Spanish Mastiff puppies

About the Spanish Mastiff

The Spanish Mastiff has walked with merino flocks across Spain for centuries, guarding sheep on the long seasonal migrations from wolves and thieves. This is a giant among dogs, 71 to 89 cm at the shoulder and 63.5 to 90.7 kg, with loose skin, a heavy dewlap and a short dense coat. Guardian breeds think for themselves, and this one is calm, slow moving, deeply attached to their own family and territory, and unhurried in their judgement of strangers.

Exercise is moderate, daily walks rather than running, and growing puppies should be kept off hard exercise while the joints mature. Grooming is a weekly brush. The real costs are food, veterinary bills, secure fencing and a tolerance for drool. Training has to start in puppyhood while you can still physically manage the dog, and socialisation with visitors matters enormously. This breed suits an experienced owner with land. People most often underestimate how territorial an adult becomes.

What to expect at eight weeks

At eight weeks a Spanish Mastiff puppy is sleeping around 18 to 20 hours a day, is not house trained, and cannot hold on for more than an hour or two at a stretch. A giant breed puppy at eight weeks is already heavy and will keep growing for up to two years. Controlled growth matters more here than in any other size class, so a large breed specific puppy food and no overfeeding. Expect moderate energy, in short bursts separated by long naps. Grooming is straightforward, but start handling the coat, feet and ears in week one anyway so it is never a fight later. The socialisation window is open and closing: everything they meet calmly now, from vacuum cleaners to men in hats, is easier for the rest of their life.

Health worth knowing about

Conditions this breed is reported to be predisposed to. Predisposed does not mean inevitable, it means ask about it.

• Hip and elbow dysplasia, which breeding stock should be x-rayed and scored for
• Bloat and gastric torsion, a surgical emergency in deep chested dogs
• Entropion and ectropion, eyelid faults found on veterinary eye examination
• Joint and ligament injuries in fast growing giant puppies, diagnosed by orthopaedic exam and x-ray

Your Spanish Mastiff puppy's first six months

• Vaccination schedule, dated for your country.
• Worming and parasite schedule.
• Feeding calculator. Set expected adult size to Giant for a Spanish Mastiff.
• Adult size predictor, to check growth against the 63.5 to 90.7 kg adult range.
• Puppy names and the first week checklist.

Kit sizes: crate 48 inch (48 x 30 x 32 in, 122 x 76 x 81 cm) for an adult of up to 90.7 kg, the largest size in the chart, which tops out at 49.9 kg, so measure the dog before you buy; chew toys made for large breeds. Worked out the same way as the crate size calculator. PetMD bases a crate on the dog's own measurements, not weight or breed alone, so measure once the puppy is home.

Buying guides for this

• Do slow feeder bowls work? Choosing one for a puppy that gulps
• Best crate for a puppy: wire, plastic or soft, and how to size one with a divider

Other giant breeds

More on the Spanish Mastiff

Previous: Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier · Next: Spanish Water Dog

Sources

• akc.org for adult weight and height, life expectancy, energy, grooming, shedding and the temperament ratings, coat type and health notes
• fci.be for country of origin
• Health notes from Spanish Mastiff breed information at https://www.akc.org/dog-breeds/spanish-mastiff/. Discuss any of these with your own vet.

Photo: Nouka, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons, cropped. All photographers are listed on the photo credits page.