TABLE OF CONTENTS
- Mastiff Dogs: A Large Breed with the Heart of a Lion 1
- Chapter One: Mastiff Physique and Temperament 4
- The English Mastiff Official Breed Standard 5
- Temperament 7
- Chapter Two: Mastiff as Pets 10
- Mastiff as Household Pets 11
- Are they a good choice for first time owners? 11
- What about prey drive? 11
- What about playfulness? 12
- What about adaptability? 12
- What about separation anxiety? 13
- What about excessive barking? 13
- Do Mastiffs like water? 13
- Are Mastiffs good watchdogs? 14
- Trainability 15
- Reinforcement Training 16
- Handling Aggression 18
- Children and Other Pets 20
- Pros and Cons 22
- Positives 22
- Negatives 22
- Chapter Three: Caring for a Mastiff 24
- Caring for a Mastiff Puppy 25
- Things you’ll need for your puppy 26
- Keeping the noise down 27
- Keeping vet appointments 28
- What about older Mastiffs when they reach their senior years? 28
- Exercise 31
- Average Cost to Keep and Care for a Mastiff 33
- Knowing How a Dog was Bred 34
- Dogs and Children 36
- Feeding 38
- Feeding Guide for a Mastiff Puppy 40
- Feeding guide for an adult Mastiff 42
- Grooming 42
- Chapter Four: Mastiff Buying Advice 44
- Before You Buy 45
- Other Factors to Consider 46
- Chapter Five: Mastiff Health and Caring Tips 52
- Common Health Issues of Mastiffs 53
- What about spaying and neutering? 55
- What about obesity problems? 55
- What about allergies? 56
- Participating in health schemes 57
- What about breed specific breeding restrictions? 57
- What about Assured Breeder Requirements? 57
- Testing For Hip Dysplasia in Dogs 58
- What is hip dysplasia? 59
- Testing for Hip Dysplasia 60
- Mastiff Dog Hereditary Health and Health Testing 62
- Other Health Issues 66
- Chapter Six: Breeding Mastiff 68
- Gestation Period Calendar 69
- Getting Ready For Birth 76
- The First Stages of Labor 82
- What Happens Once Labor is in Full Swing 86
- Chapter Seven: Mastiff Breed Rating 89
- Mastiff Breed Rating 90
- Intelligence 100
- Glossary of Dog Terms 102
- Index 108
- Photo Credits 112
- References 113
