The colossal Mastiff belongs to a canine clan as ancient as civilization itself. A massive, heavy-boned dog of courage and prodigious strength, the Mastiff is docile and dignified but also a formidable protector of those they hold dear.

The Neapolitan Mastiff is a huge, powerful guarder whose astounding appearance has intimidated intruders since the days of ancient Rome. Wary with strangers, the profusely wrinkled Mastino is sweet, placid, and steady among loved ones.

A centuries-old, rare breed from the Pyrenees Mountains in Spain, this livestock guardian protected flocks from wolves, bears and thieves. Today, while it is still an effective guardian, many families have found the joy of owning the gentle and loving, yet independent, Pyrenean Mastiff.

The Spanish Mastiff is a very intelligent dog, not without beauty, whose expression manifests both these qualities. Rustic, affectionate, kind and noble, he is very determined when facing dangerous animals and in front of strangers, especially when he has the opportunity to defend and protect farms or cattle. In his behaviour, one can see it [...]

Watchful, aloof, imposing, and intimidating: The ancient Tibetan Mastiff is the guardian dog supreme. These densely-coated giants are mellow and calm around the house, sweetly devoted to family, and aloof and territorial with strangers.

2009:003;010 Collection processed by Norma Rosado-Blake Click for inventory Provenance A gift from the Mastiff Club of America (MCOA). Arrangement The collection is arranged into seven series including: Documents Meeting minutes Publications Miscellaneous Photos Audio/Visual Chapman papers The documents series is organized by order of importance with historical material further organized by date. The Publications [...]

AKD 3.14 1890-2008   11 linear feet in 16 boxes (8 doc boxes; 1 half legal doc box; 2 cartons; 1 flat box; 1 photo box; 2 realia boxes; and 1 oversize box) and mixed collections storage Processed by Norma Rosado-Blake (2009); additions and edits by Brynn White (2016) Click here to the view complete inventory and/or to search all AKC archival collections Click here for [...]

Majestic. Massive. Muscular. Mastiffs are among some of the oldest breeds known to humans. They feature in legend, as well as recorded history, and were among the first canines to accompany humans on their migrations across the globe. The mastiff family is full of powerful breeds, each with its own unique personality. Mastiffs have been [...]

The Tibetan Mastiff may look like a great addition to your family, but this breed is not recommended for most dog owners.

These huge, dignified dogs are lovable companions, But living with such a large breed takes training and socialization. Learn more about the Mastiff.

The Neapolitan Mastiff (also known as the Neo or Mastino) is a huge, heavy-boned dog with awe-inspiring features. These members of the Working Group are enormous, and the average male weighs 150 pounds, but the bigger the better. There is no other breed that looks quite like the Neo, and they can be distinguished from other [...]

There are many large, muscular dog breeds. And several have droopy flews (big, hanging upper lips). But can you tell them apart? For those unfamiliar with the breeds, the Mastiff and the Bullmastiff in particular can be tricky to distinguish. Read on to learn about these two formidable protectors. Mastiff Mix-Up When Diane Collings, two-time [...]

Midtown Manhattan may be an unlikely place to have my first encounter with the Tibetan Mastiff, but there they were— four behemoths charging toward me from the far end of a long hallway at the home of Martha Felsenstein. president of the American Tibetan Mastiff Association (ATMA). The pack was led— naturally— by a little [...]

Over the centuries, Mastiffs have maintained a reputation for their irrepressible protective streak. Learn more about the history of this dignified breed.

'Samara' the Pyrenean Mastiff Outshines as a Guardian and Therapy Dog

Every year in conjunction with the AKC National Championship presented by Royal Canin the general public is given the exciting opportunity to meet (and more importantly, play with!) over 100 different dog breeds at AKC Meet the Breeds. Attendees get the opportunity to learn about the different breeds and find out which dog might be right [...]

From their rope-like facial wrinkles to their tree-trunk-sized limbs, the Neapolitan Mastiff represents power. Learn more about Neapolitan Mastiff history.

One of Maria Ruoto's goals has always been to shatter the "couch potato" reputation that Mastiffs are oftentimes stuck with. Maria first fell in love with the breed after lots of research and attending as many dog shows as she could. After meeting many different breeds, she decided the Mastiff would be the perfect fit [...]

In February 2021, Tibetan Mastiff breeders Dan Nechemias and his wife Lois Claus received the phone call that no breeder wants to hear. Waffle, a male puppy they sold to a new breeder in San Antonio, Texas three years ago, was one of several Tibetan Mastiffs seized in an animal neglect situation. The dog had lost [...]

  New York, NY – The Tibetan Mastiff will become eligible for American Kennel Club® registration on September 1, 2006 and will compete in the Working Group as of January 1, 2007.  Also on January 1, the Plott, which currently competes in the Miscellaneous class, will begin competing in the Hound Group. The Tibetan Mastiff, one of the [...]