Spanish Mastiff Special Information

The name used in Spain to identify the Spanish mastiff is Mastn Espao. The Spanish Mastiff is a large dog that people bred for its strength and skill. It acted as a powerful dog to provide protection to sheep as they grazed in the pastures. It is a reputable brave dog having the ability to defend and guard livestock' herds from the predatory animals like wolves in addition to other wild animals that attack farm animals. It is commonly thought that the Spanish Mastiff is a descendent of the Greek dogs that were brought to Spain in 1000 BC. These dogs were mainly introduced by the Phoenician and Greek Marine traders who visited the Iberian Peninsula in that time. The Greeks were known for utilizing similar dogs for their large size and strength during warfare and battles.

During the conquest of North and South America the Spanish also used the Spanish Mastiff along with other Molossers to battle the North American tribes including the Mayans and the Aztecs. These dogs that had been trained for combat were feared by the native Indians due to their fierce nature and strength. The visual appearance of the Spanish Mastiff is that of a large and imposing animal. It is comparable to other mastiff breeds in look and has a big head that has loose folds of skin along with the characteristic double dewlap on the dog's neck. Normally, Male Spanish Mastiff grow to a height of up to thirty inches at the withers. Their weight ranges from 110 to 140 pounds. Females on the other hand grow to be 28 inches and their weight ranges at 110 to 130 pounds. There are also Spanish mastiffs that are very big to the point of being double this size.

The Spanish mastiff has a longer muzzle compared to the muzzles of other mastiff breeds. In addition to this, the dog has extremely small eyes and triangular-shaped drop ears. The coat of this dog is generally of reddish or fawn color but you can also find mastiffs having coats of brindle, black and the coat color of a wolf. The coat of this dog has fur with a woolly texture that keeps it warm together with the heavy layer of skin underneath. The Spanish mastiff is short but strong and healthy. Its chest is like that found on animals with too much weight and the shape of its body is rectangular with adequate muscles and heavy, strong bones. The Spanish mastiff shares the double dewclaw characteristic of the hind feet with the Great Pyrenees breed. This dog has a low tail that has a fringed texture. This is very agile dog that moves smoothly disregarding the truth that it is large in size.

There are generally two types of Spanish mastiff one which is the heavy mastiff and the other which is the light mastiff known as Mastin Pesado and Mastin Ligero in Spanish. The heavier mastiff is the mountain type dog from the north of Spain and is a show dog as they're very beautiful to look at. The lighter mastiff is faster and agile and found in the southern part of Spain. They are not regarded as individual breeds but are regional variants of the same Spanish mastiff.

Spanish Mastiff  Guard and defense dog. The Spanish Mastiff  breed is closely related to the seasonal moving in the livestock, and especially the Merino livestock which he already accompanied at the time of the “Mesta”(association, in the Middle-age, of breeders of the wandering herds) by defending them from wolves and other predators, all along their journey from one location to other and on the grazing pastures, in all seasons and sites. Actually he accompanies numerous herds, whether sedentary or wandering by fulfilling his ancestral task. He performs in the same way the function of guard and protection of farms, people and properties in general.

It is a Spanish Mastiff of great size, hypermetic, of medium proportions and of sub-long line structure. Well balanced, very powerful and muscular. Compact bone structure. Massive head and a body covered with a semi-long coat. Most important are balance and functional harmony in the dog standing as well on the move. His bark is raucous, low pitched and deep, very sonorous, audible from a considerable distance. The length of the body exceeds the height at the withers. The relation between the length of the skull and that of the muzzle must be 3/2.

There Spanish Mastiff is no upper limit of size, the subjects of greatest size being the ones most highly thought after providing they are of harmonious proportions. Height at the withers : Minimum size for males : 77 cm. for bitches : 72 cm. It is desirable that these measurements be amply exceded; the size in males should be over 80 cm, and in females over 75 cm.


Spanish Mastiff temperament is a very intelligent dog, not without beauty, whose expression manifests both these qualities. Rustic, affectionate, kind and noble, he is very determined when facing dangerous animals and in front of strangers, especially when he has the opportunity to defend and protect farms or cattle. In his behaviour, one can see it is a dog sure of himself, determining his strength because he is aware of his enormous power.


Spanish Mastiff HEAD : Big, strong and shaped like a truncated pyramid with broad basis. The whole of the skull and muzzle, seen from above, must be square and well linked, without a very marked diminution of width between the base of the muzzle and the temporal bones. The faciocranial axes are moderately divergent. Skull : Broad, strong, profile sub-convex. The width of the skull should be equal or superior to its length. Frontal sinus accentuated. Occipital crest marked. Stop : Slightly sloping, not very accentuated.


Nose : Black, wet, big and broad. Muzzle : Straight nasal bridge. Seen from above, the muzzle appears moderately rectangular, tapering gradually in width towards the nose, but still keeping an appreciable width. In no case it should be pointed. Lips : The upper lip largely covering the lower lip; the lower lip with slak mucous membranes forms a very loose labial commissure. The mucous membranes must be black. Jaws/Teeth : Scissor bite. Teeth white, solid and sound. Big, pointed canines assuring a good hold of prey. Molars solid and powerful. Incisors rather small. All premolars should be present. Palate black, with well marked ridges. 

Eyes : Small in comparison with the skull, almond shaped, preferably dark, of hazel colour. The look is attentive, noble, soft and intelligent, very hard in front of strangers. Eyelids of thick tissue, with black pigmentation. The lower lid allows a part of the conjunctiva to be seen. Ears : Of medium size and hanging; triangular shape, flat. Attached above the eye-line. At rest, hanging close to the cheeks, without being too close to the skull. In attention, they come away from the cheeks and are partially pricked in the back part of their top third. They must not be cropt.

Spanish Mastiff BODY : Rectangular. Stocky and robust, showing great power; yet supple and agile. Topline : Straight, horizontal including while on the move. Withers : Well marked. Back : Powerful, muscled. Loin : Long, broad and powerful; its dimensions decreasing down towards the flank. Croup : Broad and solid. Its inclination to the horizontal is of some 45°. The height at the croup is equal to the height at the withers. Chest : Broad, deep, muscled and powerful. The point of the sternum marked. Ribs with wide intercostal spaces, rounded, not flat. The minimum thoracic perimeter exceeds by about 1/3 the height at the withers. Belly and flank : Belly very moderately tucked-up; the flank let down and very ample.

Spanish Mastiff TAIL : Very thick at its root and set at medium height. Solid, supple and covered with hair longer than that of the rest of the body. At rest it is carried low, distinctly reaching the hock; sometimes forms a curve in its last quarter. When the dog is moving or animated, he will raise it sabre fashion, with a curve at its tip, but never curved in all its length nor carried over the croup.


COLOUR : Indifferent. The colours most appreciated being the selfcoloured like yellow, fawn, red, black, wolf colour and deer-colour; also appreciated are the combined colours like brindle, parti-coloured or dogs with a white collar.

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