The direct ancestor of the Bloodhound is a now extinct dog breed that once went by the name of the St Hubert Hound or St Hubert’s Hound. As the name suggests this dog was named after the man who developed it, St Hubert, the Bishop of Liege whose passions in life were hunting and the church.

After the death of Bishop St Hubert, every year from then onwards, the abbots of the monastery he founded gifted six dogs of their special breed to the king of France. Eventually the Hubert Hound was introduced to England when William the Conqueror invaded in 1066 and via selective and careful breeding programs subsequently gave rise the Bloodhound dog breed as we know it today and another breed of dog that ultimately became extinct in the 16^th century called the Talbot Hound.

To this day, in France and its native homeland of Belgium, the Bloodhound is still known as Le Chien de St Hubert after its predecessor.

Originally bred to track down wolves, deer and other large game, with its unrivaled sniffing ability, the Bloodhound saw to it that virtually every hunt met with success such that in short thrift the game parks were severely deficient in big game! With the disappearance of large game the ever-avid English hunter turned his attention to fox hunting.

Fox hunting as the typical hunter of the day soon found out needed a faster tracking dog than the somewhat cumbersome and plodding Bloodhound. So in what seemed like the blink of an eye the Bloodhound was replaced by the Foxhound as the premier dog of choice for hunting. And thus for the ultimate canine sniffer the glory days of big hunting came to a swift end and the breed’s career was relegated to a backseat of sniffing out the occasional poacher and thief.

The Amazing Scenting Ability of The Bloodhound Dog Breed

In the dog world the Bloodhound reigns supreme as the ultimate sniffing machine. In filed trials a capable Bloodhound can easily track a human scent that is 24 hours old over a distance of 5km (3 miles) even when the person is wearing Wellington boots. So specialized is this dog breed in honing in on a single scent, it will ignore stronger fresher scents that may fall upon its trail of its original scent; this characteristic is known as being “free from change.” Thus it is little wonder that in nature this dog breed is described as somewhat stubborn.

As pointed out earlier on, contrary to what many believe, the Bloodhound is so truly specialized in its single-minded scent tracking; this dog is more likely to lick its quarry in greeting than bite it when it had tracked the quarry down. Put simply the Bloodhound is a tracker not an attacker or killer.

In the lands of the Americas, the Bloodhound dog breed has had what can only simply be described as an illustrious history. When it was introduced to the New World, the Bloodhound was originally designated three tasks which were: 1) pursues Native Americans; 2) hunt down escaped slaves; and 3) aid in the recapture of escaped prisoners.

In fact when James Earl Ray, the supposed sole assassin of Martin Luther King, escaped from prison in 1977 his recapture was on account of a pack of Bloodhounds that tracked him down several days later in the hills of Tennessee.

One of the most accomplished Bloodhounds was a famous Kentucky dog that single-handedly was responsible for the recapture of in excess of 600 fugitives. Apparently it is claimed that one trail was said to be 104 hrs old and another supposedly ran for 222km; yet in both cases the dog successfully tracked its quarry down.

The Bloodhound As A Pet

The Bloodhound actually makes for an excellent pet because it has such a sweet disposition and temperament. Much in keeping with a dog with so affable a temperament it comes as little to no surprise that the Bloodhound gets on famously with kids; though it may not be quite as playful as some kids would desire.

Naturally as a dog bred for hunting, the breed needs ample exercise on a daily basis, but thankfully not as much as the retriever dog breeds (like the Labrador) need. The Bloodhound is not a retrieving dog breed and thus will not readily take to catch-n-fetch games. In fact its single-minded nature of focusing on a single scent makes for an independent to stubborn nature.

This dog breed gets on well with other dogs, as well as pets and strangers.

Though I sincerely like a good number of dog breeds that is not to say that I am entirely satisfied with what is out there. Put simply I want to create my own dog breed or more realistically my own first generation of standardized mutts. And why not when one comes to think about it? After all most dog breeds we know today were developed off the whim of somebody’s need or plain flight of fancy!

I am sure there will be those who argue who am I to dare think of creating my own dog breed; what qualifications after all do I have to such an end? Well, even if I say so myself, I honestly believe that I am more than qualified enough to develop my own breed of dog. Not only do I know the a lot about dogs I have over 20 books about them. Several of those canine books are bona fide tomes that are steeped deep in the scientific aspects concerning our furry four-legged friends covering such topics like hereditary disease, genetics and breed etiology.

Okay now that we have established that I am more than qualified to design and develop my own dog breed let’s go ahead and etch out the criteria for this new breed. Perhaps if you are the observant type you would have certainly taken note of the title of this post, the Causian Dane Mastiff. Well let me clue you in if you hadn’t made some sort of double take over the header; at one point the header was going to be “ The Causian Wolfhound.”

Anyway as mentioned earlier let me spell out the criteria of this would-be breed:

Characteristics of the Causian Dane Mastiff

The first criterion for this dog breed is that the specimens have to be, if not massive, then large. And when I say large I mean LARGE! The male dogs must have a minimum weight of 150 lbs and the females no less than 130 lbs. Height-wise males should be a minimum of 32 inches at the shoulder while females should be no less than 30 inches. Let me put those stat requirements in a table for easier assimilation:

MALES                                          FEMALES

Weight:  150lbs – 190 lbs                       130lbs – 170lbs

Height:   32 inches – 36 inches +         30 inches – 34 inches +

Okay by now it is pretty obvious that we are talking about sizable dogs here. So let’s get to the next step which is what is the function of the Causian Dane Mastiff?

Function of The Causian Dane Mastiff

The size of this dog breed should give some clue as to its primary purpose. The Causian Dane Mastiff is primarily a protector and guardian and that is where it’s formidable size and power comes into play! Okay as we well know most purebred dog breeds of today were developed from a hodge-podge mix of already existent breeds and the Causian Dane Mastiff dog breed is going to be no different.

My original choice of dog breeds to cross to form this formidable new breed were the Caucasian Mountain dog and the Irish Wolfhound. Why?  Well firstly because I like both breeds and they more than satisfy the criterion of huge size. The Irish Wolfhound is the tallest dog breed in the world and in fact I was  perusing a litter of pups for sale whose father stands and impressive 37 inches at the shoulder while mama is no shortie herself at almost 33 inches!

I’m guessing by now you can see how I coined the name the Causian Dane Mastiff. If the cross was to involve the Irish Wolfhound then my new breed would be called the Causian Wolfhound.

Caucasian Mountain Dog vs. Irish Wolf Hound

Now why did I consider these two breeds other than the fact they are both massive breeds. Well the two dog breeds could not have more different characters and temperaments. The Caucasian Mountain dog is a livestock protection dog and is a very formidable predator deterrent. In this case strangers fall under the label of predator and this dog breed treats anything it considers a threat with unbridled violence and impressive fury! In fact according to the description on Wikipedia the Caucasian Mountain dogs “are truly second to none in their bellicosity towards strangers.”

Although this Toy Dog breed goes by the name Japanese Chin many believe that it actually originated in China and was taken to Japan by Buddhist monks as far back as the 6^th century. The Japanese Chin has variably been known at some time or other as either:

• Japanese Spaniel
• Japanese Pug
• Japanese Chin

With respect to the history of this dog breed the following theories have been proposed as to its origins:

1.       It was taken to Japan by Buddhist monks in 6^th century AD

2.       It originated in Korea as a breed called the Ssuchan Pai and was taken to the Japanese court as a gift from a Korean prince.

3.       It was bequeathed as a gift to the Japanese Emperor by Chinese rulers

In the beginning the Japanese Chin was exclusively relegated to nobility. In fact the punishment for stealing or illegally breeding one of these noble dogs was death. Much revered by the nobility the Japanese Chin was bred, developed and modified to be a dog breed apart. Whereas other dogs in Japan were considered purely utilitarian in purpose and function the Chin was developed solely for pleasurable companionship.

Originally the Japanese Chin was bred to cater to the whims of the various noble houses and as a consequence individual dogs could weigh anywhere from 4lbs to 20lbs in contrast to the typical dog of today that is largely confined to a weight of 4lbs – 11lbs. In fact it was the preference of western tastes for the smaller variety of dog following its introduction to the region that cemented their overwhelming prevalence today.

As usual with most dog breeds there is a little controversy and confusion about how the Japanese Chin made it to the west. Some contend that the dog breed was taken to Europe in the 17^th century by Portuguese sailors who presented it to Queen Catherine of Braganza, Consort to King Charles II of England. Another theory has it however that the breed was actually a gift to an American naval officer, Matthew Calbraith Perry during his visit to the Orient in 1853 to cement trading routes between east and west. Although unverified it is speculated that Perry then presented the only surviving pair of dogs (he was given seven dogs) to Queen Victoria.

The Japanese Chin quickly gained a foothold of strong popularity in the west and was first exhibited in England in 1873 at the Birmingham show. After its arrival in America in 1882 it quickly gained recognition by the AKC and was registered as early on as 1888. Originally referred to in the Americas as the Japanese Spaniel, a club under that name was created and founded in 1912; the name of the club was changed to the Japanese Chin Club in 1977.

Following World War II bloodstock of this dog breed was understandably severely depleted that new stock had to be replenished from England and other parts of the world.

Japanese Chin Temperament and Character

Unlike many small dog breeds the Japanese Chin is not yappy and indeed rarely barks, only doing so to alert its owner of impending danger or the approach of a stranger. Another fairly unique feature of the Chin is that of its cat-like qualities. These include its habit of washing and wiping its face with its paws, a surprising agility in climbing and its tendency to perch and rest in elevated regions like the top of chair and sofas. In fact speculation has it that the Japanese intention was to create a blend of dog and cat resulting with the somewhat feline-dog characteristics found in the breed.

This dog breed is friend to all be it four-legged creature or two. It does very well in relatively small spaces, making it ideal for apartment dwelling and as noted before is a dog that rarely barks at all! Personality-wise the Japanese Chin has been described as dignified yet playful and some go as far as to describe it as the perfect companion.

Like cats the Chin is fastidious in nature and its characteristic playfulness and gentle nature make it the ideal pet for reserved children.

Care and Upkeep

This dog breed makes the ideal pet for apartment dwelling requiring little exercise, little space to exist happily and typically making little if any noise. Although lively in nature the Japanese Chin thrives perfectly well with a short walk or romp. This dog however was never designed to live outside and its long coat also means that it does not do well in hot humid climates.

The long coat requires combing at least twice a week and it should be noted that the breed’s flattened face appearance sometimes leads to respiratory and heart problems in some individuals. Also one should be aware that their rather oversized eyes are prone to easy injury.

Article on Japanese Chin written by Kayye Nynne

The breed is so sturdy and tough, that its stamina, energy and feats of endurance under the harshest of conditions are legendary. In fact legend has it that one particular dog was capable – and indeed did so – of retrieving as many as 300 downed birds in a single day from near-freezing waters.

So formidable is the Chesapeake Bay Retriever dog breed’s prowess in retrieving that the only explanation for its rather limited popularity with the American people at large, is because in appearance it is rather plain and homely looking. Put simple, this is no dog breed that is going to stop most in their tracks to think, “wow that’s a good looking dog!”

The Chesapeake Bay Retriever got its name from the large inlet off the Atlantic coast of the United States just south of Washington DC. However before its present name became permanent it has also variously been known as:

• The Red Chester
• The Brown Winchester
• The American Duck Retriever
• The Ducking Dog

The Development & Origins of the Chesapeake Bay Retriever

Unlike most cases of canine history, the origins of this particular dog breed are pretty well documented. In 1807 a shipwrecked British vessel had its crew and cargo rescued by an American ship just off the Maryland coast.

On board the doomed British vessel other than the crew were two Newfoundland puppies. The puppies were taken ashore and raised into adulthood when they were mated with local retriever dogs. The offspring of that genetic union resulted in dogs that excelled at retrieving and aquatic abilities. The progeny of the Newfoundland and local retriever mix also had a phenomenal tolerance for ice cold water.

The results so delighted the local populace that they bred more and more puppies from the rescued Newfoundland puppies that before long a new breed was formed. The original pair of Newfoundland puppies rescued from the doomed British vessel was a light brown male called Sailor and a black female called Canton.

It is not completely known what other dog breeds eventually comprised of the Chesapeake Bay Retriever but speculation has it that at some time or other the following breeds played their part:

• Flat-Coated Retriever
• Irish Water Spaniel
• Curly-Coated Retriever
• Coonhound
• Bloodhound

However whatever the genetic soup or mix of the Chesapeake Bay Retriever, one fact was undeniable and that was the fact that it was and still is an exceptional water retriever unmatched by any other.

Improvement and refinement of the Chesapeake Bay Retriever continued throughout the 19^th century such that by the mid 1880s the dog breed had been perfected to its modern form. Indeed by 1885 this dog breed was completely established and recognized by the AKC. In 1918 the national breed society was formed.

Article on Chesapeake Bay Retriever by Kayye Nynne

Popular wisdom would have it that those dogs that exhibit the highest degree of problem-solving and learning ability should also excel at what is known as obedience intelligence/ work intelligence.

But forgive me for I am getting way ahead of myself because if we are to properly understand dog intelligence we need to go back to the beginning; which is we need to break down intelligence into its component parts.

Most often when we think of intelligence as a parameter of measurement we equate that measurement with the ability to learn and the ability to solve problems. In fact the capacity to learn is measured in terms of the number of experiences required for any given individual to imprint an occurrence or event as a permanent memory.

Thus those individuals with above normal or excellent learning ability require few or less than average exposures to a given situation to create usable memories and associations.

Problem solving on the other hand is quantified as an individual’s ability to mentally surmount obstacles, correctly string together bits of information resulting in an accurate response or solution to what for all intents and purposes is a novel solution to their dilemma. In both people and dogs learning ability and problem solving ability constitute what is referred to as adaptive intelligence.

Adaptive intelligence thus correlates to the smarts or skills required of an individual enabling them to adapt, modify and conquer and obstacles presented within or by their environment. A simple example of adaptive intelligence is illustrated by a person improving their driving skills, typing skills or even driving skills.

Whenever problems arise during this period of learning then the resultant effective solutions are rendered to memory (in other words learned) such that on subsequent occasions when the individual is confronted with a similar dilemma they may expeditiously elicit and apply the best response.

Componential Intelligence

A Yale University psychologist called Robert Sternberg who is responsible in no small manner of our understanding of human intelligence, analyzed that intelligence and concluded to subdivide it into component parts. It was for that very reason he preferred the term Componential Intelligence to that of Adaptive Intelligence.

Sternberg posited that a number of meta-components comprise an important set of components found in adaptive intelligence. The prefix meta is of particular importance here for the fact that it is derived from the Greek root that denotes of stands for “higher level” or “transcending” pointing to the fact that such components play a significant role in controlling and organizing a vast array of more specialized behaviors.

So You Want To Get A Puppy

Before I continue I am going to make a number of assumptions here, the main one being that you already know the type of dog breed that you wish to get. This article is about choosing the right puppy so I really won’t delve into depth about the various dog breeds.

However suffice it to say that out of all the hundreds of dog breeds, there most certainly is one that is just right for you. Finding that right puppy though requires an honest assessment and evaluation on your part such as…

…you already have in mind the role your dog will play; a role which will most likely fall under any of the following:

• Playmate for the kids
• Companion
• Protector
• Show performer
• Herder
• Hunter

Furthermore I am going to conclude that since you have already mentally designated a role to your dog then you have already settled on a breed.

This part shouldn’t be hard at all because the various dog breeds were bred and developed to carry out these functions. Some of the dog breeds are more capable than others at performing the various tasks (indeed some dog breeds are able to perform all of them [the so-called muti-taskers of the canine world; e.g., the German Shepherd] ).

Now all you have to do is decide which dog breed covers your needs.

Oh…one other thing, your homework also requires an honest unbiased assessment on how you and your furry friend are going to co-exist. In other words you need to ensure that:

• Your lifestyle and personality complement your dog’s genetic heritage
• You can devote enough time to your dog
• Your living arrangement is suitable for both you and your dog
• The climatic conditions will not make your dog’s life a misery

Okay now that we have ascertained that you have carefully decided on the type of dog breed you wish to get and also that you have covered other important parameters such as living arrangements, climate etc., let’s tackle the topic at hand.

How To Choose Your Best Fit Puppy

Just like siblings in a given family tend to have widely different characters so do puppies from the same litter.  So in the same litter of puppies it is not uncommon to find a boisterous, rowdy outgoing puppy as well as a timid, shy puppy that is literally scared of its own shadow!

So why is it important to be able to tell which puppy is which? Well consider the following:

• By 7 weeks of age a puppy has attained its adult dog character!
• Most abandoned dogs become so because their owners are at their wits end and can’t cope with them any longer; a situation they could have avoided had they chosen the right puppy!
• Puppies from the same litter have different dispositions; some are sweet and some will become overly dominant menaces!
• Some puppies are easy to train while others are downright difficult!
• Some puppies love human companionship while others are outright anti-social!
• Some puppies will mature into dogs that are way too difficult to handle by the 1st time dog owner!

Those are some very good reasons to be determine the character and nature of your dog while it is still a puppy.

At 7 Weeks Of Age You Can Tell How Your Puppy Will Behave As An Adult Dog!

Did you know that as far as puppies go what you see is what you get by the time the puppy is seven weeks old. In other words if you know what you are doing you can tell precisely how your puppy will behave as a mature dog!

It is important to remember that though your puppy is now an adorable, cute bundle of joy, in the not so distant future he/she will become a lot bigger and a lot less manageable; unless of course he/she is amenable and compliant to your instructions.

Having a great relationship with your dog means having a well trained dog but unfortunately this is not possible with some dogs for the simple fact that they are either too anti-social or are either downright stubborn.

There’s no doubt that the different dog breeds are characterized by specialized behavioral traits, but the truth of the matter is that within each and every litter of puppies from a given dog breed, those puppies are going to exhibit very different personalities.

If You Wish To Have A Great Relationship With Your Dog…

Then you’ll most likely want to choose a puppy that:

• Matures into a dog that is easily trainable
• Is sociable and loves being around people
• Will follow your lead and obey your instructions
• Won’t become a overly dominant alpha male that is a menace to everybody
• Becomes a dog with a sweet disposition that is a delight to everyone

Remember earlier on I said that by seven weeks of age your puppy has already developed its adult personality? Well not only has the puppy developed its adult personality by then but it is also exhibiting it!

All you need to be able to do is interpret the signs that puppy is exhibiting at 7 weeks and in effect you can choose the precise dog personality that you desire!

There’s actually a simple and straight-forward procedure to establish the future personality of a dog by testing it when it is a puppy; anybody can perform this simple test.

If you wish to learn how to determine the personality and character of any dog while it is still a puppy please ensure you get your very own free copy of my Guide entitled The Secret To Choosing The Perfect Puppy.

The hunting pastures that proved to be too much of a challenge for Europe’s finest hunting hounds bristled not only with unfriendly terrain that included marshes and swamps, but also with vicious quarry such as alligators, cougars, bears, porcupines and raccoon that were not averse to fighting back. Another aspect that stumped the European hounds was quarry that took to the trees; many hunting dog breeds from Europe were used to routing their prey from subterranean refuge or simply running them to ground.

Hence it was obvious to the new would-be gentry of North America that the only solution was to breed their own hunting dog with ingredients of their choosing.

Development of the Redbone Coonhound

The Redbone Coonhound was derived from the Red Foxhound which was brought to the shores of America by Scottish immigrants in the 18^th century. The Foxhound became the foundation stock for the Redbone Coonhound and later on the Irish Foxhound and Bloodhound lines were added to the mix.

In its early days the Redbone Coonhound was never solid red there having been made little to no attempt to breed for color uniformity. However by the 1920s a vigorous and earnest effort to breed for a solid red dog paid off and the earlier variably colored version of the Redbone Coonhound (known as the Saddleback because of its distinct black saddle like markings on its back) disappeared.

One breeder has been best associated with the development of the Redbone Coonhound and that breeder was none other than Peter Redbone. To this day it is not properly established whether the Redbone Coonhound was named after Peter Redbone or whether it got its name simply because of the fact it is…er…red. Personally I follow the school of thought that the dog breed was named after Peter Redbone because otherwise how do you explain the “bone” in the dog breed’s name?

Two other notable names come to mind with respect to origination of the Redbone Coonhound dog breed and those names are: 1) Dr. Thomas Henry of the 19^th century; and 2) Georgia F.L. Birding of Georgia.

The Redbone Coonhound has been called by a variety of other names which include:  Redbone; Redbone Hound; and Red-coon dog. Early on in the 20^th century, 1902 to be more precise, the Redbone Coonhound became the 2^nd coonhound dog breed to be recognized the UKC. The American Kennel Club (AKC) was somewhat more snail-paced in bestowing its formal recognition, only doing so almost 100 years later in 2001.

Redbone Coonhound Features and Character

Redbone Coonhound

The Redbone Coonhound is an easygoing, mild mannered dog that presents with what many have observed as a pleading expression dramatized by soulful poignant eyes. Redbones love being around people but unlike some other dog breeds (notably the Weimeraner) it is not clingy by nature.

The Redbone typically has a lean, muscular and well-proportioned body. The long straight front legs abut either side of a wide barrel chest. The head and tail of the Redbone Coonhound are held high when the dog is hunting or on parade in the show ring. This dog breed sports a short smooth coat that is coarse and tough enough to provide adequate protection to its skin whilst it is hunting in dense brush.

The Redbone has large floppy ears and a nose that is always black. In accordance with the breed standard, the coat must always be a solid red though a small smattering of white is permissible on the chest, between the legs and on its feet; note though such sprinkling of white is allowed it is not desired. The toes of the Redbone Coonhound are webbed a characteristic that enhances its ability to chase water bound prey. Much like the Labrador Retriever the Redbone is not averse to antics and frolicking in the water.

German Shepherds are prone to a number of hereditary diseases which may be categorized into major ones and minor ones.

• Maltese Terrier
• Maltese Spaniel
• Maltese Dog
• Maltese Lion Dog
• Maltese Poodle
• Bichon  Maltais
• Melita Dog
• Melitae Dog
• Ancient Dogge of Malta
• Roman Ladies’ Dog
• Shock Dog

Maltese Dog Breed Origins

One would think (and understandably so) that the origins of the Maltese dog would be a no brainer, in that evidently from its name the breed must have originated from Malta. Well the origins of the Maltese dog breed is not the clear-cut case that it may seem and indeed there is a minority school of thought that believes that the Maltese actually originated from somewhere else altogether!

That somewhere else is believed to be another Island but this time one found in the Adriatic somewhere off the coast of Yugoslavia. That said, mainstream and the majority of authorities favor the idea that the Maltese was exported from the island of Malta by Phoenician sailors as far back as 1500 B.C. Back then the island of Malta was a very popular trading port.

The Maltese dog is believed to be a descendant from the spitz family of dogs, more specifically from a spitz type dog that originated from Swiss Lake dwellers. There is also some unsubstantiated scant evidence that the Maltese dog may owe at least some part of its origins to an Asian connection, the Tibetan Terrier.

No matter its apparent origins the fact remains that going back as far as the time of the Ancient Greeks, the Maltese dog was a big hit with the ladies. No wonder the breed was known at one time as the Roman Ladies’ Dog! The trend of being adored by the ladies has continued even up to this day and it is not uncommon to find the Maltese dog as a resplendent fashion accessory “adorned” by a latter day starlet or celebrity!

Though nowadays the Maltese dog typically appears with a long, silky, pure white coat, this was not always the case because the breed presented in several different coat colors. In fact up until the middle of the 19^th century the Maltese dog was a hodge-podge of varying traits whose one uniform factor was they were all assembled in a small canine frame! It was not until the mid 19^th century that serious efforts were made to homogenize the Maltese dog breed such that it could be recognized as a true breed apart! Indeed it was only after that time that the Maltese dog could truly and proudly boast to be a recognizable dog breed. Unsurprisingly prior to that time there existed nine different “breeds” of Maltese dog; some as small as squirrels.

Maltese Dog Breed Almost Becomes Extinct

Like many another dog breed the Maltese dog has suffered its fair share of getting-up-close and personal with extinction. That close shave with extinction was superbly illustrated by an 1830 painting entitled “The Lion Dog from Malta—Last of His Race!” Certainly by the early 19^th century the fate of the Maltese dog breed was in jeopardy which once again was clearly shown through the documented records of a Knight of Malta’s remarks which were: “There was formerly a breed of dogs in Malta with long silky hair, which were in great demand at the times of the Romans, but have for some years past greatly dwindled, and indeed are become almost extinct.”

In 1840, or thereabouts, two Maltese dogs originally intended as a gift to Queen Victoria were nonetheless introduced to England and in effect becoming the first of their kind to be exhibited there. Furrowing through the 19^th century and progressively through the 20^th century the Maltese dog breed became increasingly popular and quickly developed a substantial following of admirers and fanciers.

Maltese Dog

The Maltese dog breed made its debut into the show ring in 1859 in England and in 1877 in the United States. The breed was eventually formally recognized by The American Kennel Club (AKC) in 1888. Presently the breed standard only recognizes a dog with a pure white silky coat as being a true representative of the breed which explains why the typical Maltese dog of today is white throughout in color.

The Maltese dog is not big in any respect or form and should never tip the scales beyond a blushingly modest 7 lbs. Even so the breed standard calls for dogs that fall within the weight range of 4 – 6 lbs. This dog breed is relatively long-lived typically attaining ages of fourteen years. The average lifespan of the Maltese dog breed is between 12 – 14 years. Miniscule in size though it may be, that doesn’t detract from the fact that the Maltese has a big heart and is actually a tough and spirited dog that makes for a lively and entertaining companion.

Oh…and it also makes a great watchdog!

Article on Maltese by Kayye Nynne

Those early molossian dogs eventually passed on from the ancient Greeks to the Romans when the Romans conquered Greece. Further Roman expansion introduced the Romans as far north as Britain and wherever their conquests led, right by their sides were their loya, ever faithul and ferocious molossian fighting dogs. Huge and powerful as the Roman molossian dogs were, the massive English Mastiff trumped them in physique and power if not ferocity.

The Romans were duly impressed and took it upon themselves to cross their breed of dog with the massive, powerful English mastiff dog breed. The results were outstanding! The cross produced a dog unsurpassed by any in ferocity and power. These dogs, which were referred to as “mastini” (mastini in Italian means mastiff), took on anything, anyone, went to war wearing armor and guarded everything and anything asked of them.

The Mastini were so ferocious and formidable they even took on lions in the coliseum as well as the occasional Christian!  In time as weaponry became more sophisticated the role of the Neapolitan Mastiff diminished and resultingly their numbers began to dwindle rapidly with time.

However not all was lost for this ferocious and formidable dog breed. Just because the rules of engagement in warfare had radically changed and somewhat eclipsed the Neapolitan Mastiff that didn’t mean the dog breed couldn’t find a new vocation. Thus in the southern Neapolitan region of Italy covering the span of several centuries the Neapolitan Mastiff was genetically refined to become the dog of choice to guard and oversee security for large estates, properties and country homes.

Until the Italian artist Piero Scanziani, who is largely regarded as the patron of the modern Neapolitan Mastiff dog breed, took it upon himself to stabilize and conform the breed standard, the Neapolitan Mastiff lacked uniformity of type. This in itself wasn’t particularly surprising considering that prior to that time the Neapolitan Mastiff had been bred fore mostly for fighting prowess and little else.

In fact it is that fighting heritage that gave rise to the Neapolitan Mastiff dog breed’s fearsome appearance and size. The loose skin, multiple folds and ample dewlap proved highly advantageous during fights and protected the dog from injuries that would otherwise have been devastating if not fatal!

Neapolitan Mastiff