The massive, muscular breed of working dog known as the mastiff is renowned for its ancient origins, which date to at least the Babylonian era. The dog’s coat is short, coarse, and dense, and its color is yellowish fawn or brindle with a black mask. The ears are small compared to the head, hang at the side of the skull and are V-shaped and rounded at the tips. The tail is long and muscular and tapers to a point at the end. The eyes are small and dark. An adult mastiff stands 27–33 inches (69–84 centimeters) tall at the shoulders and weighs 165–185 pounds (75–84 kilograms). The dog is short-lived and has a slow gait and powerful jaws. Known for its dignified and courageous demeanor, it is very loyal to and protective of its master.
The breed’s name is derivative of Latin mastinus, meaning “house-dog.” This breed roamed estates and castles of British noblemen as guard dogs. Peasants were also encouraged to keep the dog to guard their huts. During Elizabethan times mastiffs served as fighting dogs in pits. The breed was so common in England at the time of the Norman invasion that the French word dogue, meaning “mastiff,” was adopted into the English language to describe all domesticated canines.