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African Mastiff
from:The African mastiff, which is also known as the Boerboel, is a
breed that is thought to be about 400 years old, and though that
is not so very old compared to some of the other breeds out
there, the African mastiff still has quite a lot of history
behind it. It's country of origin is South Africa and the breed
itself was thought to have been developed from the European
breed known as the Bullenbitjer, brought to Africa from the
Netherlands by a man named Jan van Riebeeck. These dogs were
crossbred with the African dogs and the breed that developed is
one that remains very popular both in South Africa and
throughout the world today.
The African mastiffs have been called the perfect watchdogs,
and they come by that title honestly; they are reliable and
obedient while still being confident and completely without
fear. They are very playful and while they have powerful jaws
that can easily pop the toys that they are playing with, they
are still thought to be very gentle with children. They adore
being the center of attention and their favorite thing is to be
in the middle of their chosen human family. While these are the
earmarks of the breed, it is still important to remember that
these are dogs that have a strong urge to dominate the animals
and people that they are with. They are in need of firm training
and if they are to be introduced to other dogs, they will need
to be introduced in as gentle and patient a manner as possible.
It is important to realize that the African mastiff is a breed
of dog that has been bred for its protective qualities and as
such will require a dominant owner who can enforce this. They
are dogs that can be quite territorial and unless they have been
assured that a person is "safe" they will not allow them into
the property. A properly trained African mastiff will be
sweet-tempered and hospitable to a person who has been
introduced to them and welcomed as a guest, though they might
continue to be watchful.
Be aware that African mastiffs were originally working dogs;
they have the powerful body, high energy and good health that is
indicative of a life that anticipates work. As such, these dogs
are unsuitable for apartment living and require a large yard to
roam around in. Even with a large yard, it is important to
remember that these dogs are very social, and will need to be
played with daily. It is important that they also be taken for
long walks every day. They are quite intelligent and when they
are bored, they will be become restless, nervous and can even
become dangerous and destructive.
The African mastiff is a beautiful breed of dog that was
designed for intelligence, strength and protectiveness, and it
can be seen that this dog, which has held the nickname, the
"farmer's dog" has very much lived up to this reputation.
About the author:
Chris Miller is a loving and experienced dog owner who is for a
limited time, offering his extensive dog course free of charge.
It is jam-packed full of must-have information on Mastiff Check out:
http://www.mastiffcenter.com
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