14 DOGS AND ALL ABOUT THEM 



Size is a quality very desirable in this breed. The height of 

 many dogs of olden days was from thirty-two to thirty-three 

 inches. The height should be obtained rather from great 

 depth of body than length of leg. A leggy Mastiff is very un- 

 desirable. Thirty inches may be taken as a fair average 

 height for dogs, and bitches somewhat less. Many of Mr. 

 Lukey's stood 32 inches and over ; Mr. Green's Monarch was 

 over 33 inches, The Shah 32 inches, and Cardinal 32 inches. 



The method of rearing a Mastiff has much to do with its 

 ultimate size, but it is perhaps needless to say that the selection 

 of the breeding stock has still more to do with this. It is 

 therefore essential to select a dog and bitch of a large strain to 

 obtain large Mastiffs. It is not so necessary that the dogs 

 themselves should be so large as that they come from a large 

 strain. The weight of a full-grown dog should be anything 

 over 160 Ib. Many have turned over the scale at 180 Ib. The 

 Shah, for instance, was 182 Ib. in weight, Scawfell over 

 200 Ib. 



One of the great difficulties that breeders of Mastiffs and all 

 other large dogs have to contend against is in rearing the 

 puppies ; so many bitches being clumsy and apt to kill the 

 whelps by lying on them. It is, therefore, always better to be 

 provided with one or more foster bitches. At about six weeks 

 old a fairly good opinion may be formed as to what the puppies 

 will ultimately turn out in certain respects, for, although they 

 may change materially during growth, the good or bad 

 qualities which are manifest at that early age will, in all prob- 

 ability, be apparent when the puppy has reached maturity. 

 It is, therefore, frequently easier to select the best puppy in 

 the nest than to do so when they are from six to nine or ten 

 months old. 



Puppies should be allowed all the liberty possible, and never 

 be tied up : they should be taken out for steady, gentle 

 exercise, and not permitted to get too fat or they become too 

 heavy, with detrimental results to their legs. Many Mastiff 

 puppies are very shy and nervous, but they will grow out of this 



