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Breed profile

Mastiff

Among the heaviest dogs alive, with a famously gentle, steady nature. Part quiet guardian, part very large draught excluder.

Fawn Mastiff with a black mask lying in tall grass in a field
A fawn Mastiff relaxing in a summer meadow.Photo: Hillsemastiffs / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Weight
54–100 kg119–221 lb
Height
70–80 cm28–31 in
Lifespan
6–10 yrs
Group
Working
Origin
England
Popularity
#40 US#102 UK · 2025

Known for: WatchdogsQuietLow grooming

Energy
Shedding
Trainability
Barking
Good with kids
Flat-friendly

Temperament

Dignified, Gentle, Protective, Calm.

Health problems to know about

  • Hip and elbow dysplasia
  • Bloat (GDV)
  • Osteosarcoma
  • Cystinuria
  • Entropion and ectropion

Ask breeders for the parents' health test results, and check what your national breed club recommends screening for.

Daily care

Short, easy walks and no forced exercise while growing. Wipe drool and facial folds daily. Several smaller meals a day lower bloat risk.

A good fit for

Calm homes with space and a big car, owners who want a quiet, devoted guardian.

Probably not ideal for

Small homes, the house-proud (drool), tight budgets, anyone hoping for a long lifespan.

Sources

  1. American Kennel Club: Mastiff
  2. PetMD (vet-reviewed): Mastiff
  3. Wikipedia: English Mastiff

Popularity: AKC 2025 registration rankings (US); Royal Kennel Club 2025 registrations (UK, ranked by us). Breed traits are tendencies, not guarantees. Individual dogs vary, and mixed breeds and rescues can be wonderful fits too.

Similar breeds

All breeds
A fawn Bullmastiff with a dark muzzle standing side-on in a snowy forest

Bullmastiff

A powerful English guard dog bred to stop poachers. Devoted and gentle with family, wary of strangers, and a heavy drooler.

Studio portrait of a mahogany Dogue de Bordeaux with a deeply wrinkled face against a dark grey background

Dogue de Bordeaux

Massive, wrinkled French mastiff with a calm, loyal streak and a stubborn one. Plan for heart checks and a shorter life than most.

Fawn Boerboel standing in profile on a grassy field

Boerboel

A South African farm guardian: massive, muscular and devoted. Needs early, consistent training and a confident handler.

Close-up of a grey Neapolitan Mastiff's heavily wrinkled face and drooping jowls

Neapolitan Mastiff

A massive, heavily wrinkled guardian from southern Italy. Calm and devoted at home, wary of strangers, and a serious drooler.

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