Spanish mastiff: a description of the breed, nature, photos and reviews of the owners

Another 10-15 years ago in Russia, almost did not know anything about the breed of dogs Spanish mastiff. Photo of these animals is amazing. They are good-natured and loving giants. Now the breed is just gaining popularity and is gaining increasing sympathy both with dog breeders-professionals and ordinary lovers.

Origin versions

It is believed that the ancestors of these dogs, which had huge dimensions, lived on the territory of Spain 3 thousand years ago. Mentioned about them are recorded in ancient manuscripts.

There are several versions of the appearance of this breed. There is an assumption that the ancestors of modern mastiffs were brought to the Iberian Penins by Phoenician merchants on ships. According to another version, the breed originates from ancient dogs that fell on the Pyrenees with Roman military legions. But, according to historians, local tribes already had by that time their big war dogs. The next assumption is that the Spanish mastiff breed originated from watchdogs of large dogs that roamed along with tribes living in Eastern Europe and Asia.

The number of these large animals increased due to the development of wool sheep breeding. For good protection of the herd, consisting of a thousand heads, it was necessary to have 5 dogs. This was written by Manuel del Rio in his "Shepherd's Life". If we take into account the number of sheep in the middle of the 18th century, it turns out that they should have been guarded by at least 20,000 mastiffs. The largest specimens were found near Lyon and Extremadura.

History of modern breed

Until the beginning of the twentieth century, no one was engaged in the breeding of mastiffs. Only in 1906 with the birth of puppy Machako officially begins the history of this breed. About this was made a corresponding entry in the tribal Spanish book.

For the first time the breed was described in 1929. Then it was called "mountain Spanish mastiff." The nursery "Trusumancia", owned by Luis Esquiro, whose aim was to find the largest dogs of this breed and to improve it as much as possible, examined the mountainous areas of northwestern Spain in the 1950s. As a result, one of the largest specimens was a dog named Navarro, who was represented at the 1959 Madrid Agricultural Exhibition.

In the sixties of the last century, there was another nursery engaged in Spanish mastiffs - El Pinotar Amadeo Alejandra. His dogs were very popular in the 80's.

It should be noted that these two nurseries for 40 years were able to lay the foundation of the modern breed of Spanish mastiffs. And this despite the fact that their owners had different points of view on the issue of ideal standards.

Appearance in Russia

For the first time the Spanish mastiff was brought into the country in 1995. And almost half a year was the only representative of this breed. Then from Czechia Svetlana Valentinovna Dorogova several more animals were delivered to the nursery "Dorsdorf". It is from this moment that the Spanish mastiffs are counted in Russia. And a year later, the first puppies appeared in the dog club "Rare Breeds", which was recorded in the book of breeding.

Now the number of these animals in the country is low. Usually there are no more than three individuals present at exhibitions. Despite this, it can be said that the breed of dogs Spanish mastiff is slow, but still truly gaining attention and popularity. Not far off is the day when its representatives will collect large in number of rings.

Description

Affectionate and plush giant. That's what the Spanish mastiff is like. The description of the breed, perhaps, should start with what a person feels when he first sees this animal. First of all, he is struck by his majesty and dignity. The growth of such a dog is more than 77 cm. This is exactly what those who decided to purchase this dog say.

It has a proportionally folded body, with a deep chest and strong bones. The body is rectangular, not square. The dog's body must necessarily give the impression of the immense power enclosed in it. The belly should not be hollow. The loin and croup are wide and powerful.

The head is what is considered the main difference between the Spanish mastiff and other related breeds. In this case, there is no pronounced transition from the forehead to the muzzle. The skull is quite wide. A characteristic feature - free wrinkles located outside the eyes, which gives the muzzle an unusual expression.

The skin is loose and thick, creating a fold around the neck, chest and bottom. The coat, which is fairly tight to the body, is slightly wavy and has a length of no more than 6 cm. The undercoat is dense and dense. It perfectly protects the animal from frost and cold wind.

Coat color can be any, but the most common is black, brindle and yellow. Interestingly, the latter can range from almost white to red.

I must say that the Spanish mastiff, the description of which will be incomplete without mentioning their unusual so-called cat's paw, can have 1-2 dewclaws. This feature is very beneficial, as it means having good bundles.

Spanish mastiffs mature late enough: bitches in 2-3 years, and males - a year later. As the owners testify, dogs have excellent health, but there are diseases that arise precisely in this breed. To the animal was in good shape, you should constantly give him physical activity. Life expectancy averages 10-12 years.

The dog tolerates almost any climate, the only limitation is that keeping it in a standard Russian apartment is simply unrealistic. Which, in fact, is confirmed by numerous reviews of the owners.

Character

Mastiffs are very kind by nature. They completely lack unmotivated aggression. At night, their guarding instincts are somewhat exacerbated, which is not surprising, since their ancestors protected huge flocks of sheep from attack by packs of wolves. But it should be noted that mastiffs will never attack without warning. A signal to attack is a growl or a deep low barking.

Devotion is another feature of these dogs. As the owners say, the mastiffs react very subtly to the manifestation of love and affection for them. They try to protect those who are weaker than them, for example, children or the elderly.

Mastiffs are freedom-loving. They need more space. They are not fit for living in apartments, even if they are large enough. Best if it's a private house with a nice yard.

Education

As mentioned above, a beautiful and good-natured character is the main distinguishing feature of the Spanish mastiff breed. Education of the dog also plays an important role. It is thanks to him that the animal gets along well with all household members, including cats, decorative rodents and birds.

With proper upbringing, these dogs can become not only reliable friends, but also excellent protectors for children. Those who have this dog in the house, in one voice argue that the mastiffs are very quivering nannies. For example, if a child falls, they try very carefully to lift it or serve it as a support. These good-natured giants can allow children to do anything, tolerate even the most unthinkable antics.

Dogs must be trained and trained in various teams. But do not ask them for their literal fulfillment. Usually they intuitively feel what the master wants from him and act as they see fit. In addition, do not forget that mastiffs love when they are praised for the executed commands.

Care of hair

Both professionals and dog lovers are referred to as the grooming process. Constantly carrying out such procedure for the favorite, owners care not only of its beauty, but also about health. Grumming promotes good fur growth, and also maintains the skin tone of the animal.

Despite the fact that the Spanish mastiff is a fairly clean dog that does not allow itself to climb into mud and puddles, paws after walking should be washed and wiped dry.

Usually the hair does not fall off, so you do not need to comb them every day. But if the dog has got under a rain, on returning home costs nevertheless carefully to comb out it. This is done by a special brush or comb in the direction of the growth of the coat, starting from the head. As for the puppies, they are almost not combed out, but for adult dogs it is just necessary.

Bathing

Professionals do not advise doing this too often. It will be enough to bathe the mastiff as it gets dirty. Or no more than once in two weeks. As is known, frequent water procedures lead to the washing away of the natural fat layer, as a result of which the skin glands begin to produce it in a larger amount. This can lead to overdrying of the skin, the appearance of dandruff on the coat, and sometimes even to various dermatological diseases. Therefore, frequent bathing can do more harm than good.

In the cold season, when frosts come, the dog is better not to bathe at all. It is necessary to wait until the heat, until the moulting period stops.

Preparation for the exhibition

Some owners with their pets are very eventful life. It's about visiting exhibitions. To coat the dog looked well-groomed, they should be bathed in advance of the event, since the grease is restored only after 2-3 days. In addition, a few hours before the exhibition is recommended to process the wool specially designed for this spray-texture. It greatly improves the appearance of the fur, gives it shine, restores volume and refreshes.

In winter, when exhibitions are often held, and dogs are not recommended to bathe, the Spanish mastiff with its thick coat is in great need of careful cleaning of it from various kinds of pollution. In such cases, apply a dry shampoo. They are very convenient to use, in addition, it does not have any harmful effects on the skin of the animal, it has a pleasant enough smell.

This shampoo is sold as a spray, powder or powder. After its application, it is only necessary to carefully comb out the wool. I must say that shampoos, which include air conditioning or protein, choose the most preferable. After its application, the dog will look neat and well-groomed, and the wool will acquire volume and beautiful shine.

And finally, the advice: to begin to look after dogs of the Spanish mastiff breed, photos of which are presented in this article, it is necessary from an early age that, being puppies, they get used to various cosmetic procedures. Then the animals will be calm, and their owners are satisfied.

Impressions of the breed

A good character, a reliable protector, a loving and affectionate animal - all this is a Spanish mastiff. Reviews of the owners of dogs are basically positive. People say that you can not find a friend more faithfully. In addition, they are excellent watchman, but just like that, for no reason, do not bark. And if you still hear the voice of your pet, it is better to go and check whether anyone has violated the boundaries of your private domain.

Experienced breeders in one voice say that Spanish mastiffs are dogs for wealthy and self-confident masters.

Price list

As it was said above, the Spanish mastiff, whose price in the market of offers always fluctuates, the dog is not cheap. The average cost of a puppy of this breed is from 65 to 90 thousand rubles. Get yourself such a big and good animal. And positive emotions will be guaranteed to you.

You can buy a puppy of a Spanish mastiff by reading private ads, as well as directly in nurseries engaged in breeding this breed.