A mastiff is a large and powerful type of dog.[1][2] Mastiffs are among the largest dogs, and typically have a short coat, a long low-set tail and large feet; the skull is large and bulky, the muzzle broad and short (brachycephalic) and the ears drooping and pendant-shaped.[1][2] European and Asian records dating back 3,000 years show dogs of the mastiff type.[3] Mastiffs have historically been guard dogs, protecting homes and property, although throughout history they have been used as hunting dogs, war dogs and for blood sports, such as fighting each other and other animals, including bulls, bears and even lions.[2][3]
Historical and archaeological evidence suggests that mastiffs have long been distinct in both form and function from the similarly large livestock guardian dogs from which they were most likely developed;[4] they also form separate genetic populations.[5] The Fédération Cynologique Internationale and some kennel clubs group the two types together as molossoid dogs; some modern livestock guardian breeds, such as the Pyrenean Mastiff, the Spanish Mastiff and the Tibetan Mastiff, and an extinct draught dog called the Belgian Mastiff, have the word "mastiff" in their name, but are not considered true mastiffs.[6] Tibetan Mastiffs have been sold for over $1 million in China.[7] [8]
Many older English sources refer to mastiffs as bandogs or bandogges, although technically the term "bandog" meant a dog that was tethered by a chain (or "bande") that would be released at night; the terms "mastiff" and "bandog" were often used interchangeably.[9] In the 20th century, the term "bandog" has been revived to describe some lines of large mastiff-type guard dogs. One of the most famous bandog programs in England led to the establishment of a recognized bandog breed known today as the Bullmastiff. The least common bandog program in England was funded by Sir Nathanael Dieu-est-Mon'plaisir; the St. Louis Vincent Mastiff or South American Mastiff was named after Vincent Louis, who reared plantation dogs originating from St. Louis and other parts of South America. This rare breed is the most expensive mastiff-type dog amongst the bandog breeds.[10]
Breed | Alternate name(s) | Country of origin | Purpose | Image |
---|---|---|---|---|
Alano Español | Spanish Alano and Spanish Bulldog |
Spain | War dog, bull-baiting and big-game hunting |
|
Alapaha Blue Blood Bulldog | - | United States | Guard dog | |
American Bulldog | Old Southern White Bulldog, Old Southern White, English White Bulldog, White English, Hill Bulldog and Country Bulldog |
United States | Guard dog, catch dog and farm dog |
|
Boerboel | South African Mastiff | South Africa | Guard dog | |
Boxer | German Boxer and Deutscher Boxer |
Germany | Guard dog and big-game hunting |
|
Broholmer | Danish Broholmer and Danish Mastiff |
Denmark | Guard dog | |
Bulldog | English Bulldog and British Bulldog |
United Kingdom (England) |
Companion dog; formerly bull-baiting |
|
Bullmastiff | Gamekeeper's Night Dog | United Kingdom (England) |
Guard dog | |
Bully Kutta | Indian Mastiff, Pakistani Mastiff, Sindhi Mastiff, Indian Bully and Pakistani Bully |
India and Pakistan | Guard dog, big-game hunting and dog fighting |
|
Campeiro Bulldog | Brazilian Bulldog, Countryside Bulldog and Pampas Bulldog |
Brazil | Catch dog used in slaughterhouses |
|
Cane Corso | Italian Mastiff, Italian Corso Dog, Italian Corso and Cane Corso Italiano |
Italy | Guard dog and catch dog |
|
Cão Fila de São Miguel | São Miguel Cattle Dog, Chien Fila de San Miguel, Saint Miguel Cattle Dog, Azores Cattle Dog and Azores Cow Dog |
Portugal | Cattle-herding dog and catch dog |
|
Chongqing dog | China | Guard dog | ||
Cimarrón Uruguayo | Cimarrón, Uruguayan Cimarrón, Cimarrón Creole, Maroon Dog, Cerro Largo Dog, Perro Cimarrón, Cimarrón Dog and Uruguayan Gaucho Dog |
Uruguay | Guard dog | |
Continental Bulldog | Conti and Swiss Bulldog |
Switzerland | Companion dog | |
Dogo Argentino | Argentine Dogo and Argentine Mastiff |
Argentina | Guard dog, big-game hunting and dog fighting |
|
Dogo Guatemalteco | Guatemalan Dogo, Guatemalan Bull Terrier and Bullterrier Guatemalteco |
Guatemala | Guard dog, formerly bull-baiting |
|
Dogue Brasileiro | Brazil | Guard dog | ||
Dogue de Bordeaux | French Mastiff, Bordeaux Mastiff and Bordeauxdog |
France | Guard dog | |
English Mastiff | Old English Mastiff and Mastiff |
United Kingdom (England) |
Guard dog | |
Fila Brasileiro | Brazilian Mastiff and Cão de Fila Brasileiro |
Brazil | Guard dog | |
French Bulldog | Bouledogue Francais | France | Lap dog | |
Great Dane | Deutsche Dogge, German Mastiff and German Boarhound |
Germany | Big-game hunting | |
Kurdish Mastiff | Pishdar dog, Assyrian Shepherd |
Iraq | Guard dog | |
Neapolitan Mastiff | Mastino, Mastino Napoletano, Italian Molosso and Can'e presa |
Italy | Guard dog | |
Olde English Bulldogge | - | United States | A modern day re-creation of the extinct Old English Bulldog |
|
Perro de Presa Canario | Canary Mastiff, Canary Catch Dog, Canarian Molosser, Presa Canario and Dogo Canario |
Canary Islands | Guard dog and, catch dog |
|
Perro de Presa Mallorquin | Ca de Bou, Majorcan Mastiff, Mallorquin Mastiff, Mallorquin, Perro Dogo, Presa Canario Mallorquin, Dogo Mallorquin, Majorcan Bulldog, Mallorquin Bulldog and Silverback Mastiff |
Spain | Bull-baiting | |
Rottweiler | Rottie and Rott |
Germany | Guard dog | |
Saint Louis Vincent Mastiff | South American Mastiff and South American Bandogge |
United States | Guard dog | |
Serrano Bulldog | Brazilian Mountain Bulldog and Mountaineer Bulldog |
Brazil | Herding dog used in slaughterhouses |
|
Tosa | Tosa Inu, Tosa Ken, Tosa Tōken, Japanese Mastiff, Japanese Tosa, Japanese Fighting Dog and Tosa Fighting Dog |
Japan | Dog fighting |
Breed | Alternate name(s) | Country or region of origin | Era | Purpose | Image |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Alaunt | Alaunt de Boucherie | Europe and Central Asia | Classical antiquity and the Middle Ages |
Big-game hunting, guard dog and dog fighting |
|
Bullenbeisser | Bärenbeisser and German Bulldog |
Germany | Extinct by World War II | Bull-baiting (as Bullenbeisser) and bear-baiting (as Bärenbeisser) |
|
Córdoba fighting dog | Córdoba dog, Córdobese dog and Perro de Pelea Cordobés |
Argentina | Extinct after the 1920s | Dog fighting | |
Dogo Cubano | Cuban Mastiff, Cuban Bloodhound, Cuban Dogo and Cuban Dogge |
Cuba | the 16th to the late 19th century | Recapturing runaway slaves, bull-baiting and dog fighting |
|
Fila da Terceira | Terceira Mastiff, Cão de Fila da Terceira and Rabo Torto |
Portugal | Declared extinct in the 1970s | Catch dog | |
Molossus | Molossian Hound, Epirus Mastiff and Molosser |
Southern Europe | Classical antiquity | War dog, guard dog, big-game hunting and dog fighting |
|
Old English Bulldog | Great Britain and Ireland | the 17th to the 19th century | Bull-baiting and dog fighting |
||
Toy Bulldog | Miniature Bulldog and English Toy Bulldog |
United Kingdom (England) |
the 18th to the early 20th century | Lap dog |