questions, and thanks for your help!

I had your same concerns when I was researching types of Mastiffs because my wife day cares a 4 year old little girl and often has our little nieces and nephews over.
Also because she is often home alone, I wanted something that would watch over her.
I ended up getting an Male English Mastiff because they seem to be the more laid back type of all the Mastiffs, well at least when they are fully grown LOL. He is almost 16 weeks old now and he totally loves playing with little kids, he wiggles and wags his tail like crazy every time little kids are around.
Like with all dogs though, ya got to watch them when they are teething and learning bite inhibition.

 

[bellareea320]

I had your same concerns when I was researching types of Mastiffs because my wife day cares a 4 year old little girl and often has our little nieces and nephews over.
Also because she is often home alone, I wanted something that would watch over her.
I ended up getting an Male English Mastiff because they seem to be the more laid back type of all the Mastiffs, well at least when they are fully grown LOL. He is almost 16 weeks old now and he totally loves playing with little kids, he wiggles and wags his tail like crazy every time little kids are around.
Like with all dogs though, ya got to watch them when they are teething and learning bite inhibition.

Agreed 100% my cc goes crazy for the kids and shes only 14 weeks. when the girls are outside in the front she either sits by the front door to watch them or sits outside with me and keeps an eye out not just for my children but all the children out. It truly is amazing and you really have to experience it to really grasp how they are. Although shes great I NEVER leave my girls and my dog together unsupervised!!!!!The teething is a tough time because the mastiffs are bigger then most dogs and the teeth are sharp so you must teach no biting and stick with it especially with the kids

 

[MichelleParlier]

My name is Michelle. I own and operate the only American Mastiff forum on the Net. The website address is (with lots of information about the breed): www.AmericanMastiffFamily.com. The forum... which includes an awesome bunch of folks and all the AMBC-Approved breeders (all 8 of them in the United States): www.AMFamilyForum.net. Also... check out the American Mastiff Family Facebook page, where AM owners talk about everything AM... the "good," the "bad," and the "ugly."

Not to get into any type of debate, but lots of MISinformation has been posted on the Net, mostly by EM breeders. As there are only EIGHT AMBC-Approved American Mastiff breeders in the U.S., who are members of my forum, the majority of my members are obviously owners, who have no reason not to tell the truth about the breed. Many of my over 1000 members have more than one AM. If this breed were so bad... why would that be?

Have to say that it's *because* of the breed-bashing I found on the forums, I chose to investigate the AM breed for myself (as has been the case of several AM owners). After reading each and every of the 300+ letters from owners on Fredericka's site alone (the founder of the AM breed), I was sold on the breed.

So.. my advice would be .... no matter what breed you're interested in... do your homework! Talk to many, many owners of the breed... visit breeders... check all referrences....etc,... learn everthing you can possibly know about the breed BEFORE you get your chosen puppy/dog. The more you know... the more successful your match will be!

Michelle