Even 10-15 years ago in Russia almost nothing was known about the Spanish mastiff dog breed. The photo of these animals is amazing. These are giants good-natured and loving their owners. Now the breed is just gaining popularity and is gaining more and more sympathy among both professional dog breeders and ordinary amateurs.
Occurrence versions
It is believed that the ancestors of these dogs, which were huge, lived on the territory of Spain 3 thousand years ago. Mention of them is recorded in ancient manuscripts.
There are several versions of the appearance of this breed. There is an assumption that the ancestors of modern mastiffs were brought to the Iberian Peninsula by Phoenician merchants on ships. According to another version, the breed originates from ancient dogs that fell in the Pyrenees with Roman military legions. But, according to historians, the local tribes already had by that time their large fighting dogs. The next assumption is that the Spanish mastiff breed came from large guard dogs that roamed with tribes living in Eastern Europe and Asia.
The number of these large animals increased due to the development of wool sheep. For the good protection of the herd, consisting of a thousand heads, 5 dogs were needed. This was written by Manuel del Rio in his "Shepherd's Life." If we take into account the number of sheep in the middle of the XVIII century, it turns out that they should have been protected by at least 20 thousand mastiffs. The largest individuals were found near Lyon and Extremadura.
The history of the modern breed
Until the beginning of the 20th century, no one was engaged in breeding mastiffs. Only in 1906, with the birth of a puppy of Machako, the history of this breed officially begins. About this was made a corresponding entry in the Spanish tribal book.
The breed was first described in 1929. Then it was called "mountain Spanish mastiff." The "Trasumansia" kennel, owned by Luis Escuiro, whose goal was to find the largest dogs of this breed and maximize it, examined the mountainous regions of northwestern Spain in the 50s of the last century. As a result, one of the largest individuals turned out to be a dog named Navarro, which was presented at the Madrid Agricultural Exhibition in 1959.
In the 60s of the last century, another nursery dealing with Spanish mastiffs appeared - "El Pinotar" Amadeo Alejandre. His dogs were very popular in the 80s.
It should be noted that these two nurseries for 40 years managed to lay the foundation of the modern breed of Spanish mastiffs. And this despite the fact that their owners had different points of view on the issue of ideal standards.
Appearance in Russia
The first Spanish mastiff was introduced into the country in 1995. And for almost half a year he was the only representative of this breed. Then from the Czech Republic Svetlana Valentinovna Dorogova brought several more animals to the Dorsdorf nursery. From that moment on, the Spanish mastiffs in Russia are counting down. A year later, the first puppies appeared in the club of dog breeders "Rare breeds", which was recorded in the book of breeding.
Now the number of these animals in the country is small. Usually no more than three individuals are present at exhibitions. Despite this, it can be said that the Spanish mastiff breed of dogs is slowly but surely gaining attention and popularity. The day is not far off when its representatives will collect large numbers of rings.
Description
Affectionate and plush giant. This is what the Spanish mastiff is like. The description of the breed is perhaps worth starting with what the person who first saw this animal feels. First of all, it is striking in its majesty and dignity. The height of such a dog is more than 77 cm. That is exactly what those who decided to purchase this dog say.
It has a proportionately folded body, with deep breasts and strong bones. The case is rectangular, not square. The body of the dog must necessarily give the impression of tremendous power, enclosed in it. The stomach should not be sunken. The loin and croup are wide and powerful.
The head is what is considered the main difference between the Spanish mastiff and other related breeds. In this case, there is no pronounced transition from the forehead to the muzzle. The skull is quite wide. A characteristic feature is free wrinkles located outside the eyes, which gives the face an unusual expression.
The skin is loose and thick, creating with its folds the volume around the neck, chest and bottom. The coat, which is quite tight to the body, is slightly wavy and has a length of not more than 6 cm. The undercoat is thick and dense. It perfectly protects the animal from frost and cold wind.
The color of the coat can be any, but the most common is black, tiger and yellow. Interestingly, the latter can range from almost white to red tones.
I must say that the Spanish mastiff, the description of which will be incomplete without mentioning their unusual so-called cat's paw, can have 1-2 dewclaws. This feature is very beneficial, as it means having good ligaments.
Spanish mastiffs grow up quite late: females are 2–3 years old, and males a year later. According to the owners, dogs have excellent health, but there are diseases that arise in this particular breed. To keep the animal in good shape, you should constantly give him physical activity. Life expectancy is on average 10-12 years.
The dog tolerates almost any climate well, the only limitation is that keeping it in a standard Russian apartment is simply unrealistic. Which, in fact, is confirmed by numerous reviews of the owners.
Character
Mastiffs are very kind in nature. They completely lack unmotivated aggression. At night, their guard instincts are somewhat aggravated, which is not surprising, since their ancestors protected the huge herds of sheep from the attacks of packs of wolves. But it should be noted that mastiffs will never attack without warning. A growl or deep low bark can serve as a signal for an attack.
Devotion is another character trait of these dogs. As the owners say, mastiffs respond very subtly to the manifestation of love and affection for them. They try to protect those who are weaker than them, for example, children or the elderly.
Mastiffs are freedom-loving. They need more space. They are not adapted for living in apartments, even if they are large enough. It is best if it is a private house with a good yard.
Parenting
As mentioned above, a beautiful and good-natured character is the main distinguishing feature of the representatives of the Spanish Mastiff breed. Raising a dog also plays an important role. It is thanks to him that the animal coexists well with all households, including cats, decorative rodents and birds.
With proper education, these dogs can become not only reliable friends, but also excellent protectors for children. Those who have this dog in the house unanimously claim that mastiffs are very reverent nannies. For example, if a child falls, they try very carefully to lift him or serve him as a support. These good-natured giants can allow children to do anything they like, endure even their most unthinkable antics.
Dogs need to be trained and trained in various teams. But do not require them to literally execute them. Usually they intuitively feel what the owner wants from him and act as they see fit. In addition, do not forget that mastiffs love to be praised for fulfilling commands.
Hair care
Both professionals and dog lovers call the grooming process the grooming. Constantly carrying out such a procedure for their pet, the owners care not only about its beauty, but also about health. Grooming promotes good growth of fur, and also maintains skin tone of the animal.
Despite the fact that the Spanish mastiff is a fairly clean dog that does not allow itself to climb into the mud and puddles, paws after walking must be washed and wiped dry.
Usually their hair does not fall off, so you do not need to comb them every day. But if the dog fell into the rain, after returning home it is still worth combing it thoroughly. This is done with a special brush or comb in the direction of hair growth, starting from the head. As for puppies, they are practically not combed out, but for adult dogs it is simply necessary.
Bathing
Professionals do not advise doing this too often. It will be enough to bathe the mastiff as it gets dirty. Or not more often than once every two weeks. As you know, frequent water procedures lead to the washing off of the natural fat layer, as a result of which the skin glands begin to produce it in large quantities. This can lead to overdrying of the skin, the appearance of dandruff on the coat, and sometimes even to various dermatological diseases. Therefore, frequent bathing can do more harm than good.
In the cold season, when frost comes, it is better not to bathe the dog at all. It is necessary to wait until warm until the molting period ends.
Preparation for the exhibition
Some owners and their pets lead a very eventful life. It's about attending exhibitions. To make the dog’s coat look well-groomed, they should be bathed in advance of the event, since the grease is restored only after 2-3 days. In addition, a few hours before the exhibition it is recommended to process the wool with a specially designed spray texture. It significantly improves the appearance of the fur, gives it shine, restores volume and refreshes.
In winter, when exhibitions are frequent and dogs are not recommended for bathing, the Spanish mastiff with its thick coat really needs to thoroughly clean it of various kinds of pollution. In such cases, dry shampoo is used. It is very convenient to use, in addition, it does not have any harmful effects on the skin of the animal, it has a fairly pleasant smell.
This shampoo is sold in the form of a spray, powder or powder. After its application, it is only necessary to comb out the coat thoroughly. I must say that shampoos, which include conditioner or protein, are most preferred. After its application, the dog will look neat and well-groomed, and the coat will acquire volume and beautiful shine.
And finally, the advice: to start caring for dogs of the Spanish Mastiff breed, photos of which are presented in this article, it is necessary from an early age so that, as puppies, they get used to various cosmetic procedures. Then the animals will be calm, and their owners will be satisfied.
Impressions of the breed
A good character, a reliable defender, a loving and gentle animal - all this is a Spanish mastiff. Reviews of dog owners are basically positive. People argue that a devoted devotee simply cannot be found. In addition, they are excellent watchmen, but just like that, for no reason, do not bark. And if you still hear the voice of your pet, it is better to go and check if anyone has violated the boundaries of your private property.
Experienced dog breeders unanimously say that Spanish mastiffs are dogs for wealthy and self-confident owners.
Prices
As mentioned above, the Spanish mastiff, whose price in the supply market is constantly fluctuating, is not a cheap dog. The average cost of a puppy of this breed is from 65 to 90 thousand rubles. Get yourself such a big and kind animal. And positive emotions will be guaranteed.
You can buy a puppy of the Spanish mastiff by reading private ads, as well as directly in nurseries involved in breeding this breed.