Mastiff

Like every breed, the Mastiff is not the right fit for every home. Based on the breed’s typical traits:

• Start socialisation young, especially with strangers and other dogs.
• Teach them to walk well on a lead and harness while they are still small enough to manage.
• Work on a reliable recall, but expect most walks to be on lead for the safety of others.
• Be patient and consistent: this is a slow-maturing breed.

• Children

  Usually better with older, calmer children.

• Other dogs

  Can be selective about other dogs.

• Cats and small pets

  Varies with the individual dog.

• Flats and smaller homes

  Usually needs a roomy home.

• Garden

  A garden is helpful.

• Being left alone

  Usually copes only with short periods alone.

• First-time owners

  Some dog experience helps.

Not yet reviewed by a vet. This is general information, not veterinary advice: speak to your vet about your own dog’s health.

• Hip and elbow dysplasia

  The hip or elbow joints do not develop correctly, leading to degenerative joint disease. The Royal Kennel Club recommends hip and elbow testing under the BVA/KC schemes before breeding.

• Eye conditions

  Mastiffs can have inherited eye disorders, including progressive retinal atrophy, a gradual loss of vision. The Royal Kennel Club recommends eye testing under the BVA/KC/ISDS Eye Scheme.

• Entropion and ectropion

  Excess skin around the face can make the eyelids roll inwards or droop outwards, irritating the eye.

• Cherry eye

  The gland of the third eyelid pops out at the corner of the eye. It usually appears in younger dogs.

• Gastric dilatation volvulus (bloat)

  In large, deep-chested dogs the stomach can fill with gas and twist, often after eating. It needs urgent veterinary attention.

• Dilated cardiomyopathy

  The heart muscle weakens and pumps blood less effectively. The onset can be sudden.

• Wobbler syndrome

  Instability or deformity of the bones in the neck compresses the spinal cord, causing a wobbly gait and weakness in the hind legs.

• Back and knee problems

  Mastiffs can develop degenerative disc disease, which causes back pain, and cruciate ligament problems in the knee.

• Hypothyroidism

  Low levels of thyroid hormone, usually caused by the immune system attacking the thyroid.

• Epilepsy

  Mastiffs can be more prone to seizures caused by epilepsy.

• Cancer

  The breed can be more prone to some cancers, including bone tumours.

• Atopy and panosteitis

  Atopy is an allergy that causes itching and skin damage. Panosteitis is a painful inflammatory bone disease.

Responsible breeders and rescues are happy to talk about health, and any pressure to decide quickly is a reason to walk away. Before taking a Mastiff home, it is reasonable to ask about:

• Health testing of the parents. Ask which health tests the parents have had for conditions known in the breed, and to see the results.
• Veterinary and vaccination records. Puppies should have had a first vaccination and a vet check, with records you can take home.
• Microchip information. In England, Scotland and Wales puppies must be microchipped and registered by eight weeks old. Ask who the chip is registered to and how the transfer works.
• Registration paperwork. Registration papers, where they apply, record pedigree. They do not by themselves prove health or how a puppy was raised.

There are two costs: bringing a Mastiff home, and looking after one well. Puppy prices depend on the breeder, health testing and demand; the adverts below show what sellers are asking today.

Ongoing costs are the ones new owners most often underestimate: food, insurance (which usually rises with age), routine vet care, vaccinations and parasite treatment, dental care, grooming, training, bedding and equipment, and boarding or a sitter for holidays. Budget for the whole of the dog’s life, typically up to 10 years, not just the first year.

If you have decided the Mastiff suits your life, take the same care choosing where your dog comes from. Meet the puppy in person, see it with its mother, and look at how the litter is raised.

• Check who you are dealing with: every Mypetzilla advert shows the seller type and what we have checked.
• Ask about health testing, vaccinations and the microchip before you commit.
• Take your time. Do not be rushed by deposits or "last one left" stories.
• Meet in person before paying anything, and keep conversations on Mypetzilla.

Mastiffs do come up for adoption, through rescue organisations, breed rescues and private rehoming, often because an owner’s circumstances have changed rather than any fault of the dog. An adult dog arrives as a known quantity: its size, coat and character are already on show.

Rescues will usually talk you through the dog’s history, any medical care, and the home it needs, including children, other animals and time alone. Be honest about your circumstances: a good rescue would rather place a dog once, well.