Although along the line there is ample mention of the mastiff as a ferocious and courageous dog of war extending all the way back to the Roman Empire war machine (thereby suggesting that this huge dog breed originated from Ancient Rome). However the truth of the matter probably lies somewhere else, especially since when the Roman s first set foot on British soil they were terribly impressed by the Briton’s huge dogs.

That first great impression was further amplified when the Mastiff dogs thoroughly trounced the Roman dogs in the pit! Thus it is more likely that the mastiff dogs first originated from the Middle East (where they had been popular as royal dogs for a long) via trade exchanges with the Phoenician traders.

Unsurprisingly, on account of its massive size and immense power, the Mastiff has been used as the progenitor for many a dog breed. In fact there are only two dog breeds that are taller than the Mastiff; they are the Great Dane and the Irish Wolfhound. However tall though the Great Dane and the Irish Wolfhound in size they are no match for the Mastiff’s immense bulk.

Indeed, the title of greatest weight ever recorded for a dog is by the Guinness Book of Records belongs to an English Mastiff called Zorba. In 1989 at the middle-old age of eight years Zorba the Mastiff weighed in at 343 pounds and stood 37 inches at the shoulder. Thus it wasn’t farfetched when Zorba was described as being practically the size of a donkey!

In spite of its great size, strength and power the Mastiff is not an aggressive dog.

Certainly it’s had its fair share of playing the gladiator through the course of history but given its massive size and strength this in not surprising. The Mastiff’s career as gladiator traces its roots back to the Roman invasion of Britain when they first encountered it ands became duly impressed!

So impressed were the Romans by the English Mastiff that a special Roman Envoy was appointed to oversee the export of those fine dogs to the Roman capital where they were introduced as the only tame animals that were pitted in the Colosseum against wild animals like lions, bears and boars!

Before being dragged into the sordid world of dog-gladiator the Mastiff was bred as a property/estate guard par excellence. Fortunately its relatively brief career as dog-gladiator and bull-baiter was never enough to sully the breed with the viciousness and aggressiveness seemingly innate to other dog breeds developed for fighting, such as the Pit Bull, Presa Canario and Tosa Inu, to name but a few.

After all who really wanted to grapple with a 250 lb out of control canine monster? The only other dog bred for fighting that comes close to the sheer bulk and power of the Mastiff is the Japanese Tosa Inu which so happens to be banned in many a country.

The Mastiff makes for a great family dog if you don’t mind its inherent tendency to drool and voracious appetite. The Mastiff is great with kids, though obviously one should be on constant alert when a dog this size frolics with small children; it could inadvertently hurt a child with its size.

Article about the Mastiff written by Kayye Nynne