Question about breeds

[BigBear]

Not sure where to post this...maybe some of you know the answer to this...

As I've mentioned before, I grew up with Newfs and have always loved the breed very much. Planning on doing alot of research before deciding where to get our next dog. My husband is not familiar with Newfs, however, so this is all new to him, and he is interested in them but also in another breed - one which intrigues me as well. The English Mastiff.

Now I know this is a Newf board, and God knows we love them, BUT - maybe some of you could tell me major differences you see between the two breeds in order to help my hubby and I? I understand the Newfie is a 'Mastiff breed' - at least that's what I've read - and thought for sure they had similarities - although differences for sure too. Thanks in advance for your help.

 

[Odri]

I have heard that in the old days (I don't know exactly what old days) wealthy English families who lived in castles kept both Mastiffs and Newfs. Mastiffs to guard the castle and Newfs to guard the children.
I do know that Mastiffs are more dominant generally, and that they are better guard dogs than Newfs. I believe their temperament is pretty stable, and I've heard also that they have a marked preference for the "lady of the castle"

(Good news for you).
I have a very sad English Mastiff story...I recently ran into a friend I hadn't seen in years who berated me for wanting a Newf based on her own "bad experience" with an English Mastiff. Her husband, having fallen in love with the breed, adopted a 1 1/2 year old from the classified ads. He was being given away for "behavioral problems" (i.e., had no training). Neither of them had ever had a dog before, and they did not see the need to take "Bub" to school, or train him at all. During his tenure as their pet, he first dragged my friend 100 yards on her belly (but that was because some stupid person had let their Shit-zu run free, she said), then, more problematically, had knocked a woman out of her wheelchair (but he was just being friendly...why couldn't this woman understand that?). For his final offense, he chased down a bicycle rider, and tore up his shirt and his shoulder, which required a number of stitches. Luckily for Bub, the bicycle rider was a great dog lover, and didn't want to report the dog (who would then have been euthanized). That was when they decided to give him up, which they did (guess) through the classified ads. I wanted to strangle her. Glad I had the chance to get this story off my chest, though to my mind it says more about my friend than about the breed.
I have met several well trained English Mastiffs, and they have been lovely dogs. In the park I go to, I saw last week a three (or so) year old girl sleeping on one. Adorable!
Audrey

[ 10-20-2002, 03:16 AM: Message edited by: Odri ]

 

[dbradley]

I don't know anything about Eng Mastiffs but about 2 months ago I came across one at the vet. The dog (female) weighed 218 pounds. Needless to say I was shocked by the size of her. Her owner said she was the biggest mush...

 

[Sound Bay Newfs]

My newf breeder also has an English Mastiff. Her house was burglarized last year and all 6 of her adult newfs just stood around watching, so she got the mastiff as more of a guard dog. He seemed sweet enough, when I saw him, but made the newfs look small in comparison. He is gigantic and definately intimidating looking. If you want to talk to her, e mail me privately, she could give you more info and compare the two. The one big difference that she told me, is that putting both in the same situation, a newf would not "attack" an intruder, but a mastiff would.