Spanish Mastiff Dog Breed Information:
The Spanish Mastiff is a purebred working dog with an old history of serving as a guardians for sheep and livestock. Protective, loving, and calm, these gentle giants have become popular guard dogs and family pets alike. Spanish Mastiffs have gone by several names throughout the years, as they are such an old breed, but two of the more common names include the MastÃn Español and MastÃn de España.
Spanish Mastiff Dog Group: Working Dogs.
Spanish Mastiff Height: 26 to 35 inches.
Spanish Mastiff Weight: 140 to 220 pounds.
Spanish Mastiff Life Span: 10 to 12 years.
More About This Dog Breed:
Spanish Mastiffs make very little noise, but when they do, expect a deep and intimidating bark that will no doubt ward off any strangers, seeing as they are very skeptical of new people. Their coats shed, especially seasonally, and they're not considered allergy-friendly. The coat is not very difficult to care for and only requires a weekly brushing with an occasional bath. Spanish Mastiffs are very territorial by nature and will not typically enjoy the presence of another dog, and some may even express aggression towards cats and dogs in their home. Spanish Mastiff coats can come in a variety of colors. They can range from black to fawn, red, brindle, tri-colored, or almost any mixture of those colors.
Spanish Mastiff History:
The Spanish Mastiff's history dates back as far as the 10th century when these dogs were used to guard flocks of sheep and protect the shepherds who were herding them. The dogs' coats helped protect them from the elements in Spain's mountainous regions, and their fierce loyalty made them ideal guard dogs. They were so popular that images of them can even be seen in ancient Spanish art and literature.
Spanish Mastiff Size:
On average, most Spanish Mastiffs range in height from 26 to 35 inches tall at the shoulder and anywhere from 140 to 220 pounds. Females will tend to be on the smaller side and can weigh roughly 140 to 170 pounds, while males are generally larger and can weigh from 150 to as large as 220 pounds. That said, some can be smaller or larger than average.
Spanish Mastiff Personality:
Many Spanish Mastiff lovers describe their dogs' personality as aloof and calm. They can be fiercely loyal to you and your family and make perfect watchdogs. They make very little noise, but when they do, expect a deep and intimidating bark that will no doubt ward off any strangers, seeing as they are very skeptical of new people.
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Spanish Mastiff Health:
The Spanish Mastiff breed is predisposed to many of the same health issues that all large and giant breed dogs suffer from. While most are generally healthy, some may be prone to a few common health issues. Some of the more common problems Spanish Mastiffs suffer from include:
Entropian Eye.
Bloat.
Hip/Knee Dysplasia.
Panosteitis.
Spanish Mastiff Care:
As with all dogs, you should keep up with your Spanish Mastiff's regular veterinary checkups to detect any health concerns early. These dogs tend to be fairly inactive while indoors but will need a slow paced walk once or twice a day and a large yard to roam around in to burn off extra energy, especially as puppies. These dogs have floppy ears, so it's best to check daily for any type of debris build up and clean them as recommended by your vet. Spanish Mastiffs are not known to have dental issues, but you should still brush their teeth as recommended.
Spanish Mastiff Feeding:
The Spanish Mastiff's dietary needs will change from puppyhood to adulthood and will continue to change into their senior years. You should ask your veterinarian for recommendations about your Spanish Mastiff's diet, as there is far too much variation among individual dogs--including weight, energy, and health--to make a specific recommendation.
Spanish Mastiff Coat Color And Grooming:
Spanish Mastiff coats can come in a variety of colors. They can range from black to fawn, red, brindle, tri-colored, or almost any mixture of those colors. This breed has a medium length coat that sheds, especially seasonally, and they're not considered allergy-friendly. The Spanish Mastiff has a medium length, double coat, which was advantageous for this breed in the past since these working dogs were oftentimes in extreme weather conditions, and their coats protected them.
Spanish Mastiff with Children And Other Pets:
Since the Spanish Mastiff is such a large dog, they're sturdy pups, and they love to play with children. When it comes to having other pets in the household, the Spanish Mastiff is usually not the most welcoming dog. Spanish Mastiffs are very territorial by nature and will not typically enjoy the presence of another dog, and some may even express aggression towards cats and dogs in their home.