I’m so sorry this got so long and out of hand. I am just so passionate about the breed! I highly recommend English Mastiffs. I have had mine for 8 ½ years now. She is such a blessing. Lacy is gentle with both of my boys (ages 1 and 2). She entertains them and even snitches on them if they’re into something she knows they shouldn’t be. She is WONDERFUL!!!
Mine is also stubborn. She was very stubborn to potty train. They like all dogs need a lot of work to get them trained properly. I recommend you find a good breeder, no matter what don’t go to a pet store and chance getting a puppy mill dog.
English Mastiffs are VERY LAZY. As a pup they are more active, but as they turn 1-2 and older they are lazy. We have had to MAKE ours go for a walk. Actually, I had 3 EMs at one time. I escaped a divorce without two of them though. You should see how much dog food you have to feed 3 mastiffs!! They are very clumsy, but they aren’t ever mean.
I’ve ready a lot about them being guard dogs on here…yes, they are but they aren’t aggressive in it. They growl, bark, and might even go up to an intruder, but not bite and attack. I read an article in a magazine about a mastiff that knocked an intruder down and stood over him until his owner got there. NO BLOODSHED…and NO SNAPPING! I would trust my dog with any child…not any food! LOL but with any child or adult. She’s a big baby and even a lap dog. Let me know if you’d like to meet her or have other questions! Also, let me know if you find a good breeder in the area as we may get another mastiff in a couple of years.
My son climbs all over Lacy and I think she likes it. She’s even getting some arthritis and still doesn’t get nasty with Logan if he bumps her bum leg. She might whimper and move, but never aggressive towards anyone!
When Logan was a baby, I took him and the dog to stay at my mom’s for the weekend. Well, they neighbor boy came over to see the baby. The dog didn’t know the neighbor kid and so Lacy lay on the floor between the baby and the neighbor boy until I told her it was ok. She didn’t growl or anything just laid there to protect Logan from this kid she didn’t know if I wanted messing with the baby. Funny thing though, she knew the kid and had for a couple years.