Mastiff

• Bathing: Give your dog a bath every four to six weeks using a gentle dog shampoo.  
• Brushing: Brush every few days with a grooming mitt or a bristle brush.  
• Skin care: Mastiffs can develop skin infections if their wrinkles aren’t kept clean. So after they eat, wipe their face with a pet-safe product like Vetnique Labs Medicated Grooming Wipes. You’ll also need to wipe their face regularly to clean off drool (Mastiffs drool a lot).  
• Dental care: The best way to keep your dog’s teeth healthy is to brush them every day. It’s a good idea to start the routine with your English Mastiff puppy while they’re still young, if possible, so they get used to the experience. Get a pro cleaning at your vet once a year, too. 
• Ear care: Check their ears every day. If there’s redness, swelling, or an odor, your pup may have an ear infection that needs veterinary care. Talk to your vet about how to clean your dog’s ears. 
• Nail care: Trim your dog’s nails once a month (or whenever you hear them clacking on hard surfaces). Make sure your clipper can handle extra-large dog nails; Mastiffs may do better with a nail grinder. 

Start with some basic obedience training cues—like sit, stay, and come—when your Mastiff puppy is still young (or as soon as possible if you adopt them when they’re an adult).  

Don’t forget socialization, too. It’s important to introduce your pup to new people and places so that they’re used to new interactions and become a calm and well-mannered canine (although, Mastiffs are already pretty chill). 

Always use positive reinforcement like praise, training treats, and favorite toys to teach your pup how to be on their very best behavior. English Mastiffs are bright dogs, and with patience and consistency, they can learn new cues quickly.  

When it comes to diet, this extra-large dog requires some special considerations: 

• Mastiffs need a food made just for large dogs, such as Hill’s Science Diet Large Breed Recipe. Large-breed foods contain the right nutrients that help big dogs avoid joint issues. 
• English Mastiff puppies in particular need a large-breed puppy food to support their rapid growth. They may need to be on a puppy food for their first 2 years of life as they grow; talk to your vet about when your Mastiff puppy should switch to adult food. 
• Like all breeds, Mastiffs need a high-quality commercial dog food that meets AAFCO standards. The food must also match their current life stage (puppy, adult, or senior).  
• Mastiffs can develop bloat, a life-threatening condition in which the stomach distends with food and/or air. To help reduce this risk, feed your Mastiff multiple meals per day, use slow feeder dog bowls, and don’t let your dog exercise for two hours before or after they eat. Your vet can give you tips. 
• Be mindful of how many treats you feed your Mastiff. Dog treats should never be more than 10% of their daily calories.  

It might seem counterintuitive, but a bigger dog doesn’t necessarily mean more exercise. In fact, the English Mastiff is not built to compete in any marathons. They have a lot of weight to carry, and jogging (especially on hard surfaces) isn’t a joy for them—in fact, it can even damage their joints.  

Instead, stick to grassy surfaces where your Mastiff can saunter at their leisure for a mile or two, stopping to smell all the flowers along the way. A 20–30 minute walk a couple of times a day is enough to keep them happy.  

This breed will likely also enjoy low-impact exercises like swimming. A fenced yard where they can spend time with you chasing tennis balls is also sure to be a hit.   

A warning for walks: The Mastiff really doesn’t enjoy prolonged exercise, so if you’re out too long, they may decide they’re done for the day and plop down wherever. Unless you want to carry home a dog who may weigh just as much as—or even more than—you do, respect their wish for a short, easygoing stroll close to home.  

Mastiff puppies tend to have higher energy levels but be careful about letting them get too rambunctious. When they’re growing, it’s easy to damage their fragile bones, so keep any counter-jumping or stair-racing to a minimum.   

It’s not that an English Mastiff couldn’t live in an apartment—it’s just that you might run out of room. But if you have a particularly large apartment or condo, it’s possible.  

This breed’s large paws need soft materials underfoot, so life in the concrete jungle (with no close-by park) isn’t an option. But they’re probably best suited for homes with a yard where they can wander and play a casual game of fetch with you.  

Low-impact exercise is best for Mastiffs, so a home with a pool or close to a lake would probably be appreciated if they’re not afraid of the water. Before you choose a spot to splash, make sure the water’s safe for your pup and that your dog knows how to swim. 

These gentle giants are a great match for families, and they’re likely to love children (and vice versa). They’ll probably tolerate (or even adore) other animals in the house, too. But supervision is required due to their sheer size.