Life Span:	between 10 and 12 years.
Litter Size:	between 2 and 5 puppies.
Group:
Recognized By:	CKC, FCI, AKC, UKC, ANKC, NKC, NZKC, APRI, ACR
Color:	fawn, apricot, or brindle
Hair Length:	Short
Size:	Extra Large
Shedding:	Heavy Shed
Male Height:	30 inches
Male Weight:	175-200 pounds
Female Height:	27 1/2 inches
Female Weight:	175-200 pounds
Living Area:	The Mastiff does need a minimal amount of exercise. A small fenced yard is sufficient. They are relatively inactive indoors and therefore a small living space is fine. However, they are large animals and the comfort of both the dog and the family should be taken into consideration. A larger living space may be more comfortable for both. It is really preference for the owner. If there is no yard for the animal, they should be exercised daily. Another thing to consider with the Mastiff is that they do slobber excessively after eating and drinking and also just throughout the day. They will shake their heads and the slobber will go flying. This can make for an untidy living space where furniture, walls, and clothing are constantly being covered in drool. This dog can live outdoors in temperate climate, but does prefer to be indoors with the family. They do not do well in warm, hot, or humid climates. They prefer cooler weather. This makes them excellent dogs for locations that temperatures do not fluctuate much and remain moderately cool to warm.

About this Breed

The Mastiff is a large, massive breed with a symmetrical well knit frame. Their stature gives off the impression of dignity and grandeur. The dog should be slightly longer in body than it stands in height and should come from depth of body and not length in leg. They are to be heavy boned with a well developed muscular structure. The slightly arched neck is extremely muscular and powerful. It should be of medium length. The well rounded chest is to be deep and wide and let down between the forelegs. The shoulders also display the strong muscular stature and should be moderately sloping. The forelegs are straight and strong and set wide apart. The hind legs are broad and muscular with well developed second thighs. The eyes are set wide apart and are of medium size. They are never to be too prominent. The ears are small, rounded, and v-shaped at the tip. The ears are proportionally small for the head. They should be set widely apart on the highest part of the head. The skull is to be broad and somewhat flattened between the ears. The forehead is slightly curved which shows off the marked wrinkles. These wrinkles become very distinct when the Mastiff is at attention. The muscles of the temples are well developed and the muscles of the cheeks are extremely powerful. The muzzle should be half the length of the skull dividing the head in to three parts. There is one for the foreface and two for the skull. The nose is broad and is always dark in color. The nostrils should be spread flat and never be turned up or pointed. The lips should diverge at obtuse angles. The gait of the Mastiff is one that demonstrates extreme power and strength. The forelegs should have smooth reach while the hind legs should have drive. The legs are to move straight forward. To maintain balance as the dog increases speed from a walk to a trot, the legs will converge in towards a centre line. This allows for the maintenance of proper balance.