A mastiff is a large and powerful
type of
dog. Mastiffs are among the largest dogs, and typically have a short
coat
A coat is typically an outer garment for the upper body, worn by any gender for warmth or fashion. Coats typically have long sleeves and are open down the front, and closing by means of buttons, zippers, hook-and-loop fasteners (AKA velcro), ...
, a long low-set tail and large feet; the skull is large and bulky, the muzzle broad and short (
brachycephalic) and the ears drooping and pendant-shaped. European and Asian records dating back 3,000 years show dogs of the mastiff type. Mastiffs have historically been
guard dogs, protecting homes and property, although throughout history they have been used as
hunting dog
A hunting dog is a Dog, canine that hunts with or for hunters. There are several different Dog type, types of hunting dog developed for various tasks and purposes. The major categories of hunting dog include hounds, terriers, cur type dogs, and ...
s,
war dogs and for
blood sports, such as
fighting each other and other animals, including
bull
A bull is an intact (i.e., not Castration, castrated) adult male of the species ''Bos taurus'' (cattle). More muscular and aggressive than the females of the same species (i.e. cows proper), bulls have long been an important symbol cattle in r ...
s,
bear
Bears are carnivoran mammals of the family (biology), family Ursidae (). They are classified as caniforms, or doglike carnivorans. Although only eight species of bears are extant, they are widespread, appearing in a wide variety of habitats ...
s, and even
lion
The lion (''Panthera leo'') is a large Felidae, cat of the genus ''Panthera'', native to Sub-Saharan Africa and India. It has a muscular, broad-chested body (biology), body; a short, rounded head; round ears; and a dark, hairy tuft at the ...
s.
History
Historical and archaeological evidence suggests that mastiffs have long been distinct in both form and function from the similarly large
livestock guardian dogs from which they were most likely developed; they also form separate
genetic populations. The
Fédération Cynologique Internationale and some
kennel clubs group the two types together as
molossoid dogs; some modern livestock guardian breeds, such as the
Pyrenean Mastiff, the
Spanish Mastiff and the
Tibetan Mastiff
The Tibetan Mastiff is a large Tibetan dog breeds, Tibetan dog breed. Its double coat is medium to long, subject to climate, and found in a wide variety of colors, including solid black, black and tan, various shades of red (from pale gold to deep ...
, and an extinct
draught dog called the
Belgian Mastiff, have the word "mastiff" in their name, but are not considered true mastiffs.
Many older English sources refer to mastiffs as bandogs or bandogges, although technically the term "bandog" meant a dog that was tethered by a chain (or "bande") that would be released at night; the terms "mastiff" and "bandog" were often used interchangeably. One of the most famous "bandog" programs in England, led to the establishment of a recognized "bandog" breed known today as the
Bull Mastiff. The least common "bandog" program in England was funded by Sir Nathanael Dieu-est-Mon'plaisir, the St. Louis Vincent Mastiff or South American Mastiff was named after Vincent Louis who reared plantation dogs originating from
St. Louis and other parts of South America. This rare breed is the most expensive mastiff-type dog amongst the "bandog" breeds. In the twentieth century the term "bandog" was revived to describe some large fighting mastiff type dogs crossed with any bulldog in the United States.
List of mastiff breeds
Extant breeds
Extinct breeds
References
Bibliography
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{{Mastiffs