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Dog Articles
Past and Present: Mastiff
If the
Pyrenean dog is one of the most beautiful dogs in the world, surely
the English Mastiff is one of the most famous. It is regarded as
probably the oldest of all British dogs, and, as we have seen, its
ancestors were used by the Assyrians for hunting big game.
It is
believed that this large, powerful dog was introduced into Britain
in the sixth century B. C. by the adventurous Phoenician traders,
and was used by the Britons in hunting and in warfare. The Romans
found him well established when they invaded the island in 55 B. C.,
and thereafter Mastiffs, because of their great size, strength, and
courage, were used to fight in the Roman amphitheaters.
In more
recent times the breed has become heavier and less active and has
been used chiefly as a companion and a guardian of property.
Perhaps
the most famous strain of Mastiffs in England is at Lyme Hall, in
Cheshire; it is said to have come down in unbroken descent from the
fifteenth century.
Many
stories are told of the services rendered by these splendid dogs to
their masters, the Lees of Lyme. It is said that when Sir Peers Lee
lay wounded on the battlefield of Agincourt, he was guarded by a
Mastiff which had followed him to the war and which lay beside him
through the night. Sir Henry Lee, of the same family, was saved from
death by one of the dogs, which pinned to the floor a valet who had
come to his master's bedroom to murder him.
The
perfect Mastiff may be either fawn with a dark face, ears and
muzzle, or brindle. He stands about 28 inches, and should
weigh about 170 pounds. There should be no dewclaw, and the small,
dark eye should show no haw. Strong, straight and heavy, both of
body and limb, with a deep chest and massive square head, the
perfect Mastiff is an exceedingly splendid-looking animal.
He is now
bred mostly as a companion, and never sees service in his old
romantic calling. He is probably part ancestor of the Great Dane,
whose principal other component is Greyhound. One of the noblest of
dogs, it is to be regretted that his unwieldiness and expensive keep
have rendered him rather unpopular, so that now he is indeed rarely
seen.
Points to
avoid are a light, narrow, or undershot head, cow hocks, sagging
back and rolling gait, weak legs and bent pasterns, curly tail and
pale face.
Source:
National Geographic 1919
Recommended Reading
Dog Training
Mastery - An Owners' Manual
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