Are English Mastiffs
Good Family Dogs?
Top 10 Questions Answered 

by Ken Alden

English mastiffs are very popular throughout the world. They’re known for their affection, love, and hard-working attitude. As a member of the working group of dogs, they’re used to dealing with heavy loads. However, it means that they require more physical activity from their owners.

Are English Mastiffs Good Family Dogs?

Absolutely! They’re great with children and other pets, and they definitely love attention. As long as you have plenty of space for them to run and you’re able to play with them often, English mastiffs can be an excellent addition to your family.

Before bringing one home as a new family member here's 10 key questions that we felt you might have which we've answered in depth. Read More Below...

Pro-tip: Ever try lifting an English Mastiff? Their weight can hurt not only your back but their joints when they hop down from cars, sofas or even your bed. To protect your back and theirs check out the best Mastiff ramps on Amazon.com now.

Are English Mastiffs Friendly?

This dog is incredibly friendly to their owners and most other people which is great to know when asking are English mastiffs good family dogs. They’re known to be gentle giants, which is why so many pet owners love to adopt them. Despite their ferocious appearance, you can show as much love to an English mastiff as you’d like. 

The only concern that you might want to think about is that some English mastiffs can be a bit aggressive if they were neglected when they were young. This aggression stems from their desire to bond with their owners, so it’s basically sadness and confusion. They start to get angry, thus the irrational behavior.

As long as you’re able to show love and attention to your English mastiff, you won’t have to worry about anger or shyness (which can also be a problem). Some people believe that these dogs can actually be a little bit too friendly, running after friends and family to tackle them and lick them as much as possible.

All in all, the friendliness of the average English mastiff is unquestionable. They’re ready to play and have a good time with anyone who they see. 

These dogs have a high level of social needs. You should always introduce new friends and family to your English mastiff as soon as possible to bridge the gap of concern or confusion that they might have. Once the bond is made, everything will be smooth from then on out! 

Are English Mastiffs Good With Babies And Toddlers?

English mastiffs aren’t aggressive towards babies or toddlers, but they’re a bit too big to have them around often. They’re overly playful at times, which leads them to throw their body weight around. If they’re playing with a baby, it can become dangerous.

If you have an English mastiff at home and you also have a toddler or a baby, try these suggestions:

• Purchase multiple dog gates and place them around your house to keep your English mastiff out of the areas that your child will be.
• Teach your English mastiff to sit and stay, that way you never have to worry about them jumping up on you while you’re carrying the baby.
• Introduce your toddler to the dog, but do so in a manner that your dog won’t get too excited. Extra movements might scare your child or make your dog confused.
• Consider keeping your dog outside until your child is old enough to not be knocked over by a running English mastiff. are english mastiffs good family dogs

There are plenty of alternative solutions. If you already have an English mastiff, you don’t have to worry about putting them up for adoption. By simply separating or training your dog, you can have them coexist in the same living space as your child. As long as you’re firm and not budging about the aforementioned rules, they’ll understand soon enough. 

Are English Mastiffs Good With Other Dogs And Cats?

English mastiffs, much like most other mastiffs, are great with other pets. However, there are a few things to consider when asking are English Mastiffs good family dogs:

• How long has the pet been involved in their life? English mastiffs can be a bit territorial once they’re accustomed to being the only pet who gets attention from their owner. Try to introduce the new cat or dog earlier in your English mastiff’s life if you can.
• Is the pet a male or a female? Some English mastiffs have same-sex aggression, meaning they get upset easily with other animals that are the same gender as them. Male-male or female-female combinations can lead to problems, but that’s not always the case. 
• Was your English mastiff abused before you adopted them? If they were hurt by people or other animals, they can be shy or anxious around anyone who’s not you; This includes other pets.

If you’ve looked through all three questions and everything checks out, then your English mastiff will have no problem getting along with other pets. Make sure you slowly introduce them rather than avoiding introductions and hoping for the best.

Note: English mastiffs are very friendly (as mentioned above), so it could be a bit dangerous if they’re playing with small dogs and cats. Keep an eye on them when they’re playing together so it doesn’t get out of hand.

Pro-tip: English Mastiff anxiety, aggression, destructive chewing, jumping up, fearfulness, and other behaviors can be controlled with the right training program.

Here’s a great course that addresses these issues along with many other dog training basics: Check it out now!

Do English Mastiffs Chew Furniture?

Like all dogs, English mastiffs can be chewers if they’re not corrected. They have incredibly strong jaws, which can cause serious damage to your furniture. When they’re puppies, you always have to keep them from chewing anything around the house. They don’t know their own strength, nor do they know the dangers of what they’re doing.

You can easily get your English mastiff to stop chewing by using anti-chew sprays, providing enough toys for them to chew on, and firmly correcting their bad behavior. Remember that they’re not doing it to spite you, nor are they chewing on your furniture to cause irreparable damage. 

Most puppies chew because they’re trying to remove their baby teeth or scratch their gums. Either way, you can keep them away from your furniture with a good game of tug-o’-war, or by playing fetch. Tennis balls work wonders when it comes to removing an English mastiff puppy’s teeth.

As they grow older, English mastiffs are a very intelligent breed. They’re responsive to new commands, and they know what they are and aren’t allowed to do. By setting boundaries when they’re young, you can reap the benefits and gain their respect when they’re adults.

As a final note of caution: Never try to put your hand in or around an English mastiff’s mouth when they’re biting furniture. Their jaws are like vices, and they can accidentally cause severe damage to your hand if they don’t see it.

Are English Mastiffs Good Guard Dogs?

Unfortunately, English mastiffs aren’t the best guard dogs. People often think that they would be since they’re big and scary if you don’t know them well, but they’re not going to attack unless they’re provoked time and time again. Even then, it’s rare to see one of them intentionally act aggressively. 

If you’re looking for a guard dog, English mastiffs might not be your first choice. That being said, they’re excellent for alerting you when something’s wrong. For example, if someone were to break into the house or go into your backyard, they’ll bark up a storm until you are aware of the situation.

For most English mastiff owners, the appearance of their dog is enough to keep them safe. Nobody wants to go after someone who has a 200-pound mastiff at their side! They’ll steer clear and cease to bother you.

In short, English mastiffs look scary, which might be enough to prevent problems, but they’re not going to attack as a guard dog. They make for a fantastic alarm to keep you aware of everything that’s out of order or dangerous, but you shouldn’t expect them to jump to your defense. It might happen rarely, but it’s not in their nature....that's why they should be thought of more as a "watch dog" rather than a "guard dog" when considering are English mastiffs good family dogs.
 

Do English Mastiffs Drool A Lot?

Part of owning an English mastiff is dealing with their drool. Yes! They drool all over the place. You can do all that you want, but it’s nearly impossible to stop them from drooling on furniture, the floor, clothes, and more. Try to think of it as a stamp of love and happiness, because they drool more when they’re excited.

The only way that you can tone down an English mastiff’s drooling is by making sure they drink enough water. Their mouths start to produce more saliva when they’re thirsty or hungry, so giving them enough food and water is essential for slowing the drool. That being said, it’s a constant battle.

Are English Mastiffs good family dogs? you might have a hard time with them if you prefer everything to be neat, clean, and tidy. They’re rough, playful, and they drool more than you could imagine. After you experience their joyfulness, drool will become a thing of the past in terms of what really matters.

If worse comes to worst, you can keep your dog outside. As long as they have enough room to run around and get out their energy, you won’t have to deal with the excessive amounts of drool as often as you would if they lived inside. There’s no taming the drool, but you can learn to cope with it. are english mastiffs good family dogs

This page on our site ranks the biggest droolers in the Mastiff line. Just where does the English mastiff rank? Click Here to find out!

Do English Mastiffs Shed A Lot?

Along with drooling, English mastiffs do a whole lot of shedding. Even if they have short hair, it’s thick enough to cause excessive shedding throughout the week. They’re bred to withstand cold temperatures, which is why their coat is thicker than most other dogs. 

You can maintain the shedding from your English mastiff by trying out the following suggestions:

• Brush them regularly (once to twice a week), depending on how much fur they have. You’ll notice whether or not you need to increase the brushing frequency based on the amount of shedding they do around the house.
• Make sure that they’re eating and drinking properly. Malnutrition causes rapid hair loss in almost any dog breed, which could be a serious problem with an English mastiff’s thick fur coat.
• Prepare for winter shedding. When it starts to warm up after winter, English mastiffs start to shed to get ready for the heat of summer. You’ll definitely have to increase the amount of brushing you do around this time.
• Remove any source of anxiety or stress for the dog. These conditions can cause hair loss, among numerous other health problems. If you notice that your English mastiff is losing hair in patches, then they might be nibbling at themselves.

Pro-tip: English Mastiff's (and their owners) love dog crates…and for good reasons. Crates keep dogs from mischief while you're away, are perfect for house training, for traveling by car, and provide the dog a place to de-stress. Check out the best Mastiff crates on Amazon.com now.

Do English Mastiffs Need Lots Of Exercise?

English mastiffs come from a working class of dogs. They’re used to getting up early and pushing themselves through the day. However, due to their large size, it’s important that you don’t force them to experience too much muscle strain. There joints and bones can be damaged if they’re exercising too often.

If you’re trying to figure out the perfect exercise set for your English mastiff, try one or two of these five workouts every day:  

1. Walk them around the block for one hour each day. They need to get their legs moving and their heart pumping long enough to promote a healthy lifestyle.
2. Play fetch or tug-o’-war for 30 minutes every day. Both of these exercises are a bit more intense than a slow-paced walk, so you don’t have to do as much with them.
3. Do stair climbing with your dog, but make sure it’s not too fast. Quick movements can damage them, but walking up and down the stairs for five to ten minutes will give them a healthy amount of exercise.
4. Play baseball with your dog. Hit the ball with your bat and have them retrieve it for you. Yes, it’s just like fetch, but you get to have a bit more fun with it.
5. Go on a 15 to 20-minute jog every morning. Your dog will jog with you, giving you both a good dose of heart-pumping exercise.
   

Are English Mastiffs Expensive To Maintain?

There’s no question that different dog breeds cost more expensive than others. The truth is that English mastiffs require the same amount of toys as almost any other dog, but they need much more food. Their portions are often three to four times bigger than small dogs, making them more expensive to maintain.

Another area that might raise concerns is that they tear through their toys quickly due to their strong jaws and teeth. They need just as many toys as mentioned above, but they’re going to need replacements more often. A chihuahua wouldn’t rip through a rubber ball nearly as fast as an English mastiff. 

They also require more water, but that’s not always a big issue. It’s not nearly as big of an expense as food and chew toys. Roughly, English mastiffs cost about $1,500 per year as adults and $2,000 per year to maintain when they’re puppies. They need more food when they’re growing, so the price is slightly higher in their younger years. 

Wondering how much does it cost per year to feed a Mastiff? Read here...

Are English Mastiffs Easy To Train?

Since they’re used to being part of the workforce, it’s fairly easy to train an English mastiff. They’re very receptive to new tricks and figuring out how you want things to be done. If you’re firm and repetitive with your commands, they’ll do their best to obey.

Before you start the training process, you should keep these three things in mind:

1. English mastiffs shouldn’t be taught to sit and stand or lay and stand too many times in a row. These motions can be physically tasking, causing joint and muscle pain that lasts for weeks or months.
2. They can hear very well, so there’s no need to yell or shout at them. Repetition is the key component to success. It’s very similar to trying to learn a new language; In due time, it’ll all work out.
3. They’re going to be much more interested in a new trick if treats and praise are involved. Rewards are always going to produce better results than strict anger or yelling. 

English mastiffs can learn just about every trick in the book. Once you’ve got a specific trick down, you can start teaching them the next one. Their excellent memory allows them to retain previous tricks without overlapping commands.

Are English Mastiffs Good Family Dogs?...Final Thoughts

Are English Mastiffs good family dogs? They are if you want a pet who will be interactive, loving, and easy to train. Their high maintenance costs and clumsy strength might be a bit of a deterrent, but just know that they’re doing their best to be a part of the group. Once they understand how everything works at their new home, they’ll fit right in. 

Here’s a brief summary of what we've gone over in this post:

• English mastiffs drool, shed, and cost a lot, but they’re more than worth it.
• They’re easy to train, great with kids and adults, and they get along with other pets.
• They’re not meant to be guard dogs, but they will alert you when harm is near.
• If your English mastiff chews furniture, distract them with toys and an anti-chew spray.
• Provide up to an hour of exercise for your English mastiff each day.
  
  

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I’m Ken Alden. This website
is a labor of love from years of research and personal experiences with Mastiffs.

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