The Spanish Mastiff
The Spanish Mastiff is the national dog breed of Spain and is now the most numerous of all the native Spanish dog breeds in that country, currently around 24000 Spanish Mastiffs live in Spain. The province of Leon in north-western Spain has the largest Spanish Mastiff population in the country, particularly in the mountains. Leon is now known as the Spanish Mastiff capital. Even though the Mastin Espanol (Spanish Mastiff) is a very rare breed in other countries, this is a very popular dog in his native Spain. In fact, the breed is almost as common there as the Labrador Retriever is in North America. Some of the finest, pure bred, show-quality Spanish Mastiff stock can be found in both the Madrid-region of Spain and in Holland and MECA (the Mastin Espanol Club of America). The MECA is now importing and breeding stock from those regions to work towards improving the Spanish Mastiff bloodlines in North America and educating the public on the breed. However, Holland is more recommended, because in Spain, they are more likely to sell you a pet-quality dog. Some of the Spanish Mastiff's talents include watchdogging, guarding, police work, military work, tracking and hunting. The Spanish Mastiff is the father of the Portuguese Rafeiro do Alentejo and has played a role in the ancestry and development of some other Mastiff breeds such as the St. Bernard, Dogo Argentino, the recently created Asian Shepherd and possibly some others Molosser breeds known today. The breed has suffered from extensive crossbreeding with foreign Mastiff breeds, such as the St. Bernard and others, during the the past few decades which caused a big decline in the numbers of purebred specimens. But the Mastin is now back to its pure form.
The Spanish Mastiff should be 28-35 inches tall. Males should weigh 185-220 pounds, females should be 145-170 pounds.
Health concerns in the breed include hip dysplasia, heart problems and Entropion (inversion of the eye lids). Also pano-ostiosis (growing pains), which occurs when they are growing puppies. This breed is also prone to bloat. It is wise to feed the Spanish Mastiff several small meals rather than one big one. Births are difficult in some Spanish Mastiffs and C-cections are often needed.
Do not allow the Spanish Mastiff to over exert them selves, such as, jumping, running and going up and down stairs, when it is a puppy. The reason is; this is a very fast growing breed (in a period between 6 and 8 months old, they can easily put on 100 lb.). It needs to save time and energy to develop healthy bones, muscles and tendons. When fully mature, this breed has an average need for exercise. Like all giant dogs, this breed is very slow to mature, especially the males which keep growing up until 2.5 to 4 years of age and it is rather short-lived. They have a fairly low activity level and needs only a moderate amount of exercise.
You should also be aware that this breed drools and slobbers and may snore loudly.
