Is An English Mastiff Right For Me?
Things To Consider Before Bringing One Home...

by Ken Alden

Wondering is an English Mastiff right for me? If you are thinking about getting one of these dogs, you'd love the fact that they make great pets because they are such gentle giants. However, there is so much more you need to know about this black-masked purebred before you can decide for sure if it is the right breed for you. 

Is An English Mastiff Right For Me?

An English Mastiff is right for you if you’re looking for a lovable family dog that is great with children as well as being an excellent guard dog for home and family. You'll need to have a large space to accommodate its size, the time to train and exercise, and the budget to provide for its dietary needs. 

This article will talk about everything it entails to have an English Mastiff. You will learn about their temperament and their needs, as well as the things you can expect as a pet owner. Learning about what English Mastiffs are like and how to take care of them is the only way you'll be able to tell whether it is the right kind of dog for you. Read More Below...

Pro-tip: Ever try lifting an English Mastiff? Their weight can hurt not only your back but their joints when they hop down from cars, sofas or even your bed. To protect your back and theirs check out the best Mastiff ramps on Amazon.com now.

Is The English Mastiff The Breed For Me?

According to the American Kennel Club, the English Mastiff is a large symmetrical dog with a well-knit frame, giving a vibe of grandeur and dignity. However, when deciding whether this particular breed of dog would fit perfectly in your home and in your life, you need to look beyond their physical appearance. There are so many aspects you will need to consider. 

The English Mastiff’s Temperament

In terms of temperament, English Mastiffs are lovable and courageous guardians and companions. They are born a guard dog and being watchful comes naturally to them, especially when they sense danger. Moreover, English Mastiffs are eternally loyal and very protective of their family and territory.

Although they rarely bark, they have a natural wariness of strangers. When they see an intruder, instead of an all-out attack, they are more likely to hold him at bay, trapping him in a corner or lying on top of him. In other words, they are silent guards.

Because of their cautious and protective temperament, it takes time for them to warm up to new people. As such, they respond best to gentle, patient, consistent, and firm training. While early training and socialization are important so that they don't become aloof with strangers, they don't need to be trained on how to guard.

Will Their Temperament Fit Right In With Me and My Family?

Dominance levels vary for Mastiffs. But generally, you will have to establish authority to communicate to them that any sign of dominance is not welcome. You have to let them know that you are the leader of the pack. These gentle giants are excellent with children because they are patient, self-confident, intelligent, calm, docile, and even-tempered. So having kids that are a bit older at home won’t be a problem.

So, when it comes to temperament, an English Mastiff may be right for you if you need a dog to guard your home. Also, the fact that they don't bark a lot while watching over your property could be an added benefit or a disadvantage, depending on how you want to get alerted about intruders. If you want your guard dog making a lot of noise so you could call the police, you may want to consider a different breed of guard dog. 

An English Mastiff would also be the right dog for you if you like spending quiet evenings at home. If you love holding parties on the weekends and having a lot of people over, it could be overwhelming for them. Moreover, you need to have plenty of time to train your dog and to establish yourself as the head of the household.

Read More...
English Mastiff Temperament: This helpful article of ours goes much more in depth about their temperament and their personality.
Are English Mastiffs Good Family Dogs? What's written in this article of ours is an excellent read if you're thinking of bringing one home as a family member.

Pro-tip: English Mastiff anxiety, aggression, destructive chewing, jumping up, fearfulness, and other behaviors can be controlled with the right training program.

Here’s a great course that addresses these issues along with many other dog training basics: Check it out now!

Caring For An English Mastiff

When it comes to caring for an English Mastiff as a pet, you will have to know their nutrition, grooming, exercise, and health needs before you can be certain that it is the right dog for you. You need to know whether you can provide for these needs, whether financially or just in terms of time. is an english mastiff right for me

Here's a few questions to ask yourself to see if you're a fit for this breed...

Food And Nutrition: What Can I Feed My English Mastiff?

Proper nutrition is critical for rapidly growing large dog breeds like the English Mastiff. The AKC cites breed experts as recommending that you start Mastiff puppies on an adult dog food formula with up to 26 percent protein percentage and a calcium/phosphorus ratio of about 1.2:1. Feeding them a densely caloric diet that lacks adequate calcium/phosphorus ratio can lead to puppies and young adults becoming prone to skeletal disorders.

It is also recommended that you maintain a feeding schedule for them rather than free-feeding so you could keep them from gaining excessive weight.

Given their special dietary and nutritional needs, you need to allot a considerable budget for the right kinds of dog food. Large dogs like an English Mastiff eat more than a much smaller dog, so you should expect this to be rather costly. Moreover, you also need to have time to feed your dog on a fixed schedule.

As such, if these things won’t be a problem, then you have another box ticked.

Read More...
Mastiff Feeding Guidelines: This article of ours will help you know what you can expect when feeding your pooch
Yearly Feeding Costs: These dogs each A LOT and this article will break things down.

Grooming: Can I Make Sure My English Mastiff Is Clean?

An English Mastiff’s deep and thickly muscled rectangular body is covered by a short double coat of hair. Their outer coat is coarse, straight, and moderately short, while their undercoat is short, dense, and close lying. 

The short and dense coat of a Mastiff is easy to groom. You just need to do a quick brushing every few days. Once or twice a year, there will be periods of heavy shedding, and this will require more frequent sessions of brushing using a strong, toothed comb to remove dead hair. 

You should also regularly inspect and clean the dog's ears, as well as the deep wrinkles around its eyes, head, and muzzle. Its nails need to be trimmed short, too, and because Mastiffs drool quite a lot, you will have to keep wipe cloths within easy reach to wipe slingers off their face, your clothes, the floor, and the couch when they shake their head.

Mastiffs tend to wheeze and snore loudly, as well as drool. So if you have an English Mastiff as a pet, you will have to be fine with drool being slung here and there. Other than the drool, all the grooming requirements are pretty much basic.

Pro-tip: English Mastiff's (and their owners) love dog crates…and for good reasons. Crates keep dogs from mischief while you're away, are perfect for house training, for traveling by car, and provide the dog a place to de-stress. Check out the best Mastiff crates on Amazon.com now.

Exercise: Can I Make Sure My English Mastiff Is Fit And Healthy?

Compared to other large dog breeds, Mastiffs have low exercise requirements. Daily one-mile or two-mile walks outdoors, and free play will be good for them both physically and psychologically. However, you will need to be careful not to overtax your growing Mastiff puppies and young adults. Avoid having them jump from heights, run up and down the stairs, or engage in long walks.

Given adequate exercise, Mastiffs can make themselves at home. They prefer the comfort of home and in the presence of their family. They'd even be happy being a lap dog or a cushy footstool alternative. But if you leave them to their own devices, without exercise or stimulation, they will become bored and destructive.

You should also know that Mastiffs are known for plopping down when they get overheated or tired during walks. So it may be best not to walk them farther than you're willing to carry them back. 

So an English Mastiff is right for you if you have a large space or yard for your dog to walk around during the day. You also need to have the time to take him out on daily walks, or perhaps take him to the park where he could run, and maybe socialize with other dogs. As such, you might consider settling for a smaller breed if you live in an apartment or a house with a small area.

Read More...
Mastiff Exercise Requirements: Just what do they need? Plus you'll find some creative exercise ideas.

Health: Am I Ready For The Health Risks Associated With An English Mastiff?

English Mastiffs may be prone to certain health conditions. You can only say that it is the right breed for you if you are prepared to give your dog the care it would require when such illnesses strike. But that doesn’t necessarily mean it is guaranteed to afflict your dog sooner or later.

You should only get your English Mastiff from a responsible breeder who can assure you that your puppy has been screened for health conditions associated with their breed and has a clean bill of health. This also ensures that the puppy has not inherited any health-related anomalies from its parents. These breed-related health conditions include:

• Eye anomalies
• Heart disease
• Hip dysplasia
• Seasonal allergies
• Cancer
• Von Willebrand's disease
• Epilepsy
• Degenerative myelopathy
• Bloat

Mastiffs can also experience bloating, which is a life-threatening condition wherein their stomachs suddenly distend and often twist. 

Another big consideration for getting a large dog is the fact that they have shorter life spans than smaller dogs. Mastiffs, in particular, live short lives. Their life expectancy is six to 10 years, but some have lived to 18 years. So if you are fine with this, then an English Mastiff may be right for you.

Read More...
Mastiff Health Issues: Here's a more in depth article of what this breed is prone to.

Is An English Mastiff Right For Me?...Final Thoughts

An English Mastiff is the right pet for you if you are looking for an affectionate canine companion and a silent guardian to protect your home and family. You should also have the space for a massive dog in your home, as well as the time to walk, exercise, and stimulate it daily. And while these dogs are not as messy as the hairy breeds, you have to be ready to clean up after their drool

Having enough space, time, and money to care for a dog like an English Mastiff is just one thing, though. The more important factor in being able to keep one as a pet is knowing that it is a full-hearted commitment on your part as long as your dog is around. 

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I’m Ken Alden. This website
is a labor of love from years of research and personal experiences with Mastiffs.

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