The English Mastiff (nicknamed the Old English Mastiff) is one of those large dogs that are pretty distinguishable.
Even as puppies, you know them by their splendid colors and specifically their massive sized heads and bodies! Large dogs, in general, are pretty intimidating but these babies are gentle and sweet by nature. Want to learn more about these big beauties? Continue reading because we’ve gathered some dynamic information about them.
Guess what. They don’t require daily exercise!
Despite how large the English Mastiff is they don’t require any more exercise than regular size dogs. In fact, because of their large form, their bones need to fully develop before they are actually introduced to a routine exercise schedule. Excessive exercise before their bones and joints are developed can stunt and hinder their growth.
Training them takes patience.
The English Mastiff is an intelligent but stubborn and sensitive dog! Because of the former, it will take time and patience to train them. Because of the latter, they respond very well to positive and firm training. They love to please their owners, so keep the commands simple and straightforward.
Mastiffs are sweet.
We touched on this earlier. The English Mastiff is large and lovable. They are incredibly gentle and calm, especially with their families. They can live in families with children, as well. They are protective and make excellent guard dogs, but don’t expect them to actually chase or attack someone. They may keep an intruder held down physically until human help arrives, but that’s about it.
Mastiffs have large litters!
Because the English Mastiff is so large, they consequently have large litters. A typical litter produces approximately 10-12 puppies, and that’s a lot! The Mastiff breed is the only dog breed that has ever produced the highest number of puppies in a single litter. This record goes to an English Mastiff in England who gave birth to 24 puppies, of which 20 survived past the first week!
Their care can be costly.
As with most large dogs, it will be more expensive to take care of them. They eat a lot! No really, they eat 6 to 8 cups of dry food a day. Because they need to be fed the best and highest quality of food, that can really add up. You also have to factor in their vet bills, toys, etc. Taking proper care of them requires proper financial planning; however, they are worth every penny!
