The Mastiff.

This breed is sometimes known as the Old English Mastiff.
Ancient artefacts confirm that dogs of the mastiff type have existed in England since Roman times. These ancient mastiffs were not identical with mastiffs today but were recognisable as the ancient ancestors of the mastiff breed. England the country of origin for the breed was the very same country where the breed very nearly died out. After the Second World War it was only with the assistance of a small number of mastiffs imported from Canada that the breed was saved. It appears to be generally agreed that, with one exception (the famous Lyme Hall Mastiffs) it was during the early nineteenth century that mastiffs owners began to breed them to a plan and to keep records regarding breeding. Mastiffs had previously been bred for what they could do, but now breeders were beginning to be concerned with what they looked like. In 1873 the Kennel Club was founded in England and the detailing of pedigrees began. Mastiffs have been bred for all manner of tasks over the centuries. They were used as dogs of war, for gladiatorial contests in Roman arenas, for bear baiting and as draft animals. Their main use was as guardians of people and property.

Today mastiffs are bred almost exclusively as a superb companion animal. There are mastiffs today who compete in harness and weight pulls, obedience trailing work, agility trailing, tracking trials and who work as therapy pets. The first definite records of mastiffs in Australia date back to shows in Sydney and Melbourne in the 1850�s. After the turn of the century, numbers declined. It is only in quite recent years that numbers have begun to increase. Thanks to Jason Colebrook for the majority of this text.        Hand Drawn Artwork By Sharron Hulley

Pictured: Grand Champion Mastdoch Red Terror. The first Mastiff to be awarded Best In Show at an All Breeds Championship Show.2007

Mastiff Breed Delegate: Kim Leong (03) 9729 0543

Breeders.     BRETON 0413 134 888.  BRITMILL 0354353534. STONEWALL

CASTLEDUART 0350792380.  GRANDCOEUR 0359688546.   MASTDOCH

 0296064491. TORAMIS 088520 2842.