The American Bandogge Mastiff is one of the newer breeds. It’s been around for less than 50 years but has already managed to make a lot of friends. These dogs were first bred by veterinarian John Swinford, who bred an American pit bull terrier with a Neapolitan mastiff; and the rest is history in the making.

Swinfords efforts were soon followed by breeder Joe Lucero and the breed has been gaining in popularity ever since. Other than the pit bull/Neapolitan mastiff mix, there are also Bandogges which are pit bull/English mastiff crosses. As with any other crossbred dog, the animals whose parents are genuine purebreds of their respective breeds are the healthiest, most attractive and have the best temperaments. Of course, the Bandogge Mastiff is definitely a handsome dog itself. These dogs are very well muscled, something they get from the pit bull side of the family. Like pit bulls, brindled coats are the general rule with black being the most common. However, you’ll also see tawny, red and even blue show up in their coats.

Exceptionally obedient, Bandogges take naturally to training and are renowned for their calm, even tempers. Given their size, an inheritance from the mastiff side of the family, these dogs also have confidence to spare. They are naturals at guard duty, but they’re also calm, gentle and highly intelligent however, they rarely bark, even at an intruder. However, it’s hard to imagine any burglar wanting to try their luck again if they’re surprised in the act by a dog which can reach weights of nearly 150 pounds!

Despite the Bandogges intimidating size and strength, you’d be hard pressed to find any other dog which is as gentle, loving, friendly and even as sensitive. They are extremely sociable and can be prone to loneliness and even separation anxiety and are known to howl the blues when their families aren’t around. If you’ll need to leave your Bandogge at home all day while you work, you may want to invest in a dog walker who can spend a little quality time with them, another dog or even a cat to keep them company. Like other breeds, Bandogges will get along with and even befriend other animals if it becomes accustomed to them at a young age.

Like other large breeds, a Bandogge likes to get plenty of exercise and has lots of energy for running and playtime and is always game for a good long walk. You’ll want to give them a couple of daily walks and any other outdoor activity time you can spare. These loveable animals form close bonds with your family and any other pets in the household quickly and are extremely loyal. Their friendly, playful nature and calm temperaments make these gentle giants one of the very best breeds for families with children too! American Bandogge Mastiffs can sometimes have slightly dry skin, but they are an all around low maintenance pet where grooming is concerned. Their short coats are easy to brush and keep looking their best.

These dogs have a long list of good qualities to recommend them. They’re loyal and will protect children and other pets as if they were their own, they’re very intelligent and easy to train, playful and loving, large and fierce looking dogs who love and gentle by nature. All this and easy to groom too! The American Bandogge Mastiff may be a new breed, but they are one which is certain to stick around they live up to the title of man’s best friend like few other breeds.

Male Brazilian mastiffs come in at well over 100 pounds and will stand upwards of thirty inches at the shoulder when they are full grown. Females are similarly large, though they tend to average around 90 pounds and are a few inches shorter as well. Both males and females will have short, soft fur, an extremely thick neck and resemble a bloodhound in the face. You might find this breed sporting coats of brindle, black, yellow and reddish tan, making it a very handsome dog.

This breed has the ability and the bone structure to run fast and to attack if they feel it is necessary. They are known for their bravery and their value as a watchdog due to their alertness is quite impressive. With good training, though, they can be as loving with children as they are fierce with strangers.

There are several qualities of the Brazilian Mastiff. Well be looking at both of the breeds, you see the hunting instinct from the Bloodhound. Add that with the guarding instinct of the Mastiff. There are well known for looking out for cattle. They seem to be a great well rounded dog. They were also trained to attack and then waiting on their master. Some were able to even keep wild jaguars away from cattle.

The Brazilian mastiff also has a history as a slave tracking dog, and interestingly enough, the word Fila means to hold in Portuguese. Not only do these dogs excel at hunting and holding, they can also run fast and hold an impressive gallop.

The Brazilian Mastiff is not too keen to strangers. They do not like people that they don’t know. That could be good in some ways; on the other hand it is not so good if they are around people on a regular basis. They do undergo character testing to make sure that they remain self-confident and also to see if they would attack without being instructed to. That is one characteristic that may shun you from purchasing a Brazilian Mastiff. They are even cautious during dog shows and the judges are advised not to touch the dog, even though that is necessary for judging.

Despite the fact the breed is fairly hostile to strangers, also keep in mind that the Brazilian mastiff is quite warm and loving towards his own family. The breed, when well trained, shows an impressive loyalty to the home and the master of the house. Do keep in mind that they can be quite fierce strangers.

When searching for a puppy it is recommended to get as much information from the breeder as possible. Go to dog shows and visit the homes of private breeders to see the kennels. Do not limit your search to one kennel. Make sure that you ask as many questions as you want. If the breeder is confident about their dogs, they will want to answer any questions that you may have. Shop around a little. There are plenty of websites that sell Brazilian Mastiffs and I am sure that they will add pictures so that you can see the many variety of colors and features.

The Brazilian mastiff is quite adorable, with its blocky shape, its droopy long ears and its soft floppy lips. Always be careful when approaching an animal that you do not know well, and remember that the breed’s reputation as a guard animal is well earned. Despite this, you’ll soon see that with the right training, he can be amazingly sweet with the family in his care.