But don’t let that deter you from considering ownership of this most exceptional canine. His history may be short, but he possesses an abundance of loyalty and love.

The breed as we know it today is only about 40 years old. It exists thanks to the dedication of two American mastiff breeders. One American mastiff breeder, Joe Lucero, had a hand in this particular breed; he calls his dogs “American bandog mastiff.” And in the 1960s, John Swinford was an American veterinarian who wanted to produce the ultimate guard dog. He crossed a large strong Neapolitan mastiff female with a male American pit bull terrier.

While you may find variations of this breed, those developed by Swinford and Lucero produce the most stable canines. They are known for their even temperament as well as their outstanding qualities as a guardian dog.

The American bandog mastiff has an athletic look and prominent muscles. Most dogs of this breed are black brindle, but some may be red, blue, black or tawny.

A surprising characteristic is the docility of the dog. For a dog who is bred for protection, he has a quiet, confident air about him (perhaps he realizes that he weighs in between 100 and 140 pounds or 45 to 63 kg!)

Another amazing quality is that the dog is very intelligent. Were Dr. Swinford alive today, he would be well pleased to know that indeed, his breed does make an excellent guard dog. However, as a whole, the breed possesses one small disadvantage: their reticence about barking. Most dogs bark a warning so that their owners not only know someone is around, but also to warn a potential intruder that he or she should not come further.

They also simply crave attention. As a loyal friend, they hate to be left alone. And if you ever doubt that fact, just ask the neighbors of a mastiff owner. They could probably attest to the fact that the Bandog Mastiff howls just about the entire time the owner was away from home.

Typical of the breeds from which they come, this giants want nothing more than to be in the company of their owners, to please them, and, of course, to protect them. And the Bandog can indeed get along with other household pets, if, that is, they have been raised from “puppyhood” with them. In fact, they’ll even get long with kittens and cats. If they haven’t been socialized with an individual animal though, they can be aggressive.

Considering their massive size, you might think that this breed would not be comfortable in a small space such as an apartment. However, it’s fine as long as you exercise your dog regularly. And make no mistake; your dog does need its exercise.

And don’t worry about grooming these dogs. They are easy to take care of. When compared to other dog breeds, the American Bandog Mastiff comes in as an “average shedder.” As long as you brush him regularly, removing the dead hair, you should have no problems.

If you choose to let an American Bandog Mastiff into your home, you’ve just let him into your heart as well. You, your family and your new family member will enjoy many happy years together!

Is your Bandog Mastiff getting the best care? All of the stuff you need to know about raising & caring for a Mastiff is revealed. Find out more about the American Bandog Mastiff Breed today!