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Short History of the Breed
The American Mastiff was developed over many years of selective breeding by Fredericka Wagner of Flying W Farms in Piketon, Ohio. The goal was to develop a dog that had the size, temperament, disposition and the appearance of the Mastiff, but with fewer health problems and much dryer mouth than other mastiff breeds. This was accomplished by crossing the English Mastiff with the Anatolian Mastiff during the early development of the breed.
The only way to ensure you're getting a true purebred American Mastiff is to obtain one from the 10-approved American Mastiff breeders belonging to the AMBC (American Mastiff Breeders Council). www.AmericanMastiffBreedersCouncil.com. The American Mastiff should not be confused with the Panja Mastiff.
The American Mastiff is recognized and registered with the CKC (The Continental Kennel Club) www.continentalkennelclub.com. The CKC recognized the American Mastiff Breed as Purebred in January 2000. Thereafter, only offspring of purebred registered American Mastiffs having CKC AR numbers will be accepted for registration as Purebred American Mastiffs.
Physical Description & Size
General Appearance: The American mastiff is a large, massive, powerful dog with a moderately broad head, dropped ears, kindly wide set eyes, of brown or amber color, the darker the better. Powerful neck, wide, deep chest, muscular back. Tail is wide at the root, tapering to the end, hanging straight in repose, forming slight curve. The overall appearance should be of proportions slightly longer in body than in height.
Size: Height at maturity is typically 32 to 36 inches for males. Males average weight is 160 to over 200 pounds. Height at maturity for females is typically 28 to 34 inches. Females average between 140 and 180 pounds. Larger or smaller for both males and females is acceptable provided the dog is in good proportion and structurally balanced.
Bite: Scissors bite preferred, but a moderately undershot jaw should not be faulted providing the teeth are not visible when the mouth is closed.
Coat: The coat must be short and dense, and of a fawn , apricot or brindle color. However, as in other mastiff breeds, very rarely a puppy will have a longer coat. This is known as a "fluffy" and is extremely rare but not a fault.
Colors: Fawn, (in varying shades from very light cream to darker fawn) also Apricot and Brindle. Brindle should have fawn or apricot as a background color which should be patterned with dark stripes. Puppies are all born dark, and lighten as they grow older, some becoming very light fawn by age one year. Some retain dark hairs (not a fault). White on foot, chest , nose and sometimes the chin is not a fault.
Muzzle: Muzzle should be dark in color (the darker the better) with same color around the eye orbits and extending upward between them. This is know as the "Black mask". All American Mastiffs must exhibit the black mask in order to meet the breed standard.
Legs: Strong, set wide apart, heavy boned. Feet are large, round, and compact.
Gait: In movement, the gait denotes power and strength; rear legs drive while forelegs track smoothly with good reach.
Temperament:
The American mastiff is a combination of grandeur, good nature and gentleness. Dignity rather than gaiety. They are neither shy nor vicious. The well-trained American Mastiff is calm, controlled and confident. Understanding, patient and loving with their family, especially children. They are generally aloof towards strangers. A well-socialized American Mastiff is friendly yet sensitive and alert to changing situations. They are not aggressive by nature but will defend their family if necessary. They respond to threats with judicious warnings and courageous action if needed.
Health Issues & Life Expectancy
The American Mastiff is generally a healthy breed and has been bred specifically to have less health problems and a longer lifespan than other mastiff breeds. The typical lifespan of the American Mastiff is about 10-12 years.
Additional Resources
American Mastiff FamilyAmerican Mastiff Family Forum
American Mastiff Breeders Council
The American Mastiff
