 |
Dogs,
Cats, & Other Pets
World Wide |
 |
|
|
Mastiff
If you like big dogs, you'll like mastiffs! The Mastiff is an ancient breed of dog. Mastiffs are thought to be descended from the molossus dogs of ancient Greece. These were large, brave, fierce dogs that guarded sheep and killed wild animals. Molossian dogs are thought to be the forerunners of many of our large breeds today for example, the Saint Bernard. They were used as fighting dogs of war, and they pulled carts of supplies for the army.
English mastiffLarge dogs are thought to have been brought to England by Phoenician traders six centuries before Christ was born. These massive dogs were used to hunt wolves, which were common in Britain in those days. They mated with local dogs and started a line known as "English Mastiffs" which has set the appearance of the Mastiff we know today. They were used as fighting dogs for sports like bear-fighting. The dogs were put in a pit with bears and allowed to fight to the death. Other times lions were used for dog-fighting sport. The sheer size of the dog makes him a good deterrent to burglars. Big strong dogs like English mastiffs need consistent training from puppyhood, or they will overpower their master. Height: males 76 cms or more at the shoulders, females 70 cms. Weight: The English mastiff is the heaviest of the mastiffs, and is the heaviest known breed. An English mastiff weighing 286 lbs got into the Guiness Book of Records. The head is large, wrinkled, with black muzzle, ears and nose. The rest of the body can be brindle or light brown, with short hair. Early development of breeds of dogs
|
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
