American Mastiff Dog Breed

These dogs are gigantic, but they are not meant to be working dogs other than as family guardians. They are great for first-time dog owners who understand that a great amount of patience and space is best. They love kids, get along well with other dogs, and will warm up to friends of the family over time. What is probably the best thing is that the size of these dogs will deter most potential threats. If you ever read about an American Mastiff attack, however, you can be certain that the dog did so only after exhausting every other option.

Here are some things you should know about American Mastiffs:

PROS

• Loving
• Easy to train
• Highly devoted
• Extremely loyal
• Eager to please
• Delicate with kids
• Excellent threat deterrent
• Only aggressive if provoked
• Not prone to separation anxiety
• Are good guard dogs for the family

CONS

• Sheds a lot
• May snore loudly
• Might drool a lot
• Prone to flatulence
• Non-hypoallergenic
• Needs a lot of space
• High grooming needs
• Will overeat if allowed
• May at times be very sensitive to touch
• May be lazy if not prompted to be active
• Must be socialized as very young puppies
• Can be very expensive to adopt and maintain
• Lots of potential and serious health problems

There is a lot of American Mastiff information despite this mixed breed being relatively new. Families love this massive dog for the many great qualities such as playfulness and how they respond accordingly to problems rather than aggressively. They also tend to be less messy than purebred Mastiffs.

These dogs are wonderfully intelligent and intuitive. They understand that kids screaming and roughhousing is typically not a cause for alarm. They know how to prevent escalation and when to meet a real threat head-on. And they love learning tricks.

The loyalty of the American Mastiff cannot be overstated. They are always happy to play, but when it comes time to relax, watch TV, or just be lazy in the sun, they'll be ready for that too! They tend to not react badly when kids get a bit grabby. They have a habit of firmly using their head to push someone away who may be pestering them.

These dogs need a fair amount of exercise. They'll be happy with a lot, but the less active they are, the more their diet should be managed. They come from active working breeds and will have a tendency to eat as if they are the same even if they are not.

Although the American Mastiff temperament is said to be very different from the English Mastiff (which is one of this hybrid dog's parent breeds), there was no initial intent for any such difference. Like the Mastiff, the American Mastiff understands her strength, and she prefers to prevent volatile encounters rather than escalate them. She is a devoted companion who is patient, playful and aware of her size. This dog is aware of people's emotions, the immediate environment and how to behave as situations change.

Training your American Mastiff shouldn't be hard. they may sometimes be comically stubborn, but they want to please you. They are dogs who are highly appreciative of the pack hierarchy, and once this is established, everything else will fall easily into place.

The primary reason the American Mastiff was conceived was to mitigate the health issues that are prominent in Mastiffs. Dogs of this size tend to develop hip, weight, and heart problems as well as other concerns that may not always be prevented with diet, exercise and breeding. While the American Mastiff may suffer fewer and less debilitating problems than the parent breeds — which are known to suffer significantly from many ailments — they are still prone to problems. Letting them be too lazy for too long will allow these problems to be worse, and allowing these dogs to eat whenever and however much they want is also not good.

Here are some of the health concerns you should watch out for in American Mastiffs:

• Bloat
• Cancer
• Snoring
• Drooling
• Arthritis
• Eye problems
• Hip dysplasia
• Heart disease
• Hypothyroidism
• Skin infections
• Elbow dysplasia
• Urinary tract problems
• Skeletal growth problems
• Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA)

The average lifespan of the American Mastiff is slightly longer than most giant dogs, which is about 10 to 12 years.