2024 Author: Priscilla Miln | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 00:21
Experienced dog breeders are well aware that Molossians are dogs that are combined into one group according to several similar characteristics. As a rule, these are large animals with a massive head and powerful jaws.
A bit of history
Scientists who study these animals agree that Molossians (dogs) are descended from a common ancestor. The first mention of such dogs dates back to 640 BC. e. The name of this group, apparently, came from Molossia. This ancient state was located in the western part of Greece. It was from there that these animals came to the territory of the Ancient Roman Empire. The Romans appreciated these large hardy dogs. In the process of conducting military operations, the dogs of the Molossian group were part of the Roman legions. In peacetime, they were released into the arena to fight gladiators or predatory animals. Subsequently, they spread throughout Europe.
Molossians: dog breeds
To date, this group includes about 30 different breeds. The most popular are Rottweilers, St. Bernards, Great Danes, Mastiffs, Boxers, English Bulldogs, Central Asian and Caucasian Shepherd Dogs. They all have a broad chest.cell, developed muscles and more or less hanging skin. Many of them are characterized by increased aggressiveness in relation to other relatives. Molossians - dogs, the description of which can be read below, are stubborn, but they do not seek to dominate.
Dogue de Bordeaux
These animals are considered one of the brightest representatives of the Molossian group. Dogs of this breed weigh 40-50 kilograms with a height of 58-68 centimeters. The main distinguishing feature of the Dogue de Bordeaux is a massive head with powerful thick jaws and a pronounced transition from forehead to muzzle.
The body of these dogs is covered with short soft hair. They are characterized by a solid black and piebald, golden or fawn color. The presence of white spots on the paws and chest of the animal is not considered a defect.
Dogues de Bordeaux are unsuitable for keeping in city apartments, they need space. In addition, these animals are lazy by nature. Therefore, they need regular long walks and moderate physical activity. Otherwise, the dog will quickly gain weight, which can lead to serious he alth problems.
Caucasian Shepherd Dog
This is another typical representative of the Molossian group. Dogs of this breed are distinguished by a complex independent character. By their nature, they are not aggressive, but they have a very developed guarding instinct. These large dogs should not be kept on a leash. For these animals, you need to build spacious enclosures.
Caucasian Shepherd Dogs are squat dogs with massive bones and wellwell developed musculature. Their height is 64-75 centimeters, and their weight is at least 45-50 kilograms. A characteristic feature of these animals is a massive, well-set wedge-shaped head with wide cheekbones and small, widely spaced ears.
Neapolitan Mastiff
The origin of this handsome man is considered to be Italy. The growth of dogs of this breed is 61-74 centimeters, weight - from 50 to 70 kilograms. The massive body of the animal is covered with short hair of a blue, black or brown hue. The main distinguishing feature of the Neapolitan Mastiff is a wide skull with a short massive muzzle, hanging loose lips and well-developed jaws.
These strong-willed and very stubborn dogs are not programmed for instant submission. Therefore, their training will require a lot of time and patience. In addition, they easily overheat and do not need increased physical activity. Swimming is considered the best activity for the Neapolitan Mastiff.
These are bright representatives of the Molossian group. Dogs, photos of which can be seen below, have a calm character. Phlegmatic mastiffs never attack first, except when their masters are in danger.
Bullmastiff
This is a fairly young breed, which is considered to be the birthplace of England. These animals were bred as a result of crossing a bulldog with a mastiff. As a full-fledged breed, they were recognized in the 20s of the last century.
These huge mighty animals instantlyare in the center of attention. Bullmastiffs are characterized by well-developed muscles and a wide, powerful chest. The main characteristic of these dogs is a wide square skull with a short muzzle and a wide nose.
The angular dense body of the Bullmastiff is covered with a smooth, short, tight coat of brown-red color. Sometimes there are small white spots on it. The growth of these dogs reaches 60-69 centimeters, weight - 45-60 kilograms.
Animals of this breed are suitable for keeping in city apartments and in private houses. These massive dogs have a rather lazy character. If they are not persistently pushed to the door, they will lie on the couch. The training of bullmastiffs is complicated by the fact that they are very capricious. A dog will never follow a command that, in its opinion, is meaningless.
Newfoundland
Animals of this breed have a powerful, compact and strong body with a straight line of the back. Newfoundlands have a broad skull with a well-developed occiput and a slightly domed arch. The short square muzzle of the dog is covered with fine short hair. The height of adults is 66-71 centimeters, weight - 54-68 kilograms.
The thick coat of the Newfoundland with a dense undercoat needs regular grooming. In order for the dog to have a neat appearance, it must be periodically combed out with a special metal brush. It is advisable to repeat this procedure every three days. You need to bathe the dog as it gets dirty. Once every threeweeks, the animal is recommended to be treated with antiparasitic agents for fleas and ticks.
Newfoundlands have a kind, calm and inquisitive nature, so they are easy to train. However, their training should be more like a game. Keep in mind during training that these large, heavy dogs tire quickly.
Recommended:
Breeds of domestic dogs with photos. The best breeds of domestic dogs
On the streets of modern megacities, you can increasingly meet people leading cute miniature dogs on a leash. Such animals do not take up much space, do not require great physical exertion and perfectly adapt to life in small city apartments. Today's article provides a description of the best breeds of domestic dogs with photos
Breeds of large dogs: photo, description. a brief description of
If residents of small apartments often start miniature "decorators", then happy owners of country houses can afford to opt for larger animals. In today's publication, descriptions, photos and names of large dog breeds will be presented
Food for dogs of large and small breeds. Complete nutrition for dogs. Meat for dogs
In order for a beautiful he althy dog to grow out of a small puppy, you need to choose the right, well-balanced diet for him. After reading today's article, you will learn how to feed a shepherd dog and what to give a miniature lapdog
Breeds of hairless dogs: description, photo, characteristic features
Hairless breed dogs inevitably attract the attention of others. This was especially noticeable about 10 years ago, when animals without wool were considered exotic. Now bald pets are in almost every area. Especially popular are small hairless dogs, which are convenient to keep in an apartment. They take up little space, are easier to care for than fluffy specimens, and besides, the owners do not have to worry about molting seasons
Hybrids of dogs of different breeds: description and photo
Thinking about buying a dog, most often consider the most popular breeds. At the same time, many people forget that recently in the modern world there are hybrids of dogs. This is the name of animals that were born by crossing other known breeds. These dogs are distinguished by good he alth, more docile disposition and surprisingly beautiful external data
