How much do you know about the French Mastiff?
1) Do you know, for example, that it is one of the largest dogs, with an average weight of 150 pounds (about 75 kilograms)? This, by the way, is more than many humans weigh. Additionally, the French Mastiff typically grows to over 30 inches measured across its shoulders, making it about as tall as the average calf. This, in turn, makes the French Mastiff a favorite for people looking to get huge, strong hounds, and a big turn-off for people looking to get small ‘kitten-like’ stuffed dogs.
2) Do you also know that the French Mastiff is supposedly a direct descendant of the famous (or infamous, depending on one’s perspective) war hounds, with which the Roman armies that ruled much of the world in ages past went to war ? . This probably explains the fierceness that can characterize the French Mastiff, especially when his master tells him to “act out.”
3) Do you know that the French Mastiff, at some point, faced extinction? Well, this was in the years after the French revolution, and just luckily someone had the sense to protect this remarkable breed of dog. So to speak, before the French revolution, when France was ruled by ‘elite aristocrats’, the French mastiff had become his favorite hound; that he served as a guard dog in the residences of these French elites. So when the revolution came (and it was quite violent), the French Mastiffs tried to fight for their masters, and many were killed by the revolutionaries who were hell-bent on driving out the elites. In fact, so many dogs were killed that the breed faced certain extinction, and only one Raymond Triquet saved it from that fate. Otherwise they would be history now.
4) Do you know that the French Mastiff, in addition to being physically strong, is also remarkably mentally strong? Well, in the French Mastiff we have the perfect blend of brains and brawn, in a dog that as well as being one of the largest dog breeds, also doubles as one of the most intelligent hounds.
5) Do you also know that the French Mastiff is a considerably high maintenance dog? Well, if you are looking for a dog that you can actually spend your money on, then the French Mastiff is the perfect dog for you. It is a dog that, thanks to its short fur, you will have to brush it at least once a week. It is also a dog that, to be truly happy, will have to be washed fortnightly. Due to the enormity of her head, when it comes to giving birth, you may have to pay for a caesarean section. However, the French Mastiff is not just about cost and high maintenance. It doesn’t just take you away, it gives you back: in the form of smart companionship as well as surveillance services, being the potentially vicious dog that it is.
