The name used in Spain to distinguish the Spanish mastiff is Mastn Espao. The Spanish mastiff is a large dog which people bred for its strength and skill. It acted as a powerful dog to offer protection to sheep while they grazed in the pastures. It is a reputable brave dog with the ability to defend and guard livestock' herds from the predatory animals like wolves along with other wild animals that attack farm animals.
The most popular belief is that Spanish mastiffs descended from the Greek dogs that people introduced in Spain in the year 1000 BC. The people who introduced the dogs were mainly Greek and Phoenician Marine traders who visited the Iberian Peninsula many times during that period. The Greeks are famous for using dogs similar to the Spanish mastiff in battles and wars because of their big sizes and strength.
As the conquest of South and North America went on, the people of Spain employed the Spanish mastiff and other Molossers in their warfare against North American tribes including the Mayans and Aztecs among other tribes. As these dogs were strong, fierce and trained for combat, the native Indians feared them.
The Spanish mastiff appears like a large, impressive animal. It seems like other mastiff breeds and has a big head with loosely folded skin. Additionally, it has a double dewlap on the neck, that is a characteristic feature of these dogs.
The wither height of male Spanish mastiffs is generally around thirty inches. Their weight averages between 110 to 140 pounds. Female Spanish mastiffs are able to attain the height of 28 inches and they weigh between 110 to 130 pounds typically. However, it is common to find huge Spanish mastiffs, which are double this size.
If you compare the muzzles found in other mastiff breeds to those of Spanish mastiffs, you will find that their muzzles are longer. More features of Spanish mastiffs that are different include their drop ears which have a triangular shape and their eyes, that are very small. Generally, the coat color of these dogs is reddish or fawn, but the color may also be black or brindle as well as the color of the fur coats of wolves. The fur coats of these dogs are woolly and it helps the dogs stay warm in addition to the heavy layer beneath them.
This dog is stocky and powerful with a chest that looks like that of a very heavy animal. The dog has a rectangular body with strong muscles and strong, heavy bones. On its hind feet, it has a pair of dewclaws just as those found in the Great Pyrenees breed. The tail of the Spanish mastiff is low with a fringed texture. Even though this dog is huge, it moves in a smooth and agile manner.
There are basically two kinds of Spanish mastiff one which is the heavy mastiff and the other that is the light mastiff called Mastin Pesado and Mastin Ligero in Spanish.
The mastiff that weighs more is the type of mountain dog from the northern area of Spain and since this dog is very attractive, it can serve as a show dog. The mastiff with less weight is agile and runs faster and you can find it in the southern region of Spain. These mastiffs are not regarded as two different breeds but rather as regional breeds which are slightly different from the other Spanish mastiff.
The most popular belief is that Spanish mastiffs descended from the Greek dogs that people introduced in Spain in the year 1000 BC. The people who introduced the dogs were mainly Greek and Phoenician Marine traders who visited the Iberian Peninsula many times during that period. The Greeks are famous for using dogs similar to the Spanish mastiff in battles and wars because of their big sizes and strength.
As the conquest of South and North America went on, the people of Spain employed the Spanish mastiff and other Molossers in their warfare against North American tribes including the Mayans and Aztecs among other tribes. As these dogs were strong, fierce and trained for combat, the native Indians feared them.
The Spanish mastiff appears like a large, impressive animal. It seems like other mastiff breeds and has a big head with loosely folded skin. Additionally, it has a double dewlap on the neck, that is a characteristic feature of these dogs.
The wither height of male Spanish mastiffs is generally around thirty inches. Their weight averages between 110 to 140 pounds. Female Spanish mastiffs are able to attain the height of 28 inches and they weigh between 110 to 130 pounds typically. However, it is common to find huge Spanish mastiffs, which are double this size.
If you compare the muzzles found in other mastiff breeds to those of Spanish mastiffs, you will find that their muzzles are longer. More features of Spanish mastiffs that are different include their drop ears which have a triangular shape and their eyes, that are very small. Generally, the coat color of these dogs is reddish or fawn, but the color may also be black or brindle as well as the color of the fur coats of wolves. The fur coats of these dogs are woolly and it helps the dogs stay warm in addition to the heavy layer beneath them.
This dog is stocky and powerful with a chest that looks like that of a very heavy animal. The dog has a rectangular body with strong muscles and strong, heavy bones. On its hind feet, it has a pair of dewclaws just as those found in the Great Pyrenees breed. The tail of the Spanish mastiff is low with a fringed texture. Even though this dog is huge, it moves in a smooth and agile manner.
There are basically two kinds of Spanish mastiff one which is the heavy mastiff and the other that is the light mastiff called Mastin Pesado and Mastin Ligero in Spanish.
The mastiff that weighs more is the type of mountain dog from the northern area of Spain and since this dog is very attractive, it can serve as a show dog. The mastiff with less weight is agile and runs faster and you can find it in the southern region of Spain. These mastiffs are not regarded as two different breeds but rather as regional breeds which are slightly different from the other Spanish mastiff.
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There are quite a few species of rare Spanish animals. For details on where to go to see them visit our page on National parks in Spain.
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