More Molossers
Bloat is a life-threatening condition that needs to be treated immediately if a dog is to survive. Veterinarian and Bullmastiff breeder Sandra Statter offers advice on slowing its progression until you can get to the vet.
This brindle bitch has a correctly sized and placed ear, which contributes to her very typey head. Photo: Denise Flaim
Ears are the finishing touch on a Mastiff head, and depending on their size, they can denote fierceness, sweetness and everything in between.
The Fila Brasileiro, a breed that Teixeira enjoys judging -- and discussing.
There are only a handful of all-round judges worldwide whose opinions Molosser fanciers apprise with as much interest and respect as they do their own breed specialists. And on that very short list is Luis Pinto Teixeira of Lisbon, Portugal.
The fidelity and stoicism of the Molosser are traits that endear the breed to those who know them best. Respected trainer Mona Lindau describes the Molosser's deeply entrenched guard instinct – and theorizes about its biological origins.
Molosser expert Rafael Malo Alcrudo of Spain explains why some breeds are just born "pessimists." And topping that list is the Mastiff.
The Molosser family tree has many branches. We go out on a limb with the Great Dane, Fila Brasileiro, and more!
In the 1830s, Cartache charmed a Portuguese king and sailed with the British navy. He and the pony Jem Crowe were immortalized in this oil painting by George Cole, an English painter known for his landscapes and animal portraits.
In the 1830s, this proto-Dogo Canario charmed a Portuguese king, sailed with the British navy and was immortalized in paint.
On January 1, 2011, the American Kennel Club formally admitted two Molosser breeds, the Dogo Argentino and the Boerboel, into its Miscellaneous Group, the final step before formal recognition. Here, representatives from each parent club answer some questions from Modern Molosser.
As the American Kennel Club confronts a classification system that is bursting at the seams, the registry contemplates giving Molosser a group of their own.
Who says Molossers don't have what it takes to excel in everything from agility to flyball? Meet these supersized movers and shakers!