Mastiff
Dog Painting
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Mastiff dog painting |
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There are at least two lines of dogs competing for the breed name
American Mastiff; neither is recognized by the American Kennel Club,
although the Flying W American Mastiff is recognized by the Continental
Kennel Club. One line is the dryer-mouthed American Mastiff, developed by the Flying W Farms kennel. Flying W Farms had bred English Mastiffs for decades, but noticed several negative health characteristics incumbent within the breed, namely hip dysplasia, excessive drooling, a shorter lifespan, and chronic elbow and knee problems, although it is important to keep in mind that not all English Mastiffs suffer from these ailments. (Historically, the overwhelming majority of English Mastiffs were located in England, particularly prior to World War II. During the Great War, the breed almost vanished entirely from England; with resources scarce, it was difficult to feed and house a large breed dog that consumed almost as much daily as an active soldier. After the war, the English Mastiff breed rebounded in the United States, but with its bloodlines extremely narrowed. Many experts believe that the narrowing of the English Mastiff's bloodlines resulted in its negative health characteristics -- hip dysplasia, excessive drooling, a shorter lifespan, and chronic elbow and knee problems -- being compunded.) Hoping to correct these faults, Flying W Farms crossed the English Mastiff with an Anatolian Shepherd, a dog that is a guarding breed known for its intelligence, lengthy lifespan for a large breed, and being protective of his family, stock and territory. Flying W engaged in aggressive medical screening of its sires and dams, and the result if the American Mastiff, which are 7/8 English Mastiff and 1/8 Anatolian Shepherd. The new breed looks exactly like a English Mastiff, but without the excessive drooling that is common in the English Mastiff. This American Mastiff loves children and are devoted to their families. These are loyal and calm dogs. They are generally non-aggressive except when their family is threatened. In those instances they become fierce and courageous guard dogs. American Mastiffs generally weigh between 150 and 250 pounds |
