Old English Mastiffs: What's Good About 'Em, What's Bad About 'Em

The AKC Standard says, "A combination of grandeur and good nature, courage and docility. Dignity, rather than gaiety, is the Mastiff's correct demeanor."

I use the name Old English Mastiff  to distinguish this breed from all the other Mastiffs: the French Mastiff (Dogue de Bordeaux), Italian Mastiff (Cane Corso), Argentine Mastiff (Dogo Argentino), Brazilian Mastiff (Fila Brasileiro), Neapolitan Mastiff, Tibetan Mastiff, Bullmastiff, and others.

The Old English Mastiff is calm and quiet (as an adult!) but he belongs in a roomy home with a spacious fenced yard, so that his massive body has stretching room. To stay fit, he needs daily walks (whether he seems to want them or not), but he isn't a jogging partner.

Mastiffs also need companionship – lots of it every day. This is not a breed to leave alone for many hours.

Most English Mastiffs are polite with everyone, but there is timidity (even extreme shyness) in some lines, and aggression in others. To ensure a stable temperament, English Mastiffs need earlier and more frequent socialization than many other breeds. This socialization should continue throughout their life. Watchfulness should be discouraged, as it's best for all concerned if a Mastiff intimidates by his presence alone, rather than by his behavior.

Some Old English Mastiffs are peaceful with other animals, while others are dominant (even combative) with dogs of the same sex.

Though mildly stubborn, this good-natured dog responds well to patient, consistent leadership.

Mastiffs tend to be "gassy" dogs, which bothers some people. They also snore, drool, and slobber – big time! Obviously this is not the breed for people who need a tidy household.

If you want a dog who...

Keep in mind that the inheritance of temperament is less predictable than the inheritance of physical traits such as size or shedding. Temperament and behavior are also shaped by raising and training.

• You can avoid some negative traits by choosing an ADULT dog from an animal shelter or rescue group. With an adult dog, you can easily see what you're getting, and plenty of adult Mastiffs have already proven themselves not to have negative characteristics.
• If you want a puppy, you can avoid some negative traits by choosing the right breeder and the right puppy. Unfortunately, you usually can't tell whether a puppy has inherited temperament or health problems until he grows up.
• Finally, you can avoid some negative traits by training your Old English Mastiff to respect you and by following the 11-step care program in my book, 11 Things You Must Do Right To Keep Your Dog Healthy and Happy.

More traits and characteristics of the Old English Mastiff

If I was considering an English Mastiff, I would be most concerned about...

1. Providing the proper balance of exercise. Young Mastiffs need enough exercise to keep them lean and healthy, but not so much that their soft growing bones, joints, and ligaments become over-stressed and damaged. Similarly, adult Mastiffs need enough exercise to keep them in shape, but definitely not running or jogging, and not in hot or humid weather for fear of overheating. The proper amount of exercise can be difficult to regulate in giant breeds.
2. Providing enough socialization. Some English Mastiffs are naturally friendly, but most tend to be a little standoffish with strangers, and some individuals have protective instincts. It's essential to socialize your English Mastiff very thoroughly when he is young, so that he learns to recognize the normal behaviors of "good guys." Then he can recognize the difference when someone acts abnormally.

   Without careful socialization, a Mastiff may be suspicious of everyone. This can lead to either aggression or shyness, and both attitudes are dangerous in a giant breed. Fearful Mastiffs can bite defensively if they feel cornered. And it's no fun trying to drag a huge frightened dog along by the leash in public.

3. Potential animal aggression. Many English Mastiffs are perfectly fine with other dogs and cats. But some are not. I would not risk keeping an Mastiff with another dog of the same sex. And be aware that some Mastiffs do display predatory behavior toward cats and other animals that run. Obviously a dog of this size and power is capable of seriously injuring or killing other animals.
4. The strong temperament. Old English Mastiffs are usually easygoing and good-natured, but they're not pushovers to raise and train. Some are passively stubborn, while others are willful or dominant (they want to be the boss). You must show them, through absolute consistency, that you mean what you say.

   To teach your Old English Mastiff to listen to you, "Respect Training" is mandatory. Read more about Old English Mastiff Training.

5. Mastiff "sounds." Old English Mastiffs snort, grunt, and snore loudly. These sounds are endearing to some people, nerve-wracking to others.
6. Slobbering. Most people are not prepared for how much Old English Mastiffs slobber and drool, especially after eating or drinking. When they shake their heads, you will be toweling saliva off your clothes and furnishings.
7. Gassiness (flatulence). All short-faced breeds gulp air when they eat, and that air has to go somewhere, after all. However, commercial diets make flatulence worse by including fibrous or hard-to-digest ingredients. Mastiffs who are fed a homemade diet of real meat and vegetables have much less trouble with gassiness.
8. Serious health problems. The lifespan of an Old English Mastiff is very short – less than 10 years. And an alarming number of Mastiffs are crippled by bone and joint diseases and/or succumb to cancer at only 6 or 8 years old. Read more about English Mastiff Health
9. Legal liabilities. Some insurance companies may cancel your homeowner's policy if you own a Mastiff. Your friends and neighbors may be uncomfortable around this breed. In this day and age, the legal liabilities of owning a giant breed that looks intimidating and has a history as a war dog should be considered. People are quicker to sue if such a dog does anything even remotely questionable.

   The truth is that the Old English Mastiff is probably "too much dog" for the average household.