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The Spanish Mastiff is a large breed of dog, originating in Spain, originally bred to be a guard dog whose purpose is to defend livestock from wolves and other predators.
The Spanish Mastiff is a giant breed ranging from 180-220 lbs. for males and 140-190 lbs. for females.
The Spanish Mastiff is a stocky, robust, rustic-looking dog. Very large and rather lengthy with a massive chest and the power of a heavyweight contender. The body should be rectangular, well muscled and with strong bone. It has a massive, well-proportioned head with a deep muzzle, strong jaws, full lips and a characteristic dewlap on the neck, showing clearly his mastiff type.
The Spanish Mastiff has double dewclaws on it's hind feet, a characteristic this breed shares with such breeds as the Great Pyrenees. The short coat is straight with a dense under-layer and an almost wooly texture. The skin should be abundant and loose on the body. Colors include plain yellow, red, black, wolf-grey, and red-brown, or broken colors or spotted. White should not be too dominant. The center of the back and the tail have longer hair.
The eyes are small, commonly sporting a relaxed, carefree expression masking his ever watchful eyes. The ears are pointed and pendent. The tail is fringed and carried low. Although a very heavy breed, its movement should be free and flexible. There exists two types of Mastin Espanol: a bigger, heavier mountain type known as the Mastin Pesado (Heavy Mastiff) and a lighter, more refined stepp type called Mastin Ligero (Light Mastiff). The heavier mountain type is the type of Spanish Mastiff that participates at dog shows and expositions, since they are more impressive to look at and is most populous in the mountains in the North of Spain.
This type has more head, more bone mass, more loose skin, is more "Mastiffy", has more dewlap and can weigh well over 200 lb. While lighter stepp type is faster, more agile and athletic and is more common in the Meseta and in Andalucia (in the south of Spain). However, these two types are not regarded as breeds of their own, but rather they are regional variants (the heavy type from the north and the light type from the south and central parts of the country) of the same breed and the two types often interbreed.
The Spanish Mastiff temperament is kind and friendly, but are protective of their family members and property. They are extremely intelligent and independent thinkers as flock guardians are known to be. This characteristic allows the Spanish Mastiff to work on their own without waiting for direction from their owners. Their coat is medium length, the texture resembling that of a plush rug. Maintenance is minimal for the Spanish Mastiff coat, requiring brushing but no clipping.
Appearance: The Spanish Mastiff is a very large and powerful dog, similar in appearance to the other Mastiff breeds. They have a large powerful head, with loose folds of skin and a double dewlap on the neck. Males in this breed are at least 77 cm tall at the withers, and range from 50-65 kgs. Females are at least 72cm, and weigh 50-60 kgs.
The Spanish Mastiffs, although named mastiff, fill flock-guard positions. They share a similar history to all flock-guarding dogs from Spain and Portugal. Landing with the Phoenicians, they were part of the tradition of the Trashu-mante (flock migrations) in the southern routes of Spain. Those that spilled over into Portugal became the Estrela and the Rafeiro do Alentejo.
Still found guarding cattle and sheep in the hills of Spain, this dog is a powerful, protective animal with infinite color variance. As is true of many large animals (and humans), he does not feel the need to show his obvious strength. He is alert, but calm and unruffled. The stock guardian sounds the alarm to the shepherd, then becomes quiet and attentive, not attacking.
The breed is still natural in its behavior and instincts. Expectant dams find a secluded place to bear and raise their puppies. The Spanish Mastiff is gentle with other animals even cats and loving to his owners. He enjoys being with his family and doing a job for them. This dog is easily satisfied with minimal exercise and grooming. Owners that do not raise stock find them apt family guardians, search-and-rescue dogs or obedience workers. Currently, there are breeders in Switzerland and Germany, and the dogs are beginning to infiltrate the USA and other countries. They are seen occasionally at international dog shows.
This dog has a long muzzle compared to many other mastiffs. It has small eyes and drop ears resembling triangles. This dog's coat is most often reddish or fawn-colored, but can also be brindle, black or 'wolf' colored.
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