Connect with responsible Mastiff breeders and find the ideal breeding partner for your gentle giant
Understanding your Mastiff's massive size and guardian heritage is essential for responsible breeding
Male: 160-230 lbs
Female: 120-170 lbs
Male: 30+ inches
Female: 27.5+ inches
6-10 years
Giant breed lifespan
Gentle, Protective
Gentle giants
Record holder weighed 343 lbs. Males routinely exceed 200 lbs. Size comes with major health costs. Bigger is not better.
Bred for 5,000+ years as war dogs and guardians. Natural protective instinct. Gentle with family but wary of strangers.
Excessive drooling is breed characteristic. Keep towels everywhere. Shake heads and fling drool on walls/ceiling. Not for neat freaks.
Despite size, relatively low exercise needs. Short walks sufficient. Heat intolerant. Prefer being near family indoors.
Mastiffs face severe health challenges with tragically short lifespans requiring careful breeding decisions
LEADING CAUSE OF DEATH. Can kill in hours. Prophylactic gastropexy HIGHLY recommended. Feed multiple small meals, use slow feeders.
OFA or PennHIP testing MANDATORY. Devastating in giant dogs. Both parents must have good/excellent ratings. Poor hips = suffering.
OFA elbow evaluation MANDATORY. Common in Mastiffs. Can cause severe lameness. Surgery often unsuccessful in giant breeds.
Osteosarcoma (bone cancer) and lymphoma common. No genetic test. Often strikes middle-aged dogs. Usually fatal.
Genetic test available. Causes bladder stones. Can be life-threatening in males. Test all breeding stock.
Genetic test available. Causes blindness. Both parents should be tested. Two carriers should never be bred.
Dilated cardiomyopathy and subaortic stenosis occur. Annual cardiac evaluation by cardiologist recommended.
Common due to massive weight. Surgery costs $4,000-8,000. Often both knees affected. Keep dogs lean.
Bloat is the leading cause of death in Mastiffs. The stomach fills with gas and twists, cutting off blood supply. Death occurs within HOURS without emergency surgery.
Prevention is critical:
Many Mastiff breeders lose dogs to bloat. Gastropexy during spay/neuter can prevent tragedy.
Most Mastiffs die by age 7-8. Many don't reach 6. Giant size causes: Heart strain, joint destruction, increased cancer risk, organ failure. Everything costs more: Food ($200+/month), medications (dosed by weight), surgery, even cremation. Giant puppies grow 100x their birth weight in first year - incorrect nutrition causes permanent damage. Consider whether breeding for extreme size is ethical given the health consequences. Smaller, healthier Mastiffs (150-180 lbs) often live longer.
Follow these essential guidelines for responsible Mastiff breeding
Male Mastiffs
2.5 to 6 years
Female Mastiffs
2.5 to 5 years
Giant breeds mature slowly - wait until fully grown. Short lifespan means limited breeding years. Many die by 7-8.
Mastiffs face serious health challenges. Focus on longevity and quality of life. Consider gastropexy for all breeding dogs.
Females: Maximum once per year, 2-3 litters lifetime
Giant breed pregnancies extremely taxing. Need full recovery
Short lifespan and difficult pregnancies mean very limited breeding opportunities
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Expert advice and tips for Mastiff breeding
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