The Mastiff — also known as the Old English Mastiff — is an old breed. In England alone, the breed has been around for more than two thousand years as a watchdog. But the history of the Mastiff goes back farther than that!
The breed is thought to come from Asia. Mastiffs are depicted on Egyptian monuments from around 3000 BC — which means that these dogs have a history that may be more than five thousand years long! In literature, the breed first appears in 1121 BC. When Caesar invaded Britain in 55 BC, he wrote of courageous dogs fighting against the Roman legions with their masters. The strength and bravery of the Mastiffs made quite an impression on the invaders! Writer Geoffrey Chaucer describes Mastiffs as being as “large as steer”. That explains why Mastiffs were matched against human gladiators, bulls, bears, lions, and tigers in the Roman Coliseum and other entertainment venues.
To this day, Mastiffs are big. Standard show females reach a minimum of twenty-seven inches at the shoulder; males reach thirty inches and more. And a big body means a big head, with wide-set eyes and small ears. The muzzle is square, and approximately half as long as the skull. These dogs are solid and strong, and have a powerful gait.
The coat is straight and short; the outer coat is coarse and the undercoat is dense. Old English Mastiffs generally come in three colors: fawn, apricot, and brindle (striped).
When it comes to personality, Mastiffs generally have a dignified bearing. These dogs are good natured but not clownish or overly showy. They are courageous but not vicious, and are generally sedate and docile without being shy. This doesn’t mean that individual Mastiffs won’t have distinct or different personalities! These traits are part of the breed standard, which is used to judge dogs in the show ring.