Spanish Mastiff: Livestock Guardian Dog Breed

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Let me start off with some honesty. I am partial to this breed. After researching every known livestock guardian dog breed out there, this is the one I chose for my next dogs. In fact, I had hoped to be picking up two Spanish Mastiff puppies in just a couple of weeks (see my article, How Many Livestock Guardian Dogs You Need), but things unfortunately fell through with the breeder. Now I’m eagerly awaiting her next round of available puppies, hopefully this fall!

If you’re here to learn about Spanish Mastiffs, you may be wondering…

Does the Spanish Mastiff make a good livestock guardian dog? Yes, the Spanish Mastiff makes an excellent livestock guardian dog if you are looking for a close guarding breed. The dog’s domineering size and intimidating bark are often enough to deter predators. Spanish Mastiffs will fight bravely and ferociously if necessary.

Does the Spanish Mastiff make a good pet? Yes, Spanish Mastiffs make great pets for families who want a giant breed dog who’s gentle and trainable. These dogs must be obedience trained for safety purposes due to their extremely large size. Be aware that Spanish Mastiffs are known to drool and snore a lot.

For more on roaming vs. close guarding breeds, see my article, Livestock Guardian Dogs and Roaming: Which Breeds Roam, Why, and How to Fix Roaming Problems. For everything else you need to know about the Spanish Mastiff breed, read on! And for information on how to train livestock guardian dog breeds with positive methods, check out a review on my favorite training program here.

Other Names: Mastin Español, Mastin de Español, Mastin de Leon, Mastin de La Mancha, Mastin de Extremadura

Spanish Mastiff at a Glance

Spanish Mastiff Personality/Temperament

Spanish Mastiff Livestock Guardian Traits

The Spanish Mastiff is best described as “powerful.” This dog is large, incredibly protective, and packs a ferocious bark. Unlike some other livestock guardian breeds, the Spanish Mastiff is relaxed and calm under pressure. The dogs are alert but not easily worked up. They may be suspicious of strangers.

When Spanish Mastiffs perceive a potential threat, they bark loudly to let the shepherd know something is amiss. After sounding the alarm, they get very quiet, but stay very alert, rather than chasing the predator. They are much less reactive and have lower energy than most other livestock guardian dog breeds. Although they don’t react to threats quickly, they will fight ferociously if the predator is not deterred by their threatening bark and formidable size.

Spanish Mastiffs are excellent guardian options for areas with large predators. They don’t roam as much as a lot of other livestock guardian dog breeds. They tend to guard close to the flock or herd. They do the occasional perimeter patrol, but instead of spending a lot of time roaming, they will observe from a high spot on the terrain with a good view.

Spanish Mastiffs are independent animals, and have personalities ranging from aloof to very affectionate. Cat Urbigkit, who visited ranches in Spain and met many Spanish Mastiffs, wrote in her book, Brave and Loyal: An Illustrated Celebration of Livestock Guardian Dogs, that “…most producers allowed us to pet and handle their dogs. The dogs were very tolerant, but quickly went back to work after greeting us.” The dogs do enjoy interaction with their human keepers and are happiest with some attention.

Be aware that these dogs may do poorly in hot conditions with high humidity. Their massive size makes them less capable of handling these conditions than many other livestock guardian dogs. However, they do handle hot and dry weather well, and also thrive in cold and snowy conditions.

If you are thinking of getting Spanish Mastiffs for livestock guardian purposes, you may also be interested in:

Spanish Mastiff Pet Traits

In many ways, the Spanish Mastiff may be one of the easiest livestock guardian breeds to raise as a pet. Despite the dogs’ massive size, Spanish Mastiffs have earned the title of “gentle giants.” They do very well with other animals and treat them gently and calmly. They are even known to get along well with cats. They also are gentle with children. They can, however, be suspicious of strangers and some sources say they may also be suspicious of strange animals. Early socialization should help to lessen or prevent this.

The Spanish Mastiffs are also unique as a livestock guardian dog breed because they don’t need a large amount of exercise and they are much easier to groom than some of the longer haired breeds. They are, however, known for drooling and snoring. See more on grooming, shedding, and drooling in the “Spanish Mastiff Grooming” section.

These dogs are laid back, loving, and excellent at guarding households. Some sources say they are very affectionate, whereas others say the opposite. It likely depends on their individual personalities, their training (livestock guardians may be less affectionate if you don’t interact with them as much - not an approach I recommend), and their family line. Their calmer nature makes them easier to train than most other livestock guardians, but they still may require a lot of work and patience in training. Also, because of their massive size, you will need to be a confident trainer and you will want to start as early as possible.

If you want to learn how to obedience train your Spanish Mastiffs using positive training methods, check out the online program, Brain Training for Dogs. This program is perfect for people who want to raise a livestock guardian dog as a pet. If you want to know why, see my review article here.

If you are thinking of getting a Spanish Mastiff as a pet, you may also be interested in:

Spanish Mastiff Livestock Guardian Dog History

Place of Origin: Spain

Traditional Livestock Guarded: Sheep, goats, cattle

Traditional Predators: Wolves, bears, lynx

Spanish Mastiff Livestock Guardian Dog Lifestyle

Spanish Mastiffs may trace their lines back to dogs who lived with the Phoenicians of the Middle East during the first millennium BC. The Phoenicians landed in Spain where the dogs were than used to migrate with flocks of sheep into the mountains for the hot summer months and back into the lower elevation areas nearer to the Mediterranean in the cooler months.

The dogs who stayed in Spain eventually led to the Spanish Mastiff breed. The dogs who spread from Spain into Portugal eventually became the Estrela Mountain Dog and Rafeiro do Alentejo breeds. See my article on Estrela Mountain Dogs here.

Records from the 15th century AD mention the Spanish Mastiffs’ well-known role for protecting sheep against wolves during that time period. The early records say the dogs did exceptionally well against the wolves. The dogs were also said to be aggressive against other dogs, but this is no longer the case with the modern breed. Desmond Morris, in his book, Dogs, shows some skepticism to this claim of less aggression. He says the breed may have been “’mellowed’ genetically or… its change of character has been exaggerated.”

In Brave and Loyal: An Illustrated Celebration of Livestock Guardian Dogs, Kat Urbigkit wrote about her visits to ranches in Spain that used Spanish Mastiffs to guard livestock. She said the dogs were not overly aggressive to neighboring livestock guardian dogs. The different packs tended to establish territories and then avoid the others.

Urbigkit also spoke of one shepherd who had Spanish Mastiffs and herding dogs. The shepherd told her the Spanish Mastiffs had never been aggressive to the other dogs. Another shepherd told her his Spanish Mastiffs would confront loose dogs in their grazing territory, which was in a public recreation area, but didn’t ever bother dogs on leashes.

As far as aggression towards humans goes, Urbigkit wrote that some shepherds said that their dogs were not aggressive to humans in the field with the sheep, but did show some aggression to humans when the sheep were in the stables. The closer quarters for the sheep seemed to make the dogs more nervous about their vulnerability. Another rancher said his dogs had never been aggressive towards humans, even though his grazing area was intersected by a public road and recreation area.

The Spanish Mastiff is still commonly used in Spain to protect flocks of sheep and herds of cattle. The shepherds spend a lot of time with the dogs and herds or flocks. Commonly, the shepherds will stay with the animals until the afternoon, leave for a few hours and then come back. The shepherds refer to these dogs as simply “mastiffs,” rather than as livestock or protection guardian dogs.

An organization in Spain called the Ortros Group funds a program to get working dogs to Spanish shepherds as the number of wolves in Spain is increasing dramatically. Currently, Spain has about two thousand wolves and many of them are feeding on livestock. The Ortros Group donates puppies to the shepherds to help counteract this problem.

The European Commission has a similar program called LIFE COEX. It places Spanish Mastiffs with shepherds and teaches the shepherds how to train them. The program also pays for electric fences.

Spanish Mastiff Additional History

Spanish Mastiffs have long been admired in historical literature and artwork, from the writers and artists of Ancient Rome to the 17th century painter, Diego Velázquez, and beyond. However, they did lose popularity temporarily in the 20th century. During this time period, the numbers of sheep, cattle, and shepherds in Spain decreased drastically and the need for livestock guardian dogs decreased with it. The numbers of wolves in the country at this time decreased also, so even fewer dogs were needed.

The breed was still used during this time to guard houses and property. Some were also used as guard dogs for the Spanish military. The Spanish Mastiffs began to become more popular again in the 1970s, and their numbers greatly increased in the 1980s. A breed standard was also recorded at this time.

Today, the Spanish Mastiff is one of the most popular breeds in Spain, and many are kept as family pets. The dogs have been imported into other European countries where they work as show dogs or are kept as pets. The dogs aren’t commonly used as livestock guardians in Europe. Spanish Mastiffs have been imported into the United States, but they still are not a very common breed here.

Other Spanish Mastiff Jobs

Although Spanish Mastiffs are traditionally livestock guardian dogs, their large size, obedience, and loyal and protective nature has made them easily adaptable to other tasks. Some of these tasks include:

Search-and-rescue dogs
House guardians
Boar hunting dogs
Other large game hunting dogs
Cart dogs, known for being able to cart over the roughest trails
Guard dogs of munitions for the military

Spanish Mastiff Appearance

Spanish Mastiff Size

Height: 28.5 inches minimum (female), 30.5 inches minimum (male)

Weight: Older sources say 110-132 lbs, but the breed can now be over 220 lbs, with females at 145-170 lbs and males at 185-220+ lbs

One of the most interesting things I’ve found during my research on Spanish Mastiffs is that they seemed to have changed drastically in size over the past 30 years or so. All the older sources I looked at (published in the 1980s and 1990s) listed the Spanish Mastiff with a height of ~26-28 inches and a weight of 110-132 pounds, and females as being smaller (numbers not specified). The more recent sources describe a much larger dog with minimum heights of 28.5 inches for females and 30.5 inches for males. Recent sources list a weight of up to 220 pounds. What a significant difference!

I suspect the change has occurred because Spanish Mastiffs have been used much more as show dogs than they once were. The smaller dogs seem to be those in working lines, whereas the show dogs were bred to be larger. I know that Brenda Negri, a U.S. breeder of Spanish Mastiffs, says that she imported some of her massive dogs from the show lines in Spain. She has found this larger variety of mastiff to still make an exceptional livestock guardian. For information on Brenda Negri’s Spanish Mastiffs (and excellent info on Spanish Mastiffs in general), see the video below:

The Spanish Mastiff is the largest of all livestock guardian dog breeds. For more on LGD breed sizes, check out my article, Livestock Guardian Dog Sizes.

Spanish Mastiff Colors

Spanish Mastiffs come in an assortment of colors, including red, black and white, gray and white, golden yellow and white, fawn, wolf grey, pinto, grizzle, and brindle. Many view a large white collar on the coat as preferable. Some of the dogs have black masks.

See the video below in the “Spanish Mastiff Grooming” section for a Spanish Mastiff with a stunning brindle pattern. Also see the video in the “Spanish Mastiff Diet/Eating Habits” section below to see a wide range of coat colors, including white!

Spanish Mastiff Coat

The Spanish Mastiff has a double coat. The outer coat of the Spanish working dogs is short in length, yet very thick. The outer coat of the larger variety of dog (many from show lines) may be slightly longer. The undercoat is soft.

Spanish Mastiff Head

Spanish Mastiffs have a broad head, strong jaws, and a large and robust neck. The dogs’ heads, necks, and shoulders are covered with loose, sagging skin. Their necks have large dewlaps, which are folds of loose skin that hang down. The dog has a long muzzle and large lips that may sag. The eyes are small and almond-shaped, and the ears are pointed and down against the head.

Spanish Mastiff Body

The most striking feature of the Spanish Mastiff is the dog’s massive, stocky body. Some dogs have double dewclaws.

Spanish Mastiff Tail

The Spanish Mastiff has a fringed tail that is typically carried low. The tail is raised up some when the dog is alert, but it never curls over the dog’s back.

Spanish Mastiff Grooming

The Spanish Mastiff has shorter hair than a lot of other livestock guardian dog breeds, and therefore does require less grooming than some. However, the dogs do still require weekly brushing and they do shed a lot during their fall and (even more so) their spring ‘blow out.’ The ‘blow out’ is when they shed their undercoats in preparation for changes in temperature.

The video below, called “Spanish Mastiffs DO shed” comes from from Brenda Negri’s YouTube channel:

This video perfectly illustrates how much a Spanish Mastiff can shed in the spring season… And seriously, this may be one of the most beautiful dogs I’ve ever seen!

As a side note, Brenda Negri is author of perhaps the best livestock guardian book out there, The Way of the Pack: Understanding and Living with Livestock Guardian Dogs. This book is a must-have for every person who has new LGDs or is considering buying LGDs.

As far as a Spanish Mastiff’s weekly grooming goes, you will need to use a pin brush and metal comb. During periods of high shedding, you will likely want to use a de-shedding brush.

Spanish Mastiffs will also need occasional ear cleanings and possibly nail trimmings (some working dogs may wear down their nails in the field instead).

Perhaps one of the most noticeable traits of Spanish Mastiffs to pet owners is that these dogs are huge droolers. The dogs will especially drool after exertion, eating, or drinking. Some owners have suggested that if you let these dogs in the house, you may want to keep ‘drool rags’ readily available. I suggest leather or faux leather couches and armchairs – these are much easier to wipe off and dry than cloth fabrics!

For everything you could ever want to know about grooming Spanish Mastiffs, check out my guide, Grooming Spanish Mastiffs: The Ultimate Guide.

Spanish Mastiff Diet/Eating Habits

Spanish Mastiffs are large dogs, and therefore will require a large amount of calories relative to other dogs. The exact amount will depend on their activity levels, age, and time of year (some dogs will need more calories in cold weather, for example). I have given some very broad estimates below:

Also, be careful how you are feeding your Spanish Mastiff puppies. You do not want these dogs to grow too fast or they may suffer pain and serious health problems (see the section below on “Spanish Mastiff Health Problems” for more information.

And maybe this is a little off topic, but I just have to share this hilarious YouTube video with you below. The video shows Spanish Mastiffs eating from several food bowls in a row. Watch the dog eating in the back. Another Mastiff approaches and shows interest in eating from the same bowl – watch how the first dog handles this. Way to avoid a fight, Mastiff!

For advice on how to properly feed your Spanish Mastiff, check out these resources:

Spanish Mastiff Lifespan and Age to Maturity

Spanish Mastiffs, being giant breeds, don’t tend to live as long as a lot of small dogs. Their average lifespan is about 10 years. However, Brenda Negri does say in the YouTube video above that some individuals live much longer, possibly up to 16 years (woohoo!).

Negri has also said that Spanish Mastiffs can take longer to reach maturity than some other livestock guardian dog breeds. Whereas most breeds take about 2 years to reach full size and maturity, Spanish Mastiffs may take up to 4 years.

For more information on livestock guardian dog lifespans, what to expect from puppies, and how to care for older dogs, see my article, What is the Lifespan of a Livestock Guardian Dog?

Spanish Mastiff Cost

In the United States, Spanish Mastiffs typically cost between $1000 and $2000.

If you are interested in adopting a Spanish Mastiff from a rescue, check out my article, Rescue Livestock Guardian Dogs – Should You Get One?

Spanish Mastiff Health Problems

The Spanish Mastiff is a giant breed, which means it is prone to a number of health problems that go hand in hand with a dog this size. Elbow and hip dysplasia are the most common, but also breathing problems, entropion, and heart troubles may be a concern.

With a dog this large, please be aware that you need to be super cautious in how you are feeding your puppies, because if they grow too quickly, they may suffer pain or lameness (panostiosis), and they will be more likely to suffer musculoskeletal problems as adults. As discussed above, Spanish Mastiffs may need about 4 years to reach full size – don’t rush this!

Livestock Guardian Dog Breeds Similar to the Spanish Mastiff

The Pyrenean Mastiff may be the most similar breed to the Spanish Mastiff. These two breeds share a general Molosser dog ancestor. Both of these breeds tend to bark less than many other livestock guardian dog breeds and tend to guard their charges more closely (less of a roaming tendency). Estrela Mountain Dogs and Rafeiro de Alentejos are also similar to Spanish Mastiffs in these regards, and all three breeds are thought to have come from ancient Middle Eastern dogs that were brought to Spain by the Phoenicians.

For more on these other breeds, read my articles on Pyrenean Mastiffs and Estrela Mountain Dogs.

For more on livestock guardian dog barking and roaming, see my articles:

Spanish Mastiff Breeding

Spanish Mastiffs retain many primitive instincts. When a pregnant female is ready to give birth, she will try to find a very secluded spot to give birth alone and raise the pups. If the dogs are range animals, you may want to put bells on your pregnant females so you can find them and their puppies.

For Love of Livestock