 the english mastiff, referred to by most kennel clubs simply as the mastiff, is a breed of large, beautiful dog perhaps descended from the ancient alaunt and pugnaces britanniae, with a significant input from the alpine mastiff in the 19th century. distinguishable by enormous size, massive head, and a limited range of colours, but always displaying a black mask, the mastiff is noted for its gentle and loving nature. the lineage of modern dogs can be traced back to the early 19th century, the modern type was stabilised in the 1880s and refined since. following a period of sharp decline, the mastiff has increased its worldwide popularity. throughout its history, the mastiff has contributed to the development of a number of dog breeds, some generally known as mastiff-type dogs, or, confusingly, just as "mastiffs" . ==appearance== thumb|||fawn english mastiff  with a massive body, broad skull and head of generally square appearance, it is the largest dog breed in terms of mass. though the irish wolfhound and great dane are taller, they are not nearly as robust. the body is large with great depth and breadth, especially between the forelegs, causing these to be set wide apart. the akc standard height (per their website) for this breed is  at the shoulder for males and  (minimum) at the shoulder for females. a typical male can weigh , a typical female can weigh , with show specimens tending towards the upper ranges. ===coat colour standards=== the former standard specified the coat should be short
Dog_breeds Dog_breeds_originating_in_England Dog_fighting_breeds Molossers National_symbols_of_England