What is Mastiff?
[[File:Luga English Mastiff.jpg|thumb|right|250px|{{Center|A Mastiff}}]] The '''Mastiff''', also called the '''English Mastiff''', is a large [[breed]] of [[dog]].<ref name=AKC>{{cite web |url=http://www.akc.org/dog-breeds/mastiff/detail/ |title=Meet the Mastiff |author= |date= |website= |publisher=American Kennel Club |accessdate=25 February 2016}}</ref> They have a [[Rectangle|rectangular]] body, thick [[muscle]]s and a massive [[head]] with a wrinkled [[forehead]].<ref name=AKC/> They stand from {{convert|27.5|in|cm}} to {{convert|30|in|cm}} at the [[shoulder]] and typically weigh between {{convert|120|lb}} and {{convert|230|lb}}.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.vetstreet.com/dogs/mastiff |title=Mastiff |author= |date= |website= |publisher=VetStreet |accessdate=25 February 2016}}</ref> The Mastiff is one of the largest breeds of dogs<ref>Vince Stead, ''New and Improved How to Raise and Train Your Mastiff Puppy Or Dog'' (Vince Stead, 2011), p. 7</ref> who can outweigh many full-grown men.<ref name=AKC/> They can be gentle with family members but are also excellent [[guard dog]]s.<ref name=Case21.22>Linda P. Case, ''The Dog: Its Behavior, Nutrition, and Health'' (Arnes, IA: Wiley, 2005), pp. 21–22</ref> == History == The early Mastiff was called a '''molosser''' or molossus.<ref name=Thornton5.6>Kim Thornton, ''Mastiffs: Everything about Purchase, Care, Nutrition, Grooming, Behavior and Training'' (Hauppauge, NY: Barron's; Enfield: Publishers Group UK, 2009), pp. 5–6</ref> [[Genetics]] and breeding dogs to get certain [[wikt:characteristic|characteristic]]s was unknown then. In 350 [[BC]], [[Aristotle]] wrote that the [[ancestor]] of the Mastiff was the Molosser.<ref name=Thornton5.6/> These were the [[Dogs in warfare|war dogs]] and [[guard dog]]s kept by the [[Molossoi]] people, an ancient [[Greece|Greek]] [[tribe]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bulldoginformation.com/molossers-mastiff-breeds-history.html |title=History and Origin of the Molosser Breeds |author= |date= |website= |publisher=Bulldog Information