What's new
Mastiff Forum

This is a sample guest message. Register a free account today to become a member! Once signed in, you'll be able to participate on this site by adding your own topics and posts, as well as connect with other members through your own private inbox!

  • Welcome back!

    We decided to spruce things up and fix some things under the hood. If you notice any issues, feel free to contact us as we're sure there are a few things here or there that we might have missed in our upgrade.

To Start The Discussion of the Mastiff Dog

Renee

Well-Known Member
What is a Mastiff?

Most of the normal reference sources define "mastiff" narrowly, in terms like this:

an old breed of powerful deep-chested smooth-coated dog used chiefly as a watchdog and guard dog
wordnet.princeton.edu/perl/webwn

An ancient breed of large strong dogs, probably originating in Asia and having a short, often fawn-colored coat.
www.geocities.com/angelofyourdreams01/dbattle.html

One of several large breeds of dog (such as bulldogs and Saint Bernards), often used as guard dogs
en.wiktionary.org/wiki/mastiff

mas·tiff (mas′tif)
noun
any of a breed of large, powerful dog with hanging lips and drooping ears and having a short, thick, often fawn-colored coat, dark on the muzzle, nose, and ears: formerly used for hunting, now often a watchdog and guard dog also called Old English mastiff

But those definitions don't begin to encompass the variety and number of the breeds that belong to the Mastiff family.

So, how do WE define Mastiff? Now it's our turn to see if we can't do a better job of it.
 

Zoom

Well-Known Member
My fairly uneducated (read: don't own one to know the finer points) definition would ride along the lines of something like this:

A group consisting of large dogs possessing strong, heavy bone without compromising working ability, typically short coated but with a few exceptions. Often characterized by drooping or hanging jowls and awe-inducing slobbering capabilities, these dogs were, and still are, most often used in a guarding capability, whether for personal or livestock protection. They bond intensely with their families and woe betide any who wish to cause harm, or even moderate mayhem, to a mastiff's people.

I know everyone else will probably come along with something much more clever and humorous but that's what I got.
 

filas931

Member
Nice description Zoom! I like the "awe-inducing slobbering capabilities".

Suggested modification: "awe/groan-inducing slobbering capabilities", and to the last sentence, "They bond intensely with their families, and act like gigantic babies with them, always whining and crying for attention and affection (regardless of age or size), but woe betide....."
 

Tailcreek

Well-Known Member
Mastiffs as a group of dogs are also referred to as Molossers. These dogs are characterized by their large size, heavy bones, drop ears, solid build and short muzzle. Pictures of ancient mastiff were depicted in stone bas-relief in Assyria (dated at about 640 BC). Many of today's breeds have decended from the ancient mastiff.

Jennifer
www.tailcreekmastiffs.com
 

Renee

Well-Known Member
I'd wondered if all molossers are considered Mastiff breeds? I'd read several places that the Pug is actually considered a molosser?