Spanish mastiffs are a rarified breed in the United States . These extra - large dogs are firm , hardy , and self - convinced but might be distant around people outside of their darling kinsfolk .
you could almost glean the Spanish mastiff ’s personality from his appearance and expression : He ’s a serious , loyal , andintelligent blackguard . This whale ( he can get through up to 200 pound ! ) is also genial , though can be somewhat aloof . He ’s probably not one to get too aroused aboutplaying fetch with a tennis ballor catching a Frisbee but is a stately guard dog who once protected farms and defend kine .
" The Spanish mastiff is a firedog who isloyal to his familyand who [ was bred to ] protect his home without ever wonder his role , " say Linda Simon , MVB , MRCVS , consulting veterinarian atFiveBarks . " They arecalm dogs , taking most of life ’s daylight - to - day happenings in their stride . "
miguelangelortega / Getty
Anextremely rarified breed in the United States , the Spanish mastiff is a dog that has been around for centuries . Today , these dogs do n’t have rigorous physical exertion or grooming routines , but because of their tremendous size they ’re a good match for a home that has a with child chiliad or ( even better ! ) a rural house .
Appearance
The Spanish mastiff is a baronial , jumbo dogwith droopy jowls , extra skin , a stern yet impertinent reflexion , and a powerful gait . The Spanish mastiff size is extra - orotund , get to height up to 35 in and weighing anywhere between 140–200 pound sterling .
Stocky and full-bodied , he wears a dense , thick pelage that ’s short and smooth . Spanish mastiff coloring include yellow , fawn , red , bootleg , as well as " Hugo Wolf people of colour " and " deer gloss , " according tobreed measure . Thecoat pattern is brindleor " parti - discolour , " which means the dog has a predominant color that ’s broken up by patches of one or more different colors .
The Spanish mastiff ’s pelage requires a temperate amount of grooming . He needs to bebrushed a couple of meter a weekand shouldget an occasional bath . He ’s also a regular spiller . " In arena where there is a seasonal modification , Spanish Mastiffs will grow a thick-skulled underfur that willtend to cast off during warmer periods , " says veterinarian Rasa Gentvilaitė - Žiemienė , the co - founder ofDogo , a dog-iron breeding app .
Liliya Kulianionak / Shutterstock
With a large , triangular - shaped foreland that take care like a truncated Great Pyramid , the Spanish mastiff has a tolerant , wet , pitch-dark nose . His weighed down , slack jowls intend his upper mouth largely cover his lower one . He ’s also got Brobdingnagian , pointed canine that once helped him get a good grip on his prey . The Spanish mastiff ’s eyes are almond - shaped and typically hazel or dark in color , and his floppy , attend ear are triangular in physical body .
" Spanish mastiff have a outstanding and imposing appearance , " Gentvilaitė - Žiemienė suppose . " They would impress and even deter not only people who do n’t sleep together their personality but also animals such as wolves . "
Temperament
Spanish mastiff 101 : This breed is a loyal dog to his kinsfolk but is by and large wary of strangers .
" While not fawningly affectionate , the Spanish mastiff will show dearest to [ his ] near family , " Simon say . " However , they are more reserved than the middling dog and can move aloof . "
He ’s also aware of his enormous power and post himself with dignity . He is intelligent , loving , and calm , tell Gentvilaitė - Žiemienė . " They are fast to their people but less social to interact with unknown or other dogs , " she says .
Sergey Lavrentev / Adobe Stock
When it comes to other household favorite , Spanish mastiffs would choose to be the king of the palace . They like to keep to themselves andrequire extensive socializationto live alongside other pet , Simon enounce . The Spanish mastiff would probably do best in a home with olderchildren who know how to properly interact with pets , too .
Living Needs
Given their extra - large size , the Spanish mastiff is not anapartment detent , Simon says .
" They do n’t need wide utilization , but they do need plenty of blank space and access code to a curtilage , " she says . " They appreciate beingbrought out on relaxing walks , exploring their neighborhood , and beak up on newfangled scents . "
This breed probably fits good in a rural environment and is abetter tramp companionthan square up buddy , Gentvilaitė - Žiemienė say . And though he loves his favorite people , the Spanish mastiff tend to socialize small with alien or other weenie — so he likely is n’t pining Togolese Republic to a dog park .
caxa75onohoi / Adobe Stock
A calm household without young children or other animals would be the ideal paroxysm for a Spanish mastiff , Gentvilaitė - Žiemienė says . Despite being jolly upstage , these dogs do enjoy having their man at abode with them and need plenitude of aid and love .
Care
Grooming knowing , these dogs are relatively down in the mouth maintenance thanks totheir short coat . TheSpanish Mastiff Club of Italy(SMCI ) recommends brushing your blackguard twice a workweek and on a daily basis during shedding season .
Owners shouldclean their dog ’s earstwice a calendar month or so to prevent wax from build up , whichcan lead to infection . The Spanish mastiff ’s fast - growingnails require regular trimming , and adaily tooth - brushing routinewill help keep your dog ’s breath new and forbid tartar build - up , tooth disintegration , and infections .
Spanish mastiff bask spending most of the day lounging around the home , says Corinne Wigfall , DVM , BVS , BVM , and consulting veterinarian withSpiritDog Training . But when they ’re not patrolling the yard or taking a nap , they ’ll benefit from some exercise . They need about 30–45 minutes of forcible activity every day , Wigfall aver . But keep walks to the cockcrow and evening during the summertime , as Spanish mastiffs can suffer oestrus separatrix because of their sizing and coat thickness , she say .
LFRabanedo / Shutterstock
When it comes totraining Spanish mastiff puppies(or changing previous habits of more ripe dogs),positive - reinforcement methodsare the way to go . While these heel are vastly intelligent , they are n’t afraid to quiz boundaries , Wigfall says . Positive - reinforcement training sessions , with lots of fountainhead pats andtreats on hand , done on a consistent foundation will help these easy giants become civilised dog .
Health
The Spanish mastiff lifespan is 10–12 twelvemonth . Health - wise , these dogs are prone to many of the same shape that other giant dogs face , Simon says .
One of these includesbloat , a condition that can be fatal when it pass off in dogs . Bloat takes place when gas , food , or liquidity becomes trapped in the dog ’s abdomen and causes it to exposit . But if the venter sophisticate over on itself it can cut off blood flow to critical organs , which is fatal without treatment . As a preventative measure in prominent dog breeds , agastropexy proceduremay be performed to prevent this from happening .
Spanish mastiffs are also prone tohip dysplasiaandelbow dysplasia , she sound out . Spanish mastiff puppies may also be prone topanosteitis , which is a painful inflammation on the outer surface or shaft of one or more off-white in a dog ’s legs . It ’s also known as " growing nuisance " and can feign apace grow dogs .
If you have a Spanish mastiff , be cognisant that this breed can also beprone to fleshiness , Wigfall says . Obesity in dogs can contribute to the development ( or elaborate the management ) of other diseases , includingkidney disease , Cancer the Crab , diabetes mellitus , heart disease , and various respiratory diseases . Mixing veggies in with kibble and having a household agreement that nobody will sneak your dog extra treats are among some of the ways you canhelp your dog shed a few pounds .
History
The Spanish mastiff is an ancient dog that once was in charge of guarding livestock from wolves and other predatory animal . The Spanish mastiff also assist and protected the shepherd who travel sheep herd across Spain , according to the American Kennel Club .
The part of mastiff grew in the 10th one C when Spain ’s economic system was hinged on the production of wool . The wiener ’s popularity go along to mature in the 12 century with the emergence of a unexampled type of sheep ( merinos ) , which normally spend the winter in the south of Spain and moved north to the pile slopes come summertime . The migrating herds of sheep were accompanied by shepherds and there was at least one mastiff for every 100 sheep .
