SPECIAL NEEDS OF THE ENGLISH MASTIFF

Appearance
the largest dog breeds in terms of mass, though the Irish Wolfhound and Great Dane are taller but not nearly as
robust.[1]

Their size is very large and gives an impression of power and strength when viewed from any angle. The body is
massive with great depth and breadth, especially between the forelegs, causing these to be set wide apart. The AKC
standard height (per their website) for this breed is 30 inches (76 cm) at the shoulder for males and 27.5 inches (70
cm) (minimum) at the shoulder for females. A typical male can weigh 150–250 pounds (68–110 kg), a typical female
can weigh 120–200 pounds (54–91 kg).

The short coat is close-lying and the color is apricot-fawn, silver-fawn, fawn, or dark fawn-brindle, always with black
on the muzzle, ears, and nose and around the eyes.

Guinness Book of World Records recognizes a Mastiff from England named Zorba at over 343 pounds (156 kg).
Zorba stood 37 inches (94 cm) at the shoulder and was 8.25 feet (251 cm) from the tip of his nose to the tip of his
tail. Zorba set this record in November 1989, when he was 8 years old[2], and about the size of a small donkey[3].
There is a widely circulated claim that a St. Bernard named Benedictine weighed 357 lbs. This figure is based on
"successive studies", rather than direct measurement of a living dog. The largest direct measurement of
Benedictine's weight was 336 lbs[4]. There is a picture of a Neapolitan Mastiff circulating online being walked next to
a small horse and the two animals are the same size. This is a doctored photo and there is no evidence in history of
a dog of this magnitude. According to the Guinness Book of World Records, the tallest dog is a Great Dane named
Gibson. The dog is 42.3 inches (107 cm) tall.

Temperament
The Mastiff breed is a combination of dignity and courage; calm and affectionate to its master, but capable of
protection. This particular mastiff-type breed is an extremely capable guard. If an unfamiliar person approaches near
their perceived territory or its master, the Mastiff will immediately position itself between its master and the stranger. If
the approaching person does not back down, they take immediate defensive action. It is because of this instinctive
behavior that English Mastiffs have earned themselves a spot in the world's top 5 guard dogs [citation needed]. The
breed is innately good natured, calm, easygoing, and surprisingly gentle. It is a well-mannered house pet but needs
sufficient room for exercise and activity. The Mastiff is an extremely loyal breed, exceptionally devoted to its family and
good with children.

Health
The mastiff is a particularly large dog demanding correct diet and exercise. Excessive running is not recommended
for the first two years of the dog's life. However, regular exercise must be maintained throughout the dog's life in
order to discourage slothful behavior and to prevent a number of health problems. A soft surface is recommended for
the dog to sleep on in order to prevent the development of calluses, arthritis, and hygroma (an acute inflammatory
swelling). Due to the breed's large size, puppies may potentially be smothered or crushed by the mother during
nursing. A whelping box, along with careful monitoring can prevent such accidents. The expected lifespan is about 7
to 13 years.

Major issues include hip dysplasia and gastric torsion. Minor problems include obesity, osteosarcoma, and
cystinuria. Problems only occasionally found include cardiomyopathy, allergies, vaginal hyperplasia, cruciate
ligament rupture, hypothyroidism, OCD, entropion, progressive retinal atrophy (PRA), and persistent pupillary
membranes (PPM).

When purchasing a purebred Mastiff, experts often suggest that the dog undergo tests for hips, thyroid, and DNA for
PRA.