Being owned by an English Mastiff can be a wonderful relationship with years of joy and happiness or it could be an overwhelming responsibility in which you may not have been prepared for. English Mastiffs are the largest of the dog breed and will range from 27 inches to 36 inches to the shoulder. They can weigh anywhere from 120 to 250 plus lbs. Weight is the one thing with English Mastiffs that is mostly exaggerated about them. When they are full grown they will eat between 4-6 cups of Quality Food per Day. As a puppy to can expect up to 12 to 16 plus cups of Quality Food per Day.  You will need to use a stern voice when disciplining your English Mastiff and nothing else because they are a very sensitive and their feelings can get hurt easily so keep this in minds and don’t yell at them.  

Below is a list that will help you and your family decide if you ready to be Owned by an English Mastiff! The important thing is you want to ensure the best for the English Mastiff so if you or your family can’t handle any of the below, then maybe the English Mastiff is not the best fit for you and your family.  

• Mastiffs are NOT guard dogs. They will protect their family like a watch dog. Most Mastiffs will often bark so intruders know they are not welcome but once you have accepted the guest, it is likely they will too. For the most part their mere presence & bark will scare any intruders away. If you are looking for guard dog you need to think about another breed.
• Mastiffs are wonderful companions. But they are not dogs to be left outside chained or outside in a fenced yard with no human contact. They desperately need lots of human companionship to be properly socialized, trained, & “owned”. If your house is too small for another human then a 120-230 pound Mastiff is not the dog for you.
• Mastiffs slobber, some more than others, but all do after they eat or drink. Are you prepared to wash your walls, ceilings, etc. after the slobber flies when they shake their heads? It is a must to have slobber rags in all locations of your house. If you can’t handle the slobber then a Mastiff is not the dog for you.
• Grooming a Mastiff is very easy. One to two times per week with a comb is sufficient, we like the Ferminator. Trimming nails is important & should be done regularly. It should be started early in life as wrestling with a giant dog is very interesting! Teeth cleaning should also be done regularly. Ear cleaning should start the day you bring them home so they don’t fight with you about it when they are full grown and don’t like it. I recommend spray bottle with half vinegar & half distilled water, spray in ears and wipe out. You can absolutely warm this solution up. 
• Mastiffs are very territorial dogs. They will protect their pen, yard, house, car, & family from dogs or people. They have a very aggressive bark & show aggressive behavior to inform you that you are on their territory. You need to be in charge of your dog at all times, so you can call them off, key to this is socialization and obedience training that never stops no matter what the dogs age. If you can’t handle this then a Mastiff is not the dog for you.
• Many Mastiffs snore & sometimes you think a freight train is going through your house. They will want to keep you warm at night on the bed of course. If not on the bed, then they will want to sleep in the same room. If you are a light sleeper or one that needs constant quiet to sleep then a Mastiff is not the dog for you. 
• Mastiffs are excellent with children of all ages, they are very tolerant of tail pulling, ear tugging, sitting on their backs (I don’t recommend ever a big no no) & they love to lick faces & fingers! But you must train & supervise your children to respect & treat a Mastiff kind and not like a toy.  They will always protect their children. The swinging tail of a Mastiff can knock a small child over. So if you don’t have time to teach your children how to respect a Mastiff it is not the dog for you. 
• An adult Mastiff can go through 50-80 pounds of dry dog food a month. That’s a rough estimate of $160-$290 plus a month in food alone. A growing puppy will go through 90-120 pounds of dry dog food a month, that is roughly $260-$400 plus a month, if you can’t afford this cost, a Mastiff is not the dog for you. 
• Due to a Mastiff size it will cost you more money at the Vet’s office. Remember medicine is dosed based by weight, a week’s supply of antibiotics for your Mastiff can cost upwards of $60 to $120. Heartworm medicine costs more, flea & tick preventive cost more,  shots can sometimes cost more, etc. You can expect to spend approximately $150 to $600 plus per year at the Vet’s office just for preventives and regular care.
• A Mastiff needs obedience training. It is very important that obedience training is done, the sooner the better. You don’t want to try to control a 185 plus pound Mastiff pulling you down the street because he saw a bunny & wants to chase it? But make sure the obedience training is a positive reinforcement type for them, they are very sensitive dogs. Mastiffs respond well to love, praise, & always treats!  This needs to continue and never stops no matter what the dogs age is, always keep training your dog!
• Socialization is the #1 most important thing you can do for your English Mastiff Puppy/Dog.  This needs to be done at all ages not just as a puppy. The more socialized your English Mastiff is the more respectful dog you will have. You don’t want an unsocialized dog, that is fearful of everything and everyone they meet. Fear aggression from lack if training & socialization, it is real and when you have a 180 plus pound dog to control it can be vary scarry! If you can’t take your puppy/dog to meet new people, other dogs, and go to new places than an English Mastiffs isn’t for you. 
• Exercise for the first 16- 18 months should be watched very carefully. Mastiffs grow at a very fast pace which makes them more fragile then they appear. If you are going to take your puppy for a walk don’t take them any farther then you are willing to carry them back. You can extend walks & exercise at 12 to 14 months of age. Watch your puppy if you notice it gets up in the morning very slowly, sore looking then cut back on the exercise. If they jump up in the morning ready to go then what you did the day before is good.  Get a ramp or steps for them to get up & down things, never allow your puppy to jump on or off anything. Avoid outdoor activities during hot weather, this will avoid heat stroke. Damage done to joints at a young age will not become noticeable till they have fully developed. So be very careful! Each pup will develop different than the next one. 
• Exercising an Adult Mastiff is not hard at all. One to Two walks a day for about 20-30 minutes. Some love to swim, hike, but running or jogging companions they are not! They should not be asked to run or jog as it can be very hard & damaging to their joints. Just remember mastiffs love their couch but exercise is important to keep them fit & help them live longer. An obese Mastiff is not a healthy Mastiff!
• Mastiffs want to be with you. They love their masters & are very devoted to them. So do you own a big car or van so your mastiff can go for rides with you? Plus still have room for your family, groceries, etc..  
• A small house is suitable for a Mastiff as long as they go for walks & plays outside. The yard should be fenced & the Mastiff obedience trained with the basics: come, sit, stay, down, & he should walk on leash without dragging you.
• You must like big wet slobbery kisses as they love to give them. They love to sneak on the bed when you are deep in sleep. 
• They are Big Love Bugs 24/7/365
• With proper care & quality food you can Expect your Mastiff to live 10 to 12 plus years. 
• Treats, fruits & vegetables, they love.  Just know which ones are not good for dogs, (onions, grapes, popcorn are NOT…)  Yogurt, cottage cheese, raw chicken, other raw meats, liver, apples, carrots, sweet potatoes, peanut butter sandwiches, are GOOD….  You can feed RAW meat & bones but NEVER cooked bones!
• Once your puppy is fully vaccinated you need to get them out to be socialized as much as possible.  Take them everywhere with you, the more people, kids, cars, dogs, cats, horses, cattle, tractors, .. the more you expose them to these things the better.  Sign up & take lots of puppy training class.  The more socialization the better!
• DO NOT give any supplements unless you check with your breeder, me, or the vet.  Most supplements will do Mastiffs more harm than good. 
• Don’t over feed your Mastiff, too much protein & fat will cause numerous health problems for your dog.  The old saying goes the slower growers the larger the dog.  Rule of thumb is you want to see the first rib or possible the second rib, for the first 12 months of the pups life. 
• We Feed a Giant Breed Quality Food that has 4 stages for all Giant Breed Dogs growing cycles.  Giant Starter, Giant Puppy, Giant Junior, & Giant Adult. Always feed quality food, not Wal-Mart junk. If you don’t feed proper food to your English Mastiff puppies when you get them, you could see them knuckle over, damage their growth, and cause other health issues later on in life. They higher the quality the less Poop you get to clean up too!  Keep that in mind! ​A Mastiff NEEDS to be with you. They thrive sharing your life. They will follow you from room to room as you do your work. Or all over the yard.  It takes a lot of effort to keep getting up after they’ve been lying down!

  Owning a mastiff is a major responsibility but they will reward you a million times over with their love.

They are not the breed for everyone, due to their size & health needs. 

Any other questions I haven’t answered please feel free to reach out to me!

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