mastiff

History, origin & features

The Mastiff has been a symbol of valour for thousands of years. Some stories of its origin date back over 2,500 years. But the most common dates back to 55 BC, when Caesar and his troops invaded England. His legions were forced to fight off dogs of the first type, which resembled the Bull Mastiff, while the second type was said to have the typical Mastiff physiognomy. The power of this second breed, unknown to the Romans, made their own molosses seem like mere companion dogs.

Once the British Isles had been conquered, Caesar's legions decided to take these war machines with them. They turned them into circus and fighting beasts, pitted against elephants and even more ferocious animals. It was these exceptionally strong dogs that gave rise to the breed known today as the Mastiff. The Mastiff is a beautifully proportioned mongrel that exudes both power and infinite nobility. The Mastiff is an adorable, large dog, frightened above all by its morphology. Deterrent to strangers, they are perfect companions for their owners and adoptive families. Coat: Short and close, denser on shoulders and back.
Color: sandy, fawn, apricot, gray or brindle (discontinuous stripes). The nose and ears are black.
Head: the square skull is broader between the ears and rather flattened on the forehead, which is wrinkled when the dog is on the lookout. The stop is clean but not abrupt.
Ears: set high, very fine and small.
Eyes: Hazel-colored, small and set wide apart.
Body: Muscular, harmoniously proportioned.
Tail: set high, hanging. It curls slightly upwards (but not over the back) when the Mastiff is excited.