# Mastiff

A mastiff is a large and powerful type of dog. Mastiffs are among the largest dogs, and typically have a short coat, a long low-set tail and large feet; the skull is large and bulky, the muzzle broad and short (brachycephalic) and the ears drooping and pendant-shaped. European and Asian records dating back 3,000 years show dogs of the mastiff type. Mastiffs have historically been guard dogs, protecting homes and property, although throughout history they have been used as hunting dogs, war dogs and for blood sports, such as fighting each other and other animals, including bulls, bears and even lions.

## History

Historical and archaeological evidence suggests that mastiffs have long been distinct in both form and function from the similarly large livestock guardian dogs from which they were most likely developed; they also form separate genetic populations. The Fédération Cynologique Internationale and some kennel clubs group the two types together as molossoid dogs; some modern livestock guardian breeds, such as the Pyrenean Mastiff, the Spanish Mastiff and the Tibetan Mastiff, and an extinct draught dog called the Belgian Mastiff, have the word "mastiff" in their name, but are not considered true mastiffs.
Many older English sources refer to mastiffs as bandogs or bandogges, although technically the term "bandog" meant a dog that was tethered by a chain (or "bande") that would be released at night; the terms "mastiff" and "bandog" were often used interchangeably. One of the most famous "bandog" programs in England, led to the establishment of a recognized "bandog" breed known today as the Bull Mastiff. The least common "bandog" program in England was funded by Sir Nathanael Dieu-est-Mon'plaisir, the St. Louis Vincent Mastiff or South American Mastiff was named after Vincent Louis who reared plantation dogs originating from St. Louis and other parts of South America. This rare breed is the most expensive mastiff-type dog amongst the "bandog" breeds. In the twentieth century the term "bandog" was revived to describe some large fighting mastiff type dogs crossed with any bulldog in the United States.

## List of mastiff breeds
### Extant breeds

| Breed | Alternate name(s) | Country of origin | Use |
| Alano Español | Spanish AlanoSpanish Bulldog | Spain | War dog, bull-baiting, big-game hunting |
| Alapaha Blue Blood Bulldog | | United States | Guard dog |
| American Bulldog | Old Southern White BulldogOld Southern WhiteEnglish White BulldogWhite EnglishHill BulldogCountry Bulldog | United States | catch dog, farm dog |
| Boerboel | South African Mastiff | South Africa | Guard dog |
| Boxer | German BoxerDeutscher Boxer | Germany | big-game hunting |
| Broholmer | Danish Mastiff | Denmark | Guard dog |
| Bulldog | English BulldogBritish Bulldog | United Kingdom (England) | Companion dog, formerly bull-baiting |
| Bullmastiff | Gamekeeper's Night Dog | United Kingdom (England) | Guard dog |
| Bully Kutta | Indian MastiffPakistani MastiffSindhi MastiffIndian BullyPakistani Bully | India and Pakistan | dog fighting |
| Campeiro Bulldog | Brazilian BulldogCountryside BulldogPampas Bulldog | Brazil | Catch dog, butcher's dog |
| Cane Corso | Italian MastiffItalian Corso DogItalian CorsoCane Corso Italiano | Italy | Guard dog, catch dog |
| Cão Fila de São Miguel | São Miguel Cattle DogSaint Miguel Cattle DogAzores Cattle DogAzores Cow Dog | Portugal | Cattle-herding dog, catch dog |
| Chongqing dog | | China | Guard dog |
| Cimarrón Uruguayo | CimarrónUruguayan CimarrónCimarrón CreoleMaroon DogCerro Largo DogPerro CimarrónCimarrón DogUruguayan Gaucho Dog | Uruguay | Guard dog |
| Continental Bulldog | Swiss Bulldog | Switzerland | Companion dog |
| Dogo Argentino | Argentine DogoArgentine Mastiff | Argentina | Guard dog, big-game hunting, dog fighting |
| Dogo Guatemalteco | Guatemalan DogoGuatemalan Bull TerrierBullterrier Guatemalteco | Guatemala | Guard dog, formerly bull-baiting |
| Dogue Brasileiro | | Brazil | Guard dog |
| Dogue de Bordeaux | French MastiffBordeaux MastiffBordeaux dog | France | Guard dog |
| English Mastiff | Old English MastiffMastiff | United Kingdom (England) | Guard dog |
| Fila Brasileiro | Brazilian MastiffCão de Fila Brasileiro | Brazil | Guard dog |
| French Bulldog | Bouledogue Français | France | Lap dog |
| Great Dane | Deutsche DoggeGerman MastiffGerman Boarhound | Germany | Big-game hunting |
| Kurdish Mastiff | Pishdar dogAssyrian Shepherd | Iraq | Guard dog |
| Neapolitan Mastiff | Mastino Napoletano | Italy | Guard dog |
| Olde English Bulldogge | | United States | Modern-day re-creation of the extinct Old English Bulldog |
| Perro de Presa Canario | Canary MastiffCanary Catch DogPresa CanarioDogo Canario | Canary Islands | Guard dog, catch dog |
| Perro de Presa Mallorquin | Ca de BouMajorca MastiffPerro Dogo Mallorquin | Spain | Bull-baiting |
| Rottweiler | | Germany | Guard dog |
| Serrano Bulldog | Buldogue Serrano | Brazil | Herding dog, butcher's dog |
| Tosa | Tosa InuTosa KenTosa TōkenJapanese MastiffJapanese TosaJapanese Fighting DogTosa Fighting Dog | Japan | Dog fighting |

### Extinct breeds

| Breed | Alternate name(s) | Country or region of origin | Era | Use |
| Alaunt | Alaunt de Boucherie | Europe, Central Asia | Classical antiquitythe Middle Ages | Big-game hunting, guard dog, dog fighting |
| Bullenbeisser | BärenbeisserGerman Bulldog | Germany | to World War II | Bull-baiting (as Bullenbeisser), bear-baiting (as Bärenbeisser) |
| Córdoba fighting dog | Córdoba dogCórdobese dogPerro de Pelea Cordobés | Argentina | to the 1920s | Dog fighting |
| Dogo Cubano | Cuban MastiffCuban BloodhoundCuban DogoCuban Dogge | Cuba | 16th – late 19th C | Recapturing runaway slaves, bull-baiting, dog fighting |
| Fila da Terceira | Terceira MastiffCão de Fila da TerceiraRabo Torto | Portugal | to the 1970s | Catch dog |
| Molossus | Molossian HoundEpirus Mastiff | Southern Europe | Classical antiquity | War dog, guard dog, big-game hunting, dog fighting |
| Old English Bulldog | | Great Britain and Ireland | 17th–19th C | dog fighting |
| Toy Bulldog | Miniature BulldogEnglish Toy Bulldog | United Kingdom (England) | 18th – early 20th C | Lap dog |