Molossers: The Many Faces of Mastiffs (and more)
As the owner of a Dogue De Bordeaux (a French Mastiff), I am commonly approached with the comment, “That is a strange color for a Mastiff!”. Most people don’t know that there are an enormous variety of breeds within the group known as Molossers. There is a misconception that a Mastiff is, well- a Mastiff! When you use the word “Mastiff”, you are actually referring to the breed the English Mastiff, so if you’d like to reference this vast group of large, powerful canines, you can use the term Molossers.
Photo by karlerikbrondbo
While many of these breeds serve different purposes, it is believed that they all descended from the same background and then were strategically bred to create separate breeds. While all these dogs fall into the category of Molossers, not all of them are mastiffs (though you can see a similarity in the physical structure of most of these breeds).
Some of the more common Molossers are the American Bulldog, Boxer, Bullmastiff, Great Dane, English Mastiff, Bulldog, Newfoundland, Rottweiler and Saint Bernard. However there are a ton of other breeds that fall into this catagory!
Have you ever heard of a Caucasian Ovtcharka? This thick coated Russian breed is a livestock guardian who has a bearlike appearance. The males of this breed weigh-in at over 120 lbs and the females at over 97 lbs. This is an exceptionally old breed whose descendants were used by nomadic tribes that herded sheep in the mountain regions. Ovtrcharka is a Russian word meaning Shepard or Sheepdog. These dogs are known to be “one family” dogs, meaning they may be a bit aloof with strangers. As guardians, you can be sure that they will alert you to the smallest changes in their environment.
Photo by donnikowski
How about a South African Boerboel? The word Boerboel translates to mean “Farmer’s Dog” in Afrikaans. Bred specifically to guard families and property, this large dog has an imposing appearance. They range in weight from 150-200 lbs and are incredibly faithful companions who will protect with their lives. However, the Boerboel can be quite headstrong and is absolutely *not* a dog for the novice owner. They are energetic and need a great deal of activity or else they can become destructive.
Photo by StigV
These are just 2 examples of the lesser known Molossers. I’ll be highlighting a few more in upcoming blogs, as I have a soft spot for these big, drooly pups!
For more info on other rare breeds, check out this article on 5 lesser known breeds.
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