Common features of the dog, the history of the progenitors and the development of the American mastiff in the United States, varieties, recognition and confusion in the name, controversy and current state. The American mastiff is a well-proportioned dog, but slightly longer than the height at the withers. They are large and powerful animals with thick legs and a deep chest. However, the breed is usually slightly smaller than the English Mastiff, with a slightly more athletic appearance. Most members tend to be more muscular and agile than bulky ones. The tail of the American Mastiff is rather long and tapers strongly from base to tip. The variety has a much drier mouth than other mastiffs. This is due to the blood flow of Anatolian Shepherd Dogs at an early stage in the development of the species.
The temperament of animals is quiet, calm, loving and loyal. The American Mastiff loves children and is completely devoted to his family. He is not aggressive, except when his loved ones, especially children, are in danger. In these cases, he becomes a courageous defender. Dogs are wise, kind and gentle, patient and understanding, but not shy, not spiteful. They are loyal and dedicated, but must be with the owner who knows how to show leadership.
History of the progenitors of the American mastiff
This unique breed was first developed between the ages of 20 and 25 in Pikton, Ohio. However, it is possible to trace its lineage over the centuries through the two breeds used in its development. The American Mastiff is primarily descended from the English Mastiff, often known simply as the Mastiff.
The origin of the Mastiff is perhaps the most controversial of all dog breeds, regarding theories about when and where it was bred (10,000 or 1,000 years ago, in Ireland or Tibet). It is safe to say that this is one of the oldest English breeds, if not the oldest, and that it has been known in its homeland since the Dark Ages. The origin of the word "mastiff" is vague. Some researchers claim that this name originates from the French word "matin", which means "domestication." Others say that it comes from the ancient Anglo-Saxon word "suit", which means "powerful."
The English Mastiff was originally a fierce beast of war used to attack enemy soldiers. In times of peace, these dogs were tasked with guarding the vast estates of the nobility. Such aggressive animals were kept on a chain during the day so that a passer-by could not enter the protected area at will, and then were released at night. Such chained mastiffs were known as "bandogs" or "bandoggs". These canines also fought to the death against chain bears, a brutal sport known as bear baiting.
Improvements in military technology made the mastiff useless as a warrior by the end of the Renaissance, although it was still a very common guard dog. Social mores meant that mastiffs no longer wanted to attack intruders. Instead, the dogs were bred and trained to guard and trap prisoners. In 1835, bear-baiting was officially banned by parliament, and the latest overly aggressive tendencies were soon eliminated from the breed.
The English Mastiff became a gentle, protective giant and was kept mainly as a companion animal, especially by butchers, who had the means to feed them. However, the high cost of the diet of these dogs, as well as the emergence of new giant breeds such as the St. Bernard and Newfoundland, meant that the mastiff population began to decline. By the end of World War II, there was only one half-bred Mastiff in England capable of reproducing offspring. This dog, along with the bitch "Dogue de Bordeaux", subsequently gave rise to no less than twenty of his offspring who remained in the United States to restore the breed's population. These progenitor mastiffs laid the foundation for the history of the American Mastiff.
Origin and development of the American mastiff in the USA
Mastiffs in the United States have a longer history than any other breed. The formidable Malossians were brought to America by pilgrims on the British merchant ship Mayflower. Many other early colonists imported these dogs for protection and protection. After World War II, the Mastiff quickly gained popularity in the United States, eventually becoming one of the thirty most popular breeds according to American Kennel Club (AKC) registration statistics.
Many breeders have worked hard to restore the species to its former glory while maintaining a superior temperament. Among these breeders was Frederica Wagner, who worked for the Flying W Farms community in Pikton, Ohio. Unfortunately, in the course of breeding, the mastiff began to suffer from a number of flaws. As with all large breeds, these animals had a number of health problems such as bloating, bone growth abnormalities, and a relatively short lifespan.
The dog also had problems common to many brachycephalic dogs (with short snouts), such as shortness of breath and intolerance to warm climates. As the species became highly inbred, other genetic flaws were also fairly common. That is, the dogs were bred by closely related relationships. In addition, the mastiff is known to be very drooling, which often hangs from the corners of its mouth. Many hobbyists have become anxious about the future of the breed, especially from inexperienced or dishonest breeders looking for a profit.
Breeds used to improve the breed characteristics of the American Mastiff
At some point, in the late 1980s or early 1990s, Frederica Wagner decided to try to breed a significantly healthier dog by crossing the English Mastiff with a breed she called the Anatolian Mastiff. But, in fact, she is better known as the Anatolian Shepherd Dog.
As one of the oldest breeds in the world, the ancestors of the Anatolian Shepherd Dog may have been present in eastern Turkey for over 6,000 years. Until the 1970s, when the species was first introduced to the West, the Anatolian Shepherd Dog was bred essentially exclusively as a livestock guardian. The dog spent its life with herds of sheep and goats, protecting them from human thieves, wolves and other predators.
Some argue that this breed is a member of the mastiff family, but many others classify it differently. It is clear that this is one of the largest canine species in the world, and many of its representatives are comparable in height in walking with the tallest Great Danes and Irish Wolfhounds. Anatolian Shepherds have a much fiercer reputation than English Mastiffs, as well as much stronger protective instincts.
However, they also have a reputation for being very healthy animals. Several health studies have shown that the Anatolian Shepherd Dog lives on average two to five years longer than most other giant breeds, and has significantly lower rates for many health problems. This breed also has relatively tight lips and is not as slobbering as the English Mastiff.
Frederica Wagner's goal was to maintain the appearance and temperament of the English Mastiff, while instilling easier salivation and excellent health in the Anatolian Shepherd. During the 1990s, she worked to improve her breed. Anatolian Shepherds were only used in the very early stages of the breeding program, followed by the English Mastiffs.
Calling her dogs American Mastiffs, Wagner eventually settled on a breeding ratio of about 1/8 of the Anatolian Shepherd and 7/8 of the English Mastiff. Frederica carefully controlled who was allowed to breed her dogs' offspring, allowing only a few approved breeders to continue her work. By the late 1990s, Wagner was quite happy with the Flying W Farms community. The breeder discontinued any additional outcrosses and began breeding exclusively from her existing lines.
Confession of the American Mastiff
In 2000, the Continental Kennel Club (CKC) was the first organization to receive official American Mastiff recognition. In 2002, the American Mastiff Breeders Council (AMBC) was formed by Frederica Wagner and a small number of breeders whom she allowed to breed these dogs. AMBC remains very exclusive. Since 2012, it has only eleven official breeders.
AMBC works to maintain the health, temperament and appearance of the breed. The group has yet to decide to abandon the species recognition work at major clubs such as the AKC and the United Kennel Club (UKC). Part of this is their personal preference for making the American Mastiff purely a companion breed rather than a show dog. This is believed to help maintain the good health of the breed.
Confusion over the breed name of the American Mastiff
There is another breed of dog that is known as the American Mastiff, specifically the American Panja Mastiff. This breed was developed by crossing small-breeds, Pit Bulls, Rottweilers, American Bulldogs and many other supposedly "aggressive breeds" of drug traffickers in Detroit and other cities used to guard homes and their surrounding areas.
The American Mastiff Panja has nothing to do with the American Mastiff, other than their common Malossian ancestor. However, the similarities between their two names have caused confusion, which is considered highly undesirable by AMBC, as the American Panja Mastiff has earned a reputation as an aggressor and a fighting dog.
Numerous controversies surrounding the American Mastiff breed
The development of the American Mastiff has not gone without extreme controversy, primarily among its breeders. English mastiff lovers tend to be extremely critical of the American Mastiff, especially the breed's name. They believe that the congestion of the Anatolian Shepherd Dog has seriously undermined the character and appearance of their breed.
British breeders strongly object to the fact that the American Mastiff is generally called a Mastiff, and have repeatedly challenged their legal actions in court to force a similar name to be changed, preferring the terms American Anatolian Molosser or American Anatolian Molosser Mastiff.
This seems to irritate fans of English Mastiffs, as most breed members are usually described as being nearly identical to their English counterparts in appearance and temperament, but with less salivation and better health. Such claims are fully disputed by the Mastiff Club of America (MCOA) and many breed lovers. Arguments between the two groups often lead to highly personal conflicts.
Interestingly, breeders have no problem using the word "mastiff" for other breeds of the same type, such as bullmastiff, Spanish, Neapolitan, or Tibetan, claiming historical preference, and breeders of these dogs do not directly compare their breeds to the American Mastiff. … Some hobbyists claim that they have no problem with the American Panja Mastiff, but only with the American Mastiff.
Since the American Mastiff was newly developed, it is too early to tell how effective Frederica Wagner and other AMBC breeders are in achieving their goals. They claim that their dogs are significantly less sick and drool and have on average a longer lifespan than English Mastiffs. Preliminary evidence may support these claims, but it's too early to talk about it yet.
British breeders vigorously dispute them, claiming that this is outright fraud and that any health improvements are the result of careful breeding practices. Experts say that English mastiff breeders who take care and precautions get the same results. However, these detractors do not seem to provide any evidence to back up their claims.
American breeders also say that their canines are almost identical in appearance and temperament to English mastiffs, which is even more strongly contested by English breeders. The British believe that American Mastiffs exhibit poor physical characteristics in external data, and are prone to more aggressive, shy and erratic manifestations of temperament.
It will probably take several decades of recording and research before anything can be said about the character of the American Mastiff. So far, it is almost impossible to obtain objective information, since both sides in the dispute adhere to their position. As far as the aspect of appearance goes, both sides likely have a solid foundation to continue the bickering. The American Mastiff does look quite similar to its English counterpart that most casual hobbyists would not notice the difference. However, such people cannot tell the difference between most dogs and probably confuse the Shih Tzu with the Lhasa Apso, the Belgian Shepherd for the German Shepherd. According to an experienced breeder, a breeder with significant experience with mastiffs will never mistake an American Mastiff for a purebred English.
The current state of the American Mastiff
American Mastiffs are generally more compact and less bulky than English cousins, but their heads are the main difference. American Mastiffs, for the most part, have a significantly longer snout with fewer wrinkles than other English Mastiffs, as well as a less intimidating appearance and lack of traditional mastiff expression. These differences in the US version are not necessarily bad. They are probably primarily responsible for any reduction in salivation and improved health compared to its English ancestor.
Despite criticism, AMBC continues to act as it has in the past and does not seem to be planning on changing the breed's name. Since the club is extremely tightly regulated, the breed is growing slowly. By sticking to such a project, the club wants to prevent problems caused by too rapid population expansion, as in some other breeds.
American Mastiffs are definitely growing in popularity and continue to find new amateurs. The future of the companion dog breed will almost certainly continue in the pet path. Due to the low number of herds and the recent creation, the long-term future of this breed remains uncertain, and it remains to be seen if the American Mastiff will become a unique breed.
