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There are at least two lines of dogs competing
for the breed name American Mastiff; neither is recognized by
any major English-language kennel club, although the Flying W
American Mastiff is recognized by the Continental Kennel Club.
The American Mastiff (Panja) has a curious and alert expression. The small eyes are wide set and almond shaped, with a classic broad 60/40 head, widest at the ears. They have a scissor bite.
The American Mastiff (Panja) should be "dry mouthed" and flews should not protrude. Ear crop is short, but NOT the "fighting" crop; natural ears are okay as long as they are the "button" style. (This type of ear stands on it's own; just the top 1/4 to 1/3 is turned down towards the FRONT ONLY.) American Mastiffs (Panja) are a true working dog with the muscular body of an athlete. Wide chest with well sprung ribs, slight tuck-up in the mid-section. Front legs must be straight and heavy-boned, with very muscular hind quarters, with slightly angled hocks giving the impression of instant action. Dew claws are removed. The dogs must have a clean presentation.
One line is the dryer-mouthed American Mastiff, developed by
the Flying W Farms kennel. Flying W Farms has bred English
Mastiffs for decades, but noticed several negative health
characteristics incumbent within the breed, namely hip
dysplasia, excessive drooling, a shorter lifespan, and chronic
elbow and knee problems, although it is important to keep in
mind that not all English Mastiffs suffer from these ailments.
During World War II, English Mastiffs nearly vanished from
England; with resources limited due to the war effort, it
became unpopular to feed a dog quantities of food that could
feed an active soldier. Following the war, the English
Mastiffs breed began to recover in North America, but perhaps
due to the dramatic narrowing of the breed's bloodlines, many
of these negative health traits began appearing more
frequently. In order to correct these faults, Flying W Farms
crossed the English Mastiff with an Anatolian Shepherd and
engaged in aggressive medical screening of its sires and dams.
Flying W Farms American Mastiffs are 7/8 English Mastiff and
1/8 Anatolian Shepherd.
This resulted in a breed that looks exactly like the English
Mastiff but without the excessive drooling that is common in
the English Mastiff. This American Mastiff loves children and
are devoted to their families. These are loyal and calm dogs.
They are generally non-aggressive except when their family is
threatened. In those instances they become fierce and
courageous guard dogs. American Mastiffs generally weigh
between 150 and 250 pounds.
The second line is sometimes called the Panja American
Mastiff, developed by the Panja kennel. The Panja Mastiffs
have a reputation for being much more aggressive than the
Flying W Farms breed, and less suitable for children. The
Panja American Mastiff usually grows between 22 and 26 inches
(56-66 cm.) and weighing from 80 to 100 pounds (36-45 kg.).
Both lines are very new with not much breed history, making
them ineligible for registration in most breed registries;
registries with relaxed requirements may recognize a new breed
with minimal history, such as the Continental Kennel Club's
recognition of the Flying W Farms line. Some critics claim
that these are simply crossbred dogs or variants on the
standard English Mastiff. It is not clear which line, if
either, will ultimately become a solid breed known as the
American Mastiff.
The American Mastiff (Panja) has an easy going "let me sleep on the couch" attitude. They are very devoted to their families and are excellent with children when they are raised with them from puppyhood. The American Mastiff (Panja) will take on the responsibility of watching over everything in your home, including the cat; they think everything has to be protected. Obedience training is strongly recommended to channel their protective instincts. They are an active breed and love to play. As with most intelligent dogs, the American Mastiffs (Panja) tend to get bored very easily and can be prone to chewing. They love to be around their people; and proper socialization, they are excellent travel buddies.
Mention the word "car" and they go bananas! The most impressive thing about these dogs is their guarding habits; they know when your guests are welcome in your home, and treat them as family. One owner states, "If I'm not home my dogs won't even let my parents in my home. No one gets past the check point!" These dogs require a firm handler. If you have very little experience with guard dogs then this is not the breed to start with. American Mastiffs (Panja) are strong-willed and want to be the alpha; that is what makes a great guard dog. They need an owner who knows how to show strong leadership. Any one considering this breed would have to have experience with other large dominant breeds.
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