English Mastweiler -- Mastiff X Rottweiler

		English Mastweiler
		He is not recognized by the F.C.I.


Origin			Great Britain <> Germany -> U.S.A.
Translation			Francis Vandersteen
This breed is also known as			Mastweiler

A brief presentation of the English Mastweiler

The English Mastweiler is a specific cross between two large, muscular dogs designed to protect people and property, the Mastiff and the Rottweiler. These dogs are family-oriented and naturally protective, but they are very powerful dogs and interactions with small children and animals must be closely supervised to avoid unintentional injury as well as aggression. This hybrid will take extra care during development to promote good health and development, including early and thorough socialization, food properly formulated for large growing dogs and extra caution during activities such as rough housing, running or jumping. This dog should not be confused with the Bull Mastweiler, a cross between the Bullmastiff and the Rottweiler, which is generally a smaller, more intense hybrid than the English Mastweiler.

History of the English Mastweiler

The English Mastweiler is a great cross, a deliberate blend of two imposing and dedicated guard dog breeds, the Mastiff and the Rottweiler.

	A little of the Mastiff
	Mastiff-like dogs were depicted in ancient Asian artworks as early as 2500 BC, and were recorded as traveling across the Alps with Hannibal and his armies. When Mastiffs were introduced to England, they quickly became very popular, an accomplished watchdog and popular hunting companion for landowners and farmers. The World Wars had a negative impact on Europe's dog population, particularly on larger dogs like Mastiffs, which were both useful on the front line and difficult to feed. By the end of the two wars, the Mastiff was almost extinct, at one point leaving only fifteen dogs known worldwide and able to contribute to the gene pool. Mastiff puppies were imported to England from rare populations in the USA and Canada to help revive the breed.

	Standard of the Mastiff
	A little of the Rottweiler
	The Rottweiler is an ancient German breed, one old enough that its origins are obscured by history, although most believe they were descendants of large Roman dogs that drove cattle for herders and butchers, known as Bouviers, sometime around 700 B.C. They were named for the area in which they were developed, a site known as Rottweil for the abundance of red Roman tiles unearthed there. Although their popularity waned during the Industrial Revolution in the 1800s, it was revived in the 1900s when they were often employed as police or military animals.

	Standard of the Rottweiler

Appearance of the English Mastweiler

This cross produces very large, solidly built, well-muscled dogs. They have an almost square appearance, although the dogs are generally slightly longer than they are tall, and have broad, flat heads. They have dark brown eyes that are round or almond-shaped, with an alert, dignified expression, and their ears are V-shaped or triangular, resting high on the head and folding either towards the front of the face or to the sides of the head. English Mastweilers have short, dense coats with thick undercoats, and can take their coloring from either side of the family. This hybrid may favor traditional red, fawn or brindle Mastiff colors, as well as mixtures of these colors, or they may lean toward the Rottweiler side of the equation and have black and rust, black and mahogany or black and tan in coloration. Black, white or brindle markings and dark masks are also common for this cross.

Temperament of the English Mastweiler

Both parent breeds are accomplished watchdogs that, although they can be clownish on occasion, tend to have a strong, dignified air about them. The Rottweiler is a very active animal that requires a lot of exercise, but the Mastiff is a much calmer dog that is more prone to laziness as it ages. Both breeds are equally good with children, and adding the Mastiff to the mix can encourage slightly less noisy activity than some dogs of this size, especially after they mature. English Mastweilers will be happiest as part of the family, however, these dogs are very powerful and any time spent with toddlers and young children needs to be supervised. This breed is generally less vocal than most dogs of their size, due to the Mastiff's contribution, and they tend to be laid-back, easy-going and loving towards children. Early and frequent socialization should help curb suspicious behavior toward strangers and prevent the development of overprotective aggression.

Needs and activities of the English Mastweiler

Although the Mastiff is a rather laid-back breed that generally requires less exercise than other large dogs, the Rottweiler is an active breed, so at least 40 to 60 minutes of vigorous activity a day will be needed to keep this hybrid in excellent condition. In addition to daily walks, these dogs are adept at drawing and carting, tracking and obedience training. During your dog's formative years, it's important to shorten exercise sessions a little by interrupting them throughout the day, and to ensure that your dog doesn't move or jump from great heights, as this could damage bones and joints still in formation. This crossbreed prefers the space offered by a larger home, but as it's not used to barking unnecessarily, it can adapt to apartment life if it gets plenty of extra exercise in several short sessions throughout the day. However, slippery surfaces should be avoided to prevent damage to joints and ligaments.

Maintenance of the English Mastweiler

These dogs have fairly simple grooming requirements, as this hybrid's short coat is quite manageable. Although they require regular brushing with a curry comb or soft bristle brush to control shedding and distribute their body oils, a bath every month or two is usually sufficient for these dogs. If your dog has inherited the folds or wrinkles commonly seen on English Mastiffs, precautions should be taken regularly to ensure that the skin folds have not trapped moisture or contaminants, as they can cause skin irritation and a foul odor can develop. All wrinkles around the face should be wiped at least once a day to remove any traces of moisture or food particles that may have become trapped.

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English Mastweiler -- Mastiff X Rottweiler