Muscular and majestic, these are what Mastiff breeds are all about. They are powerful pups with fascinating personalities that make them well-loved by many canine aficionados. And today, the spotlight is on these brawny pooches!
Among the Mastiff breeds, the Neapolitan Mastiff is one massive robust beast with its roots dating back to Ancient Rome. There’s also the Bull Mastiff with superb hunting and guarding skills, as well as the English Mastiff with centuries of expertise as a bait dog.
In history, Mastiff breeds served as war dogs, fighting dogs, and other activities that require strength and power. Today, they are regarded as loyal companion dogs that are always ready to protect their families and shower them with lots of love and affection!
39. Neapolitan Mastiff
It is impossible to mistake the Neapolitan Mastiff because of their unique features. They are famous for their impressive jowls, wrinkly skin, and squarish heads. They also have short coats in different colors such as tan, black, mahogany, brindle, and blue.
As with all Mastiff breeds, these pups can be quite aggressive unless well-trained. Hence, early socialization and training are a must for these dogs to overcome fierce nature.
38. Bullmastiff
Brave and intelligent, the enormous Bullmastiff is a loyal and affectionate pooch. They have been around since the 1800s and were used to protect game from poachers. With their fearless nature and massive build, they can easily deter intruders and predators of all kinds.
Bullmastiffs come in different coat colors including red, fawn, and brindle patterns with a black face mask. These are athletic pups that enjoy the outdoors and spending quality time with their owners.
37. Guatemalan Dogo
At first glance, the Guatemalan Dogo looks like a spitting image of the American Pit Bull Terrier. They have a large head and muscular bodies, as well as an alert and curious expression in their dark eyes.
The Guatemalan Bull Terrier has a stocky build and usually comes in white coat colors with some markings in darker shades. Because of their short coats, they are easy to groom and maintain.
36. Saint Miguel Cattle Dog
The well-proportioned body of the Saint Miguel Cattle Dog exudes an element of grace and balance to this Mastiff breed. They are deep-chested with long legs and a broad head, thus making them appear rather intimidating.
These pups often have gray or pale brown coats with some black markings. Some may come with a brindle pattern, which is not uncommon to this breed.
35. Irish Mastiff Hound
The mighty Irish Mastiff Hound easily towers over many Mastiff breeds in terms of girth and height. They can grow as tall as 3 feet and weigh more than 100 lbs. Their heads are wide and massive as an English Mastiff but with a longer muzzle and fewer wrinkles all over its body.
These dogs have thick undercoats and an outer coat that’s short and coarse with a weatherproof texture. Overall, they are active pups that are always on the go and ready to protect their families and properties no matter what.
34. Brazilian Dogo
With its large jaws and massive head, the Brazilian Dogo may appear as one intimidating canine beast. But beyond their rough appearance, these pups are actually docile and mellow. However, their tough features make them amazing guard dogs.
Often in shades of brown, red, black, and white, the Dogue Brasileiro comes in a wide range of coat colors. Their fur is also glossy and short, yet pretty dense to keep them well-protected from harsh temperatures.
33. Serrano Bulldog
The Serrano Bulldog has a long history as a herding and guarding dog. They do have a balanced temperament and adaptive personalities. However, when provoked, they will not hesitate to attack an intruder.
Agile and energetic, these canines are amazing racing and walking companions. They are also intelligent and eager to please their owners, which makes them easy to train.
32. Olde English Bulldogge
The enormous Olde English Bulldogge is a combination of a few powerful breeds including the English Bulldog, American Pit Bull Terrier, Bull Mastiff, and the American Bulldog. Although they have short muzzles, they have fewer health issues as other Bulldog and Mastiff breeds.
Olde English Bulldogs are loving and protective pups. When trained and socialized early, they do well with small kids and other household pets. Got allergies? These canines should be a perfect pet because of their short and low-shedding coats.
31. Campeiro Bulldog
The Campeiro Bulldog are medium-sized canines with a muscular build and a broad head. Their coats are short and sheer and often come in shades of fawn and brown with white and brindle markings.
Although they may seem aggressive, these canines are actually quite calm and docile. They tend to get attached easily to their owners and with a strong drive to protect their families from danger.
30. Continental Bulldog
A versatile Mastiff breed, the Continental Bulldog is energetic, intelligent, and obedient. Training these dogs should be easy, and once socialized well, they can get along fine with young children.
The Conti, as these dogs are fondly called, are burly, bulky pooches that are powerful as can be. Yet, they can be prone to certain ailments including hip dysplasia, respiratory problems, and heart diseases.
29. Ca De Bou
The Ca De Bou is known for its sexual dimorphism, which means both male and female have the same square, massive heads and robust build. However, males are just a tad heavier, often at around 84 lbs in weight.
This Majorcan Mastiff has small ears, large dark eyes, and a broad chest. Their coats are dense and short and in shades of black and fawn with white patches and a dark mask.
28. Broholmer
This Mastiff breed hailing from Denmark is highly regarded as a good family companion with its watchful, affectionate and well-balanced temperament. They also have an innate desire to protect their loved ones, making them amazing watch dogs.
Also coined as the “Butcher’s Dog”, this Danish Mastiff was often found hanging around at butcher shops, as well as markets and farms. Today, these fun-loving pups adore spending time with their families whether at the dog park, the yard, or while snuggled up with their favorite humans on the couch.
27. Alano Español
Another molosser breed, the mighty Alano Español has rather primitive features – strong shoulders, well-proportioned body, and a deep chest. They have large paws, which enable them to run for long periods.
These dogs have thick tails and short coats. Just like many Mastiff breeds, these canines have a brachycephalic head that’s square in shape and with a serious expression in their eyes.
26. Bandog
Hailing from the United States, the American Bandogge Mastiff has been around since the 1980s. They are a combination of the Anatolian Mastiff and the English Mastiff, yet smaller in build and not much of a drooler.
These are your gentle giants that do well with kids. However, they have a stubborn streak, which makes training a bit tough especially for novice owners.
25. Abruzzese Mastiff
The Abruzzese Mastiff, also known as the Maremmano-Abruzzese Sheepdog, was bred as livestock guard dogs. They are also excellent in protecting the flock from large predators including wolves and bears.
With their superb power and strength, they can easily intimidate intruders. After all, this is what they do best – keeping their families safe and using their brains and brawn to do so.
24. Sarabi Dog
The Sarabi Dog or the Persian Mastiff is another powerful pup with a broad muzzle and large head. They have heavy bones and a muscular build, combined with their sickle-shaped, long and thick tails.
The Iranian Mastiff may either have short or medium coats, often with a rough and coarse texture. Among their typical coat colors are light or dark brown combined with a black face mask.
23. Caucasian Shepherd Dog
The Caucasus Mastiff or the Caucasian Shepherd dog is a fierce and bold beast that takes its guarding task very seriously. They may be fearless and intimidating, yet they are quite endearing and gentle to their family.
With their confidence and courage, these canines can easily protect a serious guardian breed and should never be taken lightly. The Caucasian is bold, fearless, self-confident and fierce when a threat is present, but he is soft, devoted, kind and endearing to his family, including other family pets.
Caucasian Shepherd dogs were used for centuries to protect properties from intruders and trespassers. They can defeat predators of different sizes including coyotes, wolves, and even bears.
22. Aksaray Malaklisi
An ancient mastiff breed, the Aksaray Malaklisi or Turkish Mastiff is an excellent working and guarding dog. They can grow as tall as 32 inches and weigh over 140 lbs. But don’t be deceived by their enormous size; these dogs are actually agile and fast!
In fact, this Turkish Mastiff can run as fast as 30 mph. That’s enough speed to chase after an intruder and show who’s boss! Whether you take this pooch jogging, cycling, or hiking, expect them to be an amazing four-legged companion in your physical activities.
21. Fila Brasileiro
Another powerful pooch that belongs to the Mastiff breed is the Fila Brasileiro. The Brazilian Mastiff is one tough pup that can weigh up to 110 bs and grow as tall as 30 inches at the shoulder.
They are highly regarded for their tracking abilities because of their sensitive noses and intelligence. These canines tend to be wary of strangers and early socialization is important to overcome aggressive tendencies.
20. Korean Mastiff
This large pooch has all the features of a Mastiff dog – square head, heavy wrinkles on its body, and a short muzzle. They also have silky, short coats in shades of mahogany, chocolate, and red.
The majestic Korean Mastiff is a good-natured pup. They thrive in human companionship and outdoor activities. Although they do well with young kids, do take note that with its massive build, adult supervision is required to prevent accidents.
19. Bully Kutta
The Bully Kutta, also known as the Indian Mastiff, is a lean and muscular canine. Despite their robust bodies, they are actually quite quick and agile. When there are intruders, these pups can effortlessly chase after them without fail.
While they can be quite fierce, this can easily be addressed with proper training. Firm and consistent training starting at a young age is essential to help this pooch develop better habits.
18. Belgian Mastiff
A rare Mastiff breed, the Belgian Mastiff has a long history as guard dogs. These are brawny canines that were often found pulling carts, among other laborious tasks they excelled in.
In fact, these dogs are considered to be extinct because of their rarity, although there were quite a lot of them during the early 1920s. The Belgian Mastiff was also common during the First World War and a typical companion of the Belgian army.
17. Himalayan Sheepdog
Big, burly, and bulky, the Himalayan Sheepdog or Gaddi Kutta is a tough and trustworthy guard dog. They have been regarded for their excellent abilities to protect livestock, as well as properties.
The Himalayan Mastiff has a solid and large head coupled with strong jaws and pointed muzzle. Their outer coats are long and thick while their undercoats are shorter and smoother. Because of their coat structure, they can easily survive in places with harsh climates.
16. Molossus
Also known as the Epirus Mastiff or Molossian Hound, the mighty Molossus is an impeccable hunting and guarding dog. They come in different coat colors including apricot, brindle, and yellowish-brown.
These massive pups are quite tall and leggy and can grow up to 30 inches at the shoulder. As for their weight, they are rather heavy at 90 lbs. With this in mind, kids should never be left alone with these massive pups.
15. Tosa Inu
The Japanese Mastiff or Tosa Inu is a tough canine. They have a long history fighting dogs, although nowadays, they are more than happy being a companion for their families. These are massive pups that can weigh as much as 200 lbs, yet super affectionate and always ready for a cuddle.
A rare Mastiff breed, the Tosa Inu has been around for quite some time in Japan. However, they are relatively new in the United States, yet even banned in some countries because of their reputation for being aggressive.
14. Perro de Presa Canario
The Canary Mastiff or the Perro de Presa Canario is a rather old breed that originated in the Canary Islands in the 14th century. They were then brought to other parts of the world in the 18th century and have been around since then.
These are powerful dogs with smooth and rough coats. They have brindle coat patterns combined with a black face mask. Fearless and loving, they are loyal to their owners but aloof towards strangers.
13. Dogo Argentino
Fierce toward strangers yet loving to their favorite humans, the Dogo Argentino or Argentinian Mastiff is a powerful and robust pooch. They are mostly white in color with short and smooth coats.
These dogs are quite athletic and would love to spend quality time outdoors with their owners. Daily exercise is a must to keep them healthy and eliminate boredom and anxiety.
12. Saint Bernard
Although the enormous Saint Bernard is not quite the most popular dog in the AKC, they are definitely one of the most well-loved Mastiff breeds. They are gentle giants with a penchant for looking after children because of their mellow and watchful nature.
They may have such an imposing stature, yet they are actually quite calm and well-balanced. Do take note that these dogs need plenty of room in the house, so they are not the best candidates for apartment pets.
11. Spanish Mastiff
Another heavyweight in our Mastiff breeds list is the Spanish Mastiff. They can weigh as much as 220 lbs and stand up to 35 inches at the shoulder. These are territorial canines, so they do better with experienced owners who can train them well.
Their coats are dense and short. Daily brushing is important as they can still shed despite their short coats. While they may adapt to different temperatures well, they thrive more in dry climates.
10. Boerboel
The Boerboel or the South African Mastiff is a muscular and intimidating canine. They are gigantic dogs that serve as protectors of livestock in farms. With their fierce nature and strong build, they can easily defeat wild predators including lions and hyenas.
Do not be deceived by their fierce appearance – these big dogs may seem aggressive but they are actually quite mellow. They do tend to pull on things and chew a lot, so obedience training at an early age is very important.
9. American Mastiff
These 200-pounder pups are enormous giants with a golden heart. They love their families more than anything and can get along very well with kids. By nature, they are not aggressive, yet can be very protective of their loved ones.
A cross between the Turkish and English Mastiffs, the American Mastiff shares the appearance of both parents. They are, however, not much of a drooler. Thys, they should do well with people who dislike having to clean up plenty of drool.
8. Pyrenean Mastiff
Originating from Spain’s gorgeous Pyrenees, the Pyrenean Mastiff is another powerful canine. They tend to weigh up to 220 lbs and with an average height of 30 inches at the shoulder. They have longer coats unlike other Mastiff breeds, which means daily grooming is a must.
A unique feature of these dogs is their drooling tendency. This means that owners need to be on top of these canines’ drool, in addition to occasional messes being that they can be sloppy drinkers.
7. Cane Corso
The Cane Corso or Italian Mastiff is a well-muscled and gigantic pooch. They can weigh as much as 110 lbs, although females are a tad lighter than males.
Despite their apparent heft, these dogs are quite agile. They respond well to early training, although they are much better off with experienced owners who can provide them with consistent and firm training sessions.
6. Dogue De Bordeaux
The Dogue De Bordeaux comes with many names such as the French Mastiff, Bordeaux Dog, or Bordeaux Mastiff. No matter what you call them, they are always the same brawny, brainy, fawn-colored pooches that are simply lovable.
These hundred-pounders are strong and solid fellows. They also have some of the largest heads in the entire canine kingdom, which perfectly match their stocky build.
5. Great Dane
The German Mastiff or Great Dane is a combination of two Mastiff breeds – the Irish Wolfhound and the English Mastiff. Also called the Deutsche Dogge, these pups originate from Germany, and have bred as guard dogs.
Because of their massive build, it is best to never leave them alone with kids and smaller pets. Once well-trained, they should get along with all family members easily.
4. Tibetan Mastiff
Heavy-coated with rough furs, the Tibetan Mastiff are large, mountain dogs. They are highly protective of their families and can be reserved towards strangers. Because of their inherent stubbornness, they are more suitable to experienced canine owners.
It is also interesting to note that the Tibetan Mastiff are independent creatures. They are fine with being by themselves, yet they also crave human companionship and affection.
3. English Mastiff
When it comes to heft, the English Mastiff or Old English Mastiff is one of the heaviest there is. They are not very tall, yet can tip the scale at 220 lbs or more! With their impeccable strength, they have been bred as bait dogs for large predators such as bulls, lions, and bears.
They may be bulky and hefty pups, yet they still need their daily exercise. It is also best to keep them in a cooler temperature as they do not do very well in the heat.
2. Cimarrón Uruguayo
Next up in our list of Mastiff breeds is the Cimarrón Uruguayo. When it comes to fighting and protecting, these canines rule. They are compact with well-defined muscles and have been used as both fighting and guard dogs in ancient Greece.
Interestingly, the Cimarrón Uruguayo has a face shape that closely resembles a Labrador’s features instead of a Mastiff – slightly narrow and small droopy ears. Their coats are short and smooth, usually in shades of pale yellow or brindle.
1. Rafeiro do Alentejo
Bred as a watchdog and a farm pooch, the Rafeiro do Alentejo is a vigilant canine. These pups are quite territorial and take their guarding tasks seriously. One look at their muscular build, and they can easily intimidate any intruder.
This Portuguese Mastiff has large and bulky bodies with coats varying from short to medium. They can come in different coat colors including fawn, black, or gray with white or brindle markings at times.
Related Questions
What Is The Friendliest Mastiff Breed? The English Mastiff is the friendliest and gentlest breed. They are laid-back canines that get along well with all family members including kids and even household pets. They also can sleep up to 16 hours per day.
Which Breed Of Mastiff Lives The Longest? With its sturdy build and versatile features, the Tibetan Mastiff lives the longest among the other Mastiff breeds. This mastiff can live between 12 to 15 years.
Can A Mastiff Kill A Lion? The English Mastiff can attack and kill a lion but will only be able to do so together with the help of its companions. Otherwise, these dogs, in spite of their strength, are incapable of slaughtering a lion individually by themselves.
