19. What kind of a temperament does a Mastiff have?
Description
This article is from the Mastiffs Breed FAQ, by mmcbee@access.mountain.net (Mike McBee) with numerous contributions by others.
19. What kind of a temperament does a Mastiff have?
Mastiffs are called gentle giants because of their benign and
benevolent character. A Mastiff's temperament is so much a part of
how it needs to be raised and cared for that many of the questions
in this FAQ have incorporated one aspect or another of the Mastiff
temperament in their answers.
A dog this big has no NEED to growl or make menacing noises or
faces to impress a would-be burglar or mugger. Instead, it can and
does simply relax, but keeps an eye on situations where its human
family could possibly be in danger of any kind.
Mastiffs have a somewhat contradictory nature, they are very
sensitive to the reactions of their people, most Mastiffs can be
absolutely crushed by harsh words. Yet Mastiffs can also be among
the most stubborn of dogs, so stubborn that you may find it to be
an immense challenge to get them to do the same thing over and
over for an obedience class (the Mastiff probably would rather do
it once and then take a nap or do something different).
Mastiffs, like people, are highly individual. Some are placid,
some are high energy animals who need to be kept busy. A lot of
any Mastiff's behavior depends on how well it was socialized while
young.
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