English Mastiff

Temperament

The FCI standard describes the Mastiff as a combination of grandeur and courage: calm and affectionate with its owners, yet capable of defending them. In practice it is a laid-back dog that sleeps most of the day, ideally with its head in someone's lap. It usually keeps an indifferent distance from strangers and defends its family with its bulk rather than its bark; the AKC rates its barking at the bottom of the scale. It is usually patient with the family's children, but its weight means it can knock a toddler over by accident. A Mastiff can be stubborn: if it decides not to go any farther, it is hard to persuade, especially since it outweighs its owner. That is why loose-leash walking, recall and calm greetings need to be taught before the puppy grows up. The standard considers timidity unacceptable.

Energy

calmvery energetic

Affection

independentvelcro pet

With children

not idealgreat

With other pets

difficultgreat

Trainability

stubborneager to learn

For first-time owners

for experienced ownersyes

With strangers

waryoutgoing

Playfulness

dignifiedeternal puppy

Shedding

minimalheavy

Grooming

easydemanding

Being left alone

strugglescopes well

Apartment living

needs a house and yardgreat in a flat

Barking

quietvocal

With other dogs

difficultgreat

Protectiveness

lowhigh

Drooling

hardly anya lot

Cold tolerance

feels the coldexcellent

Heat tolerance

strugglescopes well

Scores of 1–5 compare the breed with other breeds of the same species, based on the sources at the bottom of the page. Every animal is different. How we score traits

Who is the English Mastiff for?

The English Mastiff suits a calm family or person with a house, a yard and a big car who wants a gentle, low-energy giant and accepts its short life, drool and high costs. It is not suited to an apartment without an elevator, to people who cannot hold several dozen kilograms on a leash, or to anyone who loves running or mountain hiking with a dog.

Size and looks

Care and exercise

An adult Mastiff needs about 30–60 minutes of calm walking a day; it is not a dog for running or long hikes. Puppies need special care: until about two years of age, avoid stairs, jumping and long walks, because heavy bones and joints grow very fast. A giant-breed food, a controlled growth rate and splitting the daily ration into two or three meals are the basics. The short coat only needs a weekly wipe with a grooming mitt, but the facial folds, ears and the area around the eyes need regular cleaning. Drool is a constant part of life with a Mastiff, so keep a towel by the bowl and in the car. The breed handles heat very poorly: in summer, walk only in the morning and evening, provide cool surfaces and constant access to water. Keep costs in mind too: medications, food and procedures are all priced by body weight.

Health and breed-related conditions

The Mastiff is among the shortest-lived breeds: the AKC and Hill's give 6–10 years, and in a British study the median was 9 years. The US breed club lists bone cancer and lymphoma, retinal diseases, cystinuria (which causes urinary stones in intact males), hip and elbow dysplasia, and progressive retinal atrophy. The list of recommended tests for breeding dogs is long: joint X-rays, heart, eye and thyroid exams, and a cystinuria DNA test. The UK Kennel Club draws attention to problems caused by conformation, and the FCI standard considers loose eyelids highly undesirable. With such enormous weight, any joint or ligament problem quickly takes away a dog's mobility, which makes keeping it lean especially important.

• cancer (osteosarcoma, lymphoma)The breed club lists bone cancer and lymphoma among the diseases seen in Mastiffs.
• hip and elbow dysplasiaCommon in giant breeds; both parents should have X-ray results.
• cystinuriaAn inherited disorder that leads to urinary stones, mainly in intact males; a DNA test is available.
• retinal diseases (CMR, PRA)Retinal folds and detachment and progressive retinal atrophy can impair vision.
• eyelid defectsThe standard considers loose eyelids highly undesirable; the Kennel Club flags conformation-related problems.

This is general breed information, not a diagnosis. If something worries you, talk to your veterinarian.

Breed history

According to the FCI standard, mastiff-type dogs lived in Britain long before the Battle of Agincourt in the 15th century and were already famous for their courage and guarding instinct. The Romans who conquered Britain are said to have been so impressed by the local dogs that they took them to fight in the arenas of Rome. After the Norman invasion, mastiffs were so common that the French word "dogue" entered the English language. The breed nearly died out in Britain after World War II and was rebuilt with dogs imported from abroad. Since then, both the numbers and the quality of Mastiffs have improved markedly.

Fun facts

• The FCI standard gives no height or weight for the Mastiff; it only says that size is desirable as long as it goes hand in hand with quality and soundness.
• According to the AKC, a male Mastiff should stand at least 30 inches, about 76 cm, at the shoulder.
• The FCI standard requires the neck to be 2.5–5 cm smaller in circumference than the skull.
• After World War II the Mastiff nearly disappeared from Britain and was revived thanks to imports.

Frequently asked questions

This breed also appears in

• Large dog breeds
• Calm dog breeds
• Guard dog breeds

Sources

1. 1FCI standard nr 264 – Mastiff (PDF)fci.be
2. 2AKC – Mastiffakc.org
3. 3Dimensions.com – Mastiffdimensions.com
4. 4Hill's – Mastiff breed guidehillspet.com
5. 5Royal Kennel Club – Mastiffroyalkennelclub.com
6. 6McMillan et al. 2024, Longevity of companion dog breeds (Scientific Reports)nature.com

Last reviewed: November 12, 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.