The Mastiff is considered to be one of the most ancient dog breeds. Their ancestry dates back to 5000 years ago from the now-extinct Molossus. The Mastiff’s giant ancestor was a war dog throughout their years, and depictions of the dog were found on artifacts of ancient Egypt, Greece, and Babylonian civilizations. In ancient times, the Molossus was so fierce that they were even pitted against lions, and other ferocious animals, for entertainment.
The modern-day Mastiff was developed in England hundreds of years ago. While they were no longer fighting lions, they were used as guard dogs for guarding large estates. These dogs are certainly capable of defending their territory and their size alone should be enough to deter any intruder. They are considered the largest dog breed, and can weigh up to 220 pounds! In 1989, the Guinness Book of World Records recorded the heaviest dog on the planet as Zorba the Mastiff, weighing in at an astonishing 323 pounds. Sadly, like most large dog breeds, the average lifespan of the Mastiff is typically a short 6-10 years.
Despite all of their abilities for guarding and protecting, these dogs are gentle giants at heart. They have extremely soft personalities and are quite sensitive. They will display clear discomfort when two people in the household are fighting, even if it is completely unrelated to them. While they do make incredible companions, they have some qualities that should be considered before bringing them home, besides their immense size. They are certainly not fit for a clean freak as they tend to drool a lot and are quite clumsy in the house. They also tend to release gas often, to put it lightly, which can be pretty unpleasant.
The Mastiff does require daily exercise, but they are by no means an outdoor dog. They enjoy the comfort of being home and will have no problem relaxing for many consecutive hours. These dogs love nothing more than being with their people and display plenty of affection. While the Mastiff is not the easiest dog to take care of, their owners will say they wouldn’t want any other breed. These dogs have unique qualities that are difficult to describe for people that do not have a Mastiff at home, but the fact that they’ve existed for thousands of years across many different civilizations shows how special their characteristics are.
