Spanish Mastiff

Spanish Mastiff - a giant dog with a severe expression of the muzzle can scare anyone with just one species. But, despite the fact that the breed is among the largest in the world, to call these dogs ferocious language does not turn. They are intelligent, loyal, caring, but certainly not evil. What kind of animal is it, whose appearance and character do not correspond to each other?

The origin of the breed

Scientists identify several versions regarding the appearance of these giant dogs, but two of them are more reliable. One by one, the progenitors of the Spanish mastiffs were brought to the European territory by sea by merchants from Phenicia. According to the second, they came here by land, thanks to the little friendly Asian nomads. But the hypothesis that the Roman warriors brought the mastiffs was not confirmed, as the local population already had enormous pets to their disembarkation, which helped the Aborigines to defend their lands.

Given the similarity of Turkish, Caucasian, Balkan, Tibetan shepherd dogs and mastiffs, it is difficult to find out exactly who are the ancestors of the Spanish mastiffs, but it is not surprising that the above breeds most likely have the same roots.

It can be said with certainty that man needed a guard and protector of cattle from predators - an even larger, fast, enduring animal, able to sense the threat from a distance and take measures. And then there was the idea of breeding guard dogs.

It was possible to find out that Spanish mastiffs existed as a separate breed in the 15th century. At that time they grazed cattle in the Pyrenees. For one herd, several dogs were sufficient, which not only protected cows and sheep, but also did not allow them to disperse.

Despite their ancient origins, they spoke about the representatives of this breed only at the beginning of the last century. The breed standard was determined after World War II ended. After international recognition, the breed's popularity has increased, but still has not reached the level of the most common dogs - German Shepherd Dogs and Rottweilers.

On the territory of Russia, Spanish mastiffs appeared in the mid-90s, they were brought from the nursery of the Czech Republic. And after a while in the nursery specializing in rare breeds, the first puppies of the Spanish mastiff were born.

Today there are few representatives of this breed in the Russian territory and the CIS countries, but this is not about their complete disappearance. Two or three dogs from these countries will compete in international exhibitions.

Naturally, today no one uses Spanish mastiffs for their original purpose - to herd herding. But these dogs have proven themselves in a new role - a companion and friend. In addition, their protective qualities allow you to acquire pets to protect the family and property. And the Spanish Mastiff frankly indicates the status of its owner, since not everyone can afford such a four-legged friend.

Beautiful breed: English Mastiff .

Breed description Spanish Mastiff

The last breed standard was approved by the Spanish Kennel Club in 1994. According to him, it is confirmed that Spain is the birthplace of the breed, and also states that dogs can be used to protect the herd, people and property. Giant dogs belong to the Molossian group.

Representatives of the breed are powerful, large dogs, with proportional addition. Growing males above 77 cm, females - 72 cm. The first thing that comes to mind when they are seen is that they are the grandest and most majestic dogs in the world, and their ability to hold on speaks of a developed self-esteem.

The head of a mastiff from Spain distinguishes it from dogs of other closely related breeds. It is large, but at the same time harmonious with respect to the body. The area of transition from the frontal bone to the muzzle is practically not expressed, the muzzle is expressive, powerful, the cranium is wide. Wrinkles on both sides of the eyes give a serious expression to the dogs.
The skin of animals is thick, without a snug fit, it is voluminous around the neck, chest and lower line, and makes the dogs look like bulls for bullfighting.
The coat is of medium length, thick, tight to the body, slightly wavy. Dogs have excellent cold protection — a thick, dense undercoat.
The case of the mastiffs is rectangular, with a powerful deep chest, wide and powerful loin, and the same muscular croup. The abdomen is not too tucked up, the bottom and top lines are located almost parallel. The whole body of the dog speaks of its strength and power.
The paws of the dogs resemble cats, which is considered a positive quality and speaks of a good ligamentous apparatus of the animal. The paw has strong, bent claws and is gathered into a ball. The standard allowed 1-2 profitable (fifth) fingers.

Spanish Mastiff Colors

If we talk about colors, then representatives of any color breed fit into the standard. The most common are yellow (of any tone, from pale yellow to red), black and tiger Spanish mastiffs.

Growing up of dogs occurs late, in males in the period from 3 to 4 years, in females a year earlier. Pets live this breed 10-11 years.

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Character of Spanish Mastiffs

For several centuries, the activities of pedigree representatives cultivated in them certain qualities, and many of them were useful for dogs and for new duties. For example, the habit of grazing livestock, protecting the weaker animals from predators, transformed into an excellent attitude towards children. Mastiffs perceive children as a flock that needs safety and comfortable conditions. And the dog gladly provides them with his little wards.

The dog in any conditions will remain an excellent nurse, because at one time, these dogs, even when left without food and water, guarded the animals, not allowing themselves to raise at least one sheep. This indicates the professionalism and dedication of pets.

Only having a balanced psyche and a developed intellect, dogs could survive in the mountains, leading cattle from the pasture unharmed. Today this property allows the animal to socialize quickly, to behave adequately in any conditions. Naturally, an important role here is played by the upbringing and training of a pet, but they are fairly easy to train. Due to the lack of hunting instincts, mastiffs can be kept with other, even small pets.

Having an independent, and even proud, look, in fact, this powerful giant needs love and affectionate appeal. With a weight of 100 kilograms, the dog is able to betray love and adoration for all 200. But, of course, the attitude must be mutual. Pets of this breed are infinitely devoted to both the owner and all members of the family, and he can prove it by giving even life.

How to maintain and care for a large pet

Such colorful, large-sized dogs are not very suitable for residential housing. Therefore, it is better to purchase them for living in the private sector, in a house with a spacious yard. They live well in the aviary, but arranging it, you should take into account the size of the inhabitant, several times higher than the average dog.

In the fresh air, the dog feels better, and thick wool with a dense undercoat does not allow the animal to freeze even in the severe cold. But in hot weather, dogs can be tough, so be sure to provide a pet with a shadow. This should be thought already in the construction of the aviary.

Spanish Mastiff dog breed photo

Spanish mastiffs once could move for days, without sleep and rest. Of course, today such self-sacrifice is not required from dogs, but they need long walking and regular training. This requires their powerful, muscular constitution. And, in addition, they are able to quickly gain excess weight, which for such large animals threatens with diseases of the musculoskeletal system.

If we talk about hygiene procedures, they are standard:

Pet is recommended to constantly comb out to get rid of dead wool (it is better to use a brush with teeth of metal);
eyes and ears should be regularly inspected; if contaminated, wipe with a cotton pad soaked in plain water or an antiseptic (for more information on cleaning the ears );
claws should be trimmed regularly - at least once a month, as they grow, they can lead to deformation of the metacarpus.

What to feed the dog

Balanced nutrition for such giants is the basis of their health, because they are prone to heart and joint diseases, they may have problems with growth.

But the dogs themselves are not fussy and can eat everything. Many people think that the Spanish Mastiffs have a huge appetite, and they should eat more and more often than other dogs. Of course, the pet eats a lot, but the standard mode is used - in the morning and in the evening.

The amount of food varies, depending on the time of year. So, if in the winter the dog ate 1 kilogram of food per day, then in the summer, the rate decreases by 2 times.

Even when feeding with dry food , you can include natural food in the pet's diet, for example, fresh meat - veal, lamb, rabbit. But the pork digestive tract of the animal can not normally digest, so it should not be given.

If the owner is determined to feed the dog with natural products, then most of the diet should be taken by the meat, the smaller - cereals, vegetables, sour milk. And be sure to take care of special mineral supplements that strengthen and support bone and joint tissue.

Photos of Spanish Mastiff

Video about spanish mastiff

How much is a Spanish Mastiff puppy?

These big beauties - not cheap pleasure. The price of the Spanish mastiff varies, depending on the puppy class:

representatives of the pet class (healthy dogs for the soul, not suitable for exhibitions and breeding) - 35000-45000 rubles;
Breed class (puppies that are suitable for breeding, but without a show career) - 50000-70000 rubles;
show class (the best representatives of the breed who are able to become the founders of a new kind, future champions) - 80000-150000.

You can find a lot of ads where Spanish mastiffs are sold much cheaper for 15,000-25,000 thousand, however, there is a risk to buy a dog with physical, and even worse - mental abnormalities, which can make a pet dangerous when growing up.

It should be noted that no self-respecting breeder will sell a puppy before a half or two months. That is how much time it takes for the baby to get the necessary knowledge from the mother and learn how to communicate with their own kind. Without this, the pet can grow nervous, with an unstable psyche.

Spanish mastiffs are beautiful, faithful dogs. They are an excellent option for people who love large breeds, and most importantly, who know how to handle them.