Tibetan Mastiff dogs belong to an ancient stock, they may have been in existence as early as the stone or bronze age.
Also known as Do-Khyi, the Tibetan Mastiff is believed to be the originator of the majority of Molossus and Mastiffs throughout the world.

The breed began to disappear in Tibet during the 19th century, but in the mid 1800′s, a lot of Tibetan Mastiff was imported to England.
The British breeders have perfected and propagated the breed which has virtually died in the Orient, even now they are still rare.

Those that remain in Tibet are difficult to train, savage and unpredictable, but those that were raised in England are much more trainable and attached to their masters.

Breed Group

Working

Size

24 – 28 inches tall (at shoulder)

Weight

140 – 180 lbs

Color(s)

The Tibetan Mastiff is usually black, brown and bluish gray, also sable, gold, cream, or red with or without tan markings.

Coat

The Tibetan Mastiff is double coated, the undercoat is soft and very thick making him resistant to cold weather, while the outer coat is fairly long and coarse to the touch.

Life Expectancy

About 12 – 15 years.

Personality

The Tibetan Mastiff is a powerful dog very protective and territorial, independent and highly intelligent, he was bred to take initiative.
Mutual respect between him and his master is essential, he require to be treated as companions rather than house pets.

Very loyal to its family he is calm and well-tempered, usually patient and gentle with children he is aloof towards strangers and should be supervised when introduced to other animals.

Care

Usually a healthy breed, he is prone to hip dysplasia, skin, thyroid and ear problems, also an unusual genetic problem called CIDN (Canine Inherited Demyelinative Neuropathy).
The Tibetan Mastiff sheds only once per year during spring or summer, daily brushing should be performed during this time, weekly brushing otherwise should be sufficient.
The Tibetan Mastiff is good for allergy sufferers because he has very little dog odor.

Training

The Tibetan Mastiff is not for everyone, this breed does not have a long history of close

relationship with people, so a dominant and respectful handler is a must for this strong willed breed.
However, with the right training, this highly-valued dog can do well in obedience, agility, and as an outstanding guard.

Activity

The Tibetan Mastiff is not suited to live in apartments and he is relatively inactive indoors.
He likes to climb and dig, so he should have at least a large securely fenced yard.
Regular walks in the woods will make him happy, however he’s not a ball player or anything like that.

This is a very ancient breed of the mastiff type that came across the Alps with the Roman conquerors.

The St. Bernard was bred around the year 1,000 by St Bernard Monks that founded a refuge for travelers crossing the dangerous alpine passes between Switzerland and Italy.

It was observed that the dogs at the St. Bernard monastery had an unusual ability to sense about impending danger from storms and avalanches.
The outstanding sense of smell of the St Bernard enables him to scent a person buried in as much as 3 meters of snow.

Breed Group

Working

Size

24 – 28 inches tall (at shoulder)

Weight

110 – 200 lbs.

Color(s)

The coat of the Saint Bernard is typically white with tan, red in various shades with white or brindle patches in various combinations on a white ground.

Coat

The Saint Bernard breed comes in both a rough or longhaired and smooth or shorthaired varieties.
The rough coat variety is straight or slightly wavy and tends to collect icicles.
While the smooth coat is harsh to the touch and is more often used for mountain work because he not collect icicles. Both varieties of coat are very dense and are weather resistant.

Life Expectancy

About 8 – 12 years.

Personality

The Saint Bernard dog breeds are extremely patient and friendly by nature.
They are very gentle and tolerant with children and other animals and make a great family pet.
They are obedient, highly intelligent, and thoughtful. The Saint Bernard is a very large and strong dog, but displays an easygoing and mature demeanor.

Care

The Saint Bernard is a healthy breed but some are prone to such health issues as Wobbler’s syndrome, called CVI (cervical vertebral instability that affects large breed, fast-growing dogs), heart problems, skin disorders, hip dysplasia and bloating (twisted stomachs should be watched for, it is best to feed them two or three small meals a day instead of one large meal.).

They are also subject to rage syndrome and they have no tolerance for hot weather or warm rooms. It is best to keep the puppy activity to a fair minimum until their bones are well formed and strong.
Both types of Saint Bernard coats are easy to groom, they require daily brushing with a firm bristle brush. Bathing should only be done when necessary using a mild soap (shampoo may strip the coat of its essential water-resistant oils).

Training

Highly intelligent and easy to train the Saint Bernard must be socialized at a young age with other people while the dog is still a manageable size, later they may display stubbornness.
Eager to please their owner the Saint Bernard does well with a gentle, patient, firm, and consistent training.

They thrive on high amounts of affection and attention.
Some of the Saint Bernard’s talents are search and rescue (he requires no training for this work), watchdogging, herding and carting.

Activity

Despite of his massive size the Saint Bernard is suitable for apartment dweller provided they are given regular outdoor exercise.
They are relatively inactive indoors and they will enjoy a securely fenced medium yard.
A long walk each day and outdoors play sessions are advised for the St. Bernard.

The Newfoundland comes from Newfoundland’s island. It’s the descendant of the indigenous dogs and the big black bear dogs, brought by Vikings after the year 1001. The size of a dog might be a result of big mastiff dogs, which have been brought by Portuguese fishermen.

In 1610, when the island’s colonization started, the breed already had its own physical characteristics and its natural behavior. That’s how it could resist to the rough conditions. It was used to pull fishnets and heavy equipment and also to rescue people from the water.

Breed Group

Working

Size

Male: 27-29 inches
Female: 25-27 inches

Weight

Male: 130-150 lbs
Female: 100-120 lbs

Color(s)

Black: This is the original color of the Newfoundland. They are usually entirely black but they can have a little bit of white or copper tint.

White and black: This variety is called a Landseer; black head with a black and white body.

Brown: This color shades from chocolate to bronze. It can have a little bit of white.

Coat

The Newfie has a waterproof double coat. The outer coat is of a medium length and straight while the undercoat is soft and dense. On the head, the muzzle and the ears, the hairs are short and thin. The four legs are fringed. The tail is entirely recovered from long and dense hairs.

Life Expectancy

About 8 – 10 years

Personality

The Newfoundland has a calm, generous and gentle behavior. It is extremely intelligent, courageous and even playful at times, it is regarded as having human emotions. Entirely devoted to its family, it makes a very good watchdog; however, it does not bark or growl to scare the intruder. It tends to place its self between its family member and the intruder. It is very good with other pets and shows a great patience with kids; it is considered to be a “born babysitter”.

Care

The Newf is prone to hip dysplasia; you must never let a Newfoundland get fat. It also has a tendency to heart problems. It is a hereditary disease called sub-aortic stenosis (SAS). The owner of a Newfoundland should have its puppy’s heart checked at 8-12 weeks of age.

This breed has to be preferably brushed daily, but a weekly brushing is also acceptable. They moult twice a year and an extra care is required at these moments. Avoid bathing.

Training

The obedience training should start at a young age. Due to its high sensitivity, it is unnecessary to train your Newfoundland with a harsh voice; it will not respond well. It should be trained in a calm manner.

Activity

The Newfoundland is a lazy dog, but it needs moderate exercise every day. It will always enjoy to take a walk or to go swimming. It can easily live in an apartment if sufficiently exercised. Even a small yard should be enough.

The Neapolitan Mastiff is a direct descendant of the Middle East war dogs: the Molossus. It was often used to fight against lions, bears or gladiators in Roman arenas.

The Neapolitan Mastiff fought with the Roman legions. This is how they got spread everywhere in Europe. This breed was rediscovered approximately in 1940, in Italy, and is now becoming more and more popular.

Breed Group

Working

Size

Male: 26 to 31 inches
Female: 24 to 29 inches

Weight

Male: Approximately 150 lbs
Female: Approximately 110 lbs

Color(s)

The dog’s color can be gray, blue, black, mahogany and tawny. It can also come in darker shades of these colors.

Coat

The coat is short, smooth and dense. It has straight hairs, no longer than 1 inch.

Life Expectancy

About 9 – 10 years.

Personality

The Neapolitan Mastiff is a steady dog. It is very intelligent and stubborn. It’s extremely protective and courageous as well as very suspicious of strangers but affectionate with the family and their friends. If not provoked, it is calm and silent. Females are better family pets because the males are more aggressive and dominant and females are better with children. Plus, males do not tolerate other males.

Care

The Neapolitan Mastiff is very easy to take care of. Removing dead hairs with a brush once in a while is all it needs. It is an average shedder.

Training

For the Neapolitan Mastiff, obedience training is a must. The training should start at a young age to avoid high dominance. The dog also needs to be socialized early to be sure that they don’t become too protective. The training approach should be strict and constant.

Activity

The Neapolitan Mastiff needs regular exercise. It has to be walked at least twice a day to stay healthy in what should be a big yard.

The Mastiff ancestors were probably brought to England by the Roman invaders. Renowned as a fierce war dog, the Mastiff has been used as a fighter by European knights and Spanish conquistadors as well as a valorous helper to hunt lion, wolf, bear and deer.

Nowadays, the Mastiff breed, also called the English Mastiff or Old English Mastiff is a gentle giant. Very massive, powerful and fearless the Mastiff gives the impression of nobility and integrity.

Breed Group

Working

Size

27 – 30 inches tall (at shoulder)

Weight

150 – 190 lbs. One of the heaviest breeds, male can exceed 200 lbs.

Color(s)

The color of the coat comes in fawn, brown, beige, apricot, or brindle.

Coat

The Mastiff has a double coat. The outer coat is short, coarse, and straight, while the close-lying under coat is dense.

Life Expectancy

About 8 – 12 years.

Personality

The Mastiff is a good natured, calm, and intelligent breed. They are extremely loyal and very possessive of home and family. This breed loves to please and needs plenty of human companionship and affection. The Mastiff is an Mastiff is a good natured, calm breedoutstanding family dog usually extremely patient with older considerate children and other pets they have been raised with.

Care

As the Mastiff is prone to GDV (Gastric Dilatation-Volvulus) feed two or three small meals a day, instead of a large one. They are also subject to CHD (Canine Hip Dysplasia), hypothyroidism, heart disease, bone cancer and cardiomyopathy. Prone to heatstroke he needs extra care in warm climates.

The smooth, short-haired coat of the Mastiff is easy to groom, occasional brushing with a firm bristle brush will suffice. Bathe or dry shampoo only when necessary. This breed is a medium shedder.

Training

The Mastiff requires a dominant handler and is not recommended for the inexperienced owner. They do not respond well to heavy-handed methods and does best with firmness, fairness, patience and consistency.

Due to his large size early socialization and obedience are essential for this breed. Protection and guard training is needless for this naturally protective breed. Some of the Mastiff’s talents include: guarding, military and police work, search and rescue and weight pulling.

Activity

The Mastiff is relatively inactive indoors and inclined to be quite lazy, they will do okay in an apartment dwelling if it is sufficiently stimulated and exercised. Daily walks up to an hour will be ok and they should always be leashed in public. He does, however, require regular play session in a safely fenced large yard to keep them happy.

The Great Pyrenees comes from the Kuvasz and the Maremmano-Abruzzese. This dog is native from France and was used as a guard dog for sheep and cattle. Back in 1800 B.C., a dog similar to the Great Pyrenees had been discovered in Europe.

The breed probably first came from Asia or Siberia, but when established in Europe, it stayed in the mountainous regions until the middle ages. The dog became a noble guard dog as it gained popularity. In the 17 th century, every French noble wanted a Great Pyrenees.

It was used to protect owners from bears and wolves. Later on, this breed was used for rescue operations from avalanches, as a sled dog, as a pack dog, as a cart-puller and as a guardian. It may have been used as a war dog in ancient time when it was less gentle. It was officially recognized by the AKC in 1933.

Breed Group

Working

Size

Male: 27-32 inches
Female: 25-29 inches

Weight

Male: Approximately 100 lbs
Female: Approximately 85 lbs

Color(s)

The Great Pyrenees can be white, white with gray markings, reddish brown or different shades of tan. Markings can appear on the ears, on the tail and on the body and a full face mask can also be seen.

Coat

The Great Pyrenees, suspicious of strangers, is a very imposing guardian, devoted to its family and capable of self-sacrifice if needed. This dog is courageous, loyal and obedient, but it can also be very stubborn. It tends to be gentle and affectionate, somewhat independent, with the family. This is a good breed for children but it does better when it’s raised with them. This dog is also used for livestock guarding. Calm when not provoked, this dog is well-mannered and serious. The Great Pyrenees tends to be dominant with a less strict owner. These dogs usually get along very well with other non-canine pets, especially cats. Their puppyhood lasts only two years.

Life Expectancy

About 10 – 12 years.

Personality

The Great Pyrenees, suspicious of strangers, is a very imposing guardian, devoted to its family and capable of self-sacrifice if needed. This dog is courageous, loyal and obedient, but it can also be very stubborn. It tends to be gentle and affectionate, somewhat independent, with the family.

This is a good breed for children but it does better when it’s raised with them. This dog is also used for livestock guarding. Calm when not provoked, this dog is well-mannered and serious.

The Great Pyrenees tends to be dominant with a less strict owner. These dogs usually get along very well with other non-canine pets, especially cats. Their puppyhood lasts only two years.

Care

The Great Pyrenees is prone to hip dysplasia and may develop skins problem in warmer weathers.

A regular brushing is demanded to keep the coat in a good condition. The Great Pyrenees heavily sheds once a year, an extra care should be taken during this period. Bathe this dog only when necessary.

Training

The Great Pyrenees needs to have leash training, to learn the meaning of “no” and to learn how to act in the family house at an early age by using positive reinforcement. To socialize the dog at a very young age is also very important.

Activity

The Great Pyrenees needs regular exercise to be stay in shape and be healthy.

Back to 36 B.C., the image of a dog similar to the Great Dane appeared on Greek money. The Great Dane is considered as the “Apollo of dogs”. In 407 A.D., Asiatic people (the Alans) invaded part of Italy and Spain and German Gaul. The Alans brought big mastiff dogs (especially in Germany) with them.

These giant dogs were able of overcoming bears and other wild beasts. They were admired for this reason and that’s when the breeding begun. These dogs were crossed with Irish Greyhounds and the result of this cross is the Great Dane that we have today.

Breed Group

Working

Size

Male: no less than 30 inches, but preferably more than 32 inches
Female: no less than 28 inches, but preferably more than 30 inches

Weight

Male: 120-200 lbs
Female: 100-130 lbs

Color(s)

The Great Dane has a high variety of colors:

Brindle Danes: The base color of this Dane is light to golden yellow and has black stripes.

Fawn Danes: Golden yellow with a black mask.

Blue Danes: The entire Great Dane is blue without any other color.

Black Danes: Glossy black, no other colors.

Harlequin Danes: The base color of this Dane is white. It has black, irregular patches all over the body. A pure white neck is preferable. The patches should never be too large.

Boston Danes: The first color of this Dane is black. The muzzle, the chest and part of the legs are white. The presence of an entire or partial white collar is preferable. The tail’s end is white. The dog has dark eyes and nose.

Coat

Its coat is very short and dense. It is also smooth and glossy.

Life Expectancy

About 10 years.

Personality

The Great Dane is extremely gentle. It is proud, kind and affectionate; it loves anybody and always wants to be around people. It is playful and sweet with children. However, some children might receive an accidental tail whip! It doesn’t bark much except when it’s required. It is responsible, courageous and loyal; effectively it is a good watchdog. If it is not used to be with other dogs, it can be aggressive with them, especially if they are of the same sex.

Care

This dog prone to hip dysplasia, to tumors, heart disease, bloats and tail injuries.

This breed is an average shedder. Grooming once in a while is sufficient. However, to avoid the major chore of bathing this dog, daily brushing is preferable. Nails should always be trimmed.

Training

For a better manageability of this giant dog, early obedience training should be taken. It has to be shown not to lean against people, especially children.

Activity

The Great Dane needs at least one long daily walk.