American Mastiff

Developed by selectively cross-breeding two popular dog breeds- the English Mastiff and the Anatolian Mastiff dog, the American Mastiff was produced to have the best traits of both the breeds. This breed has been around for about 20 years now. The dog itself has an amazingly large frame and is powerful. It has a large and broad head. Contrary to its intimidating visual appearance, the dog is generally calm, kind and not aggressive. It has amber colored eyes, and the quality of the dog is calibrated against darkness of this color. The dog’s coat on the other hand may be of any of the three colors- fawn, brindle or apricot. This breed was developed to be a used as a pet by a family and does not make a great show dog.

Pups are generally dark colored at birth and their color lightens as they age. By around the age of one year, the color attained can be taken to be the final coat complexion. Males can grow up to weigh as much as upto 200 pounds while females weigh anything between 140 and 180 pounds. On the other hand, the average height reached at adulthood is same for both males and females and lies between 28 and 36 inches. Training should be undertaken with relative care in the case of this dog- an ideal trainer must possess the qualities of a pack leader, which means that he must display good leadership qualities. The dog makes a great guard dog under circumstances that are perceived as hostile by it, otherwise its calm temperament is quite constant. Since the dog is so large, indoor life does not suit it very well- at least a small yard is recommended. Still, they do better indoors than other large dog breeds. They tend to get slightly lazy as they age in any case. Regular exercise keeps them emotionally stable and composed. This exercise, given in the form of a daily long walk is the best and safest idea as with almost any breed. The American Mastiff has an average lifespan of 10 to 12 years, slightly towards to lower end of the dog lifespan spectrum.

The breed is an ordinary shedder and is not recommended for people with allergies to fur. Its coat consists of smooth and short hair and this makes it easy to groom. An optimal frequency of bathing would be about once a week. Use a brush with a firm bristle to comb the coat dry. The dogs do not have a very active disposition and so maintenance is relatively easy. The coat requires only an occasional brush and cleaning can be undertaken with even lesser frequency.

There are two recent varieties of American Mastiffs competing for recognition- one developed by Fredericka Wagner at the Flying W Farm and another one developed in the Panja Kennels.

The main reason behind the selective breeding that resulted in this breed was a need to reduce an undesirable trait of the English Mastiff - excessive drooling; and the project was a success.