Mastiff Dogs for Adoption in Sedalia, CO

A Mastiff is a giant working dog from Britain, also known as the English Mastiff, bred for centuries as a guardian of homes and estates. Males stand at least 30 inches at the shoulder and many weigh over 160 pounds. The breed is known for a massive head, a black mask, a short coat and a calm, dignified, good-natured temperament.

A Mastiff has a huge, square head with a short, broad muzzle, a dark mask around the eyes and nose, and small V-shaped ears that hang close to the cheeks. The body is long, deep and heavily muscled with thick bone. Its short, coarse coat comes in fawn, apricot or brindle, and the expression is typically alert but kindly.

Mastiffs were bred mainly as guardians. Large mastiff-type dogs in Britain guarded property and livestock, and historical sources describe them in war and in cruel baiting sports that are long banned. The modern breed was refined as an estate guard that would hold intruders rather than maul them, which explains its size, confidence and calm, watchful nature.

Mastiffs come from Britain, where large guard dogs were noted even by Roman writers. The modern breed was standardized in England in the nineteenth century. After World War II it nearly vanished there, and the population was rebuilt largely from dogs in North America, so American lines played a major role in the breed's survival.

The English Mastiff is generally considered the heaviest dog breed, and the heaviest dog ever recorded, at about 343 pounds, was a Mastiff named Zorba. It is not the tallest, however: Great Danes and Irish Wolfhounds usually stand taller at the shoulder. Other mastiff breeds can rival its weight, but on average it carries the most mass.

No, Mastiffs are not hypoallergenic. They have a short double coat that sheds moderately, plus heavy drool, and allergens in saliva and dander can spread around the home. People with dog allergies often find giant drooling breeds difficult. If someone in your household has allergies, spend extended time with the specific dog before committing to adoption.

Mastiffs are gentle, loyal giants, but their size shapes everything about life with them. Expect drool, moderate shedding, high food and medication costs, the need for a big vehicle and early training while they are still manageable. They often live only 6 to 10 years. In return, many offer calm companionship and quiet, dependable protection of their family.

Mastiffs are big because people selected them for size over many generations. As guard and estate dogs, sheer mass helped deter and hold intruders without the dog needing to be aggressive. In the nineteenth century, large heads, heavy bone and height were emphasized further, and the breed standard still sets minimum heights rather than maximums.

Mastiffs have a short, broad muzzle and are sometimes grouped with brachycephalic breeds, but they are much less extreme than Bulldogs or Pugs. Their muzzle is about one-third the length of the head, and most breathe normally. Many do snore and tolerate heat poorly, so keeping them lean, cool and out of hot cars is important.

We have 1 rescue with Mastiffs available: 4 Paws 4 Life Rescue. You can see every rescue with Mastiffs available in the list above these questions, or scroll to the top to see the Mastiffs near Sedalia.