Mastiff: Have you ever seen someone walking a really big dog, that you had to look twice at because it closely resembled a bear? It was most likely a Mastiff of some kind.
Mastiffs today are much different than they were years ago, with ancestors dating back more than 5,000 years.
While these large dogs look like they could do serious damage, Mastiff breeds are known for their companionship, loyalty, dedication, and need for attention and affection.
These lovable giants are hard to neglect for a hug, petting session, or some good old-fashioned roughhousing. But beware, their sheer dominating size, power, and strength make them one of the deadliest dogs in the world.
A dog with no aggressive history does not mean you should run up to them and smother them with affection; that is the best way to get a warning bite or a vicious canine attack. A warning or aggressive response could involve:
- Barking or growling that leads to a physical confrontation
- Heavy nudging
- From snipping to test bites, increasing progressively or rapidly
- Grabbing limb (arm, wrist, ankle, leg, etc.) with teeth and not letting go
- Any excessive force involving teeth, claws, or body weight
Read on to learn more about Mastiff breeds, including what to do if an aggressive Mastiff attacks you.
Mastiff Breed Resources
Mastiff Dog Attacks: 10 Vital Tips
Do you know how to stay alive when face to face with an aggressive dog? What about a dog that weighs twice your weight? The skilled and experienced dog bite attorneys of Bisnar Chase have represented many victims of dog bite cases, and we want to allow you to have any questions you may have answered as soon as possible.
Here are ten short easy-to-remember tips to stay alive during an encounter with a hostile dog:
- Don’t Make Eye Contact: Making eye contact is a way of challenging an animal
- No Sudden Movements: This is the best way to provoke a dog attack, next to challenging an animal with eye contact or excessive teeth showing (smiling, grinning, yelling, etc.)
- Don’t Turn Your Back to Any Dog: People who see a scary looking dog
- Don’t Run Away from a Dog: Running away from a dog can make the dog think:
- You are playing, resulting in the dog chasing you
- You are afraid/weak, resulting in the dog attacking
- Look as Large as Possible: When you stand tall, wave your arms, kick your legs and jump around, it makes you appear larger and more exciting than if you were sitting down, standing still, or “looking small.” Looking as large as you can increase your chances of the dog not wanting to advance and attack
- Be as Loud as Possible: Being loud just adds to the overall display of “dog, you do not want to mess with me.”
- Protect Fragile Body Parts: If the attack has begun and biting is now the primary issue, do your best to not only fight back when possible but make sure that you protect vital body parts:
- Neck, throat, and nearby areas
- Eyes, ears, and face
- Groin/fatty part of inside thigh (high-risk of arterial bleeding)
- Call for Help: Part of your yelling can consist of calls for help. Attracting people nearby could lead to your rescue. Someone may be able to distract or injure the dog, giving you a chance to flee to safety, allowing you to call for animal control if necessary.
- Seek Medical Attention: A must for any dog bite is immediately seeking medical attention. The risk of disease, infection, and more is too high. Documenting your injuries associated with the dog bite incident is also an added benefit.
- Contact a Skilled and experienced dog bite lawyer. Call us for your free consultation and case evaluation at (800) 561-4887.
Have you been attacked or injured by a Mastiff or other dog breed? Don’t know what to do? Call the skilled and experienced Dog Bite Attorneys of Bisnar Chase for your free Consultation and Case Evaluation at 800-561-4887.
Even if you need guidance on your next steps, call us. We are here to help.
History of the Mastiff Dog Breed
The Mastiff is as unique a dog, as it is powerful, intelligent, and loyal. There are Mastiff-like dogs dating as far back as 2500 BC.
Early human beings would work with these dogs, allowing them to move many items, heavy items, as well as for transporting goods and protection.
Mastiff dogs are also thought to have actually preyed on lions near the Tigris River. The Mongol emperor Kublai Khan was known to have a kennel with 5,000 Mastiffs that were used for hunting and war.
In 1879, the first Mastiff Club was formed, and the AKC finally acknowledged the Mastiff as an official dog breed of the American Kennel Club (AKC) in 1885 – a Mastiff by the name of “Bayard,” was the first Mastiff to be registered in the United States.
Currently, the Mastiff Club of America, formed in the year of 1929, still maintains and protects the breed, even 80 years later.
The Mastiff breed is ranked 32nd out of 155 breeds, recognized by the AKC.
If you have been attacked or experienced a dog bite from a Mastiff or other dog breed, you are always urged to seek medical attention immediately and to contact a team of skilled and highly experienced Dog Bite Lawyers.
Call us for a free consultation at (800) 561-4887.
What Reputation Do Mastiffs Have?
Mastiff breeds may be the type of breed where you ask the owner, “What kind of dog is that?” Because they are not as mainstream or as popular as:
- Akita
- Labrador
- Alaskan Malamute
- Pit Bull
- Staffordshire Terrier
- Doberman Pinscher
- Presa Canario
- Rottweiler
- Great Dane
- Boxer
- Chow Chow
When we look at dogs walking down the street or playing at the park, what are the things that immediately come to mind?
Some dogs are stereotyped. For example, Golden Retrievers are considered loyal family dogs, while Pit Bulls are judged by many as aggressive and vicious.
But what about Mastiff breeds? These large, powerful, and uniquely structured dogs, physically and mentally, are sophisticated and have a strong sense of loyalty and self-confidence.
Like most large dog breeds, Mastiffs are a breed that attracts a lot of negative and positive energy collectively. Mastiffs can be very beautiful, a rich, and luxurious coats, but they can be intimidating due to their size.
Many people can be uncomfortable around strange dogs in general, not to mention a powerful dog with such large and deadly features:
- Strong Muscles
- Fast/High Agility
- Strong-Willed
- Highly Confident
- Territorial
But they have many other qualities too. Loyalty, companionship, pride, and confidence are a few keywords to remember Mastiffs by.
Temperament of a Mastiff
While these large and powerful dogs scare many people, the temperament of the animal always ranges. You can never say, that a particular breed as a whole contains the same relative behavioral and mental patterns.
Popular to criticism and controversial matters, nurture plays a heavy role in the overall temperament of any dog, in this case, the Mastiff breeds.
Oftentimes, Mastiffs that grow into an adult, filled with lots of over-excitement, confusion, territorial misunderstanding, “doggy etiquette” and so on, are the types that show signs of aggression and hostility early and/or later in life.
Ever hear someone say: “I can’t believe their dog bit someone, their dog has never bitten anyone before!”
If you have experienced an aggressive Mastiff or another dog breed, and have been injured or severely traumatized, seek medical attention as soon as possible and follow up with a free consultation with one of our skilled dog bite lawyers. Call (800) 561-4887.
Owning a Mastiff
Owning a dog can be demanding and time-consuming, a financial obligation and obligation on your part to give that pup love, affection, and healthy life. Not to mention veterinarian bills can be substantial if your pooch gets sick, injured, or displays cases of unnatural behavior.
Owning one of these hulk puppies is no easy task at all.
- Expensive: Large breeds, especially Mastiffs, can eat up to 2 pounds of food per meal. That’s about 4-5 pounds of food per day – per year, that comes out to over 1,600lbs of food, which depending on the quality of the food, could be considerably expensive.
- Time Consuming: Mastiffs need attention, affection, training, and one-on-one time. If Mastiffs are neglected of personal communication and playtime, they could become aggressive, territorial, and just plain cranky.
- High-Maintenance: When you find out how much these Mastiffs cost, the high-maintenance aspect of this breed shouldn’t surprise you. Consistent bathing, hygiene, grooming, and avoiding low-quality foods, shampoos/conditions/soaps, and ensuring your Mastiff gets the best, highest-quality love a pup can get. As their parent and one they count on, it’s your obligation.
- Professional Training: There is plenty of alternative to professional training – YouTube, online/paperback books and manuals, but when dealing with such a large breed who can become potentially deadly if not properly cared for and treated, it may be worth your while to invest in some top-shelf professional training from either a private trainer or Pet Care store. Doing so could save you time, money, and a future lawsuit if your Mastiff becomes rebellious.
Are Mastiff Breeds More Aggressive Than Other Breeds?
Dogs of all sizes come with many different personalities. Without understanding each breed’s temperament, it would be impossible to accurately describe the similarities and differences between dogs of size, dogs with aggressive histories, dogs with heavy weights, etc.
Even though Mastiffs are dogs more likely to attack or cause serious injuries/death, that isn’t to say that a breed of significantly smaller size and weight couldn’t be more aggressive. Size doesn’t matter because the proof is in the pudding.
Here are some possible factors of why a dog suddenly decides to charge, attack, challenge, or bite:
- Territorial
- Feeling Threatened
- Confusion
- Fear
- Over-Excitement
- Abuse/Neglect
- Being a Stray
Medical Attention After a Mastiff Dog Bite
After getting bitten or attacked by a dog or Mastiff, make sure you do the following:
- Make sure your environment is safe to call for help (do your best not to endanger others)
- Give as much information about your attack experience as possible
- Be honest and do not downplay anything
- Listen to your doctor/healthcare provider
- Treat as directed
- Document everything, especially throughout your treatments
- Follow up with a skilled Dog Bite Lawyer
Oftentimes, when a dog bite victim is attacked by a Mastiff or any other type of dog, if injuries are not serious, the victim may walk away from the situation without filing a police report, seeking medical attention, or anything at all. This is a problem for many reasons.
- Future Legal Action: If for any reason, you wish to pursue legal action against the dog and its owner, it may be too difficult to prove:
- The dog bite incident ever took place
- Your injuries are the result of the dog bite incident ONLY
- You may not know how to contact the dog’s owner
- Infection and Disease: Contracting a bacterial infection or disease like Rabies is a very serious possible outcome if medical attention was not administered immediately following the dog bite incident. According to the Control Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Rabies is a virus that primarily infects your central nervous system, causing a very bad disease in the brain, which leads to death.
- Documentation: When you report a dog bite or attack, it is recorded in the annual database for dog bite statistics. These statistics are very beneficial and can help many. Medical attention also allows you to properly document your dog bite injuries associated with the dog bite incident.
How To Document Your Mastiff Dog Bite Injuries
A dog bite experience can be overwhelming and traumatizing, but staying focused on getting the information you need to win your case is your motivation.
Don’t get stuck with paying medical bills for the injuries inflicted during your dog attack experience. Our team of dog bite attorneys at Bisnar Chase is here to help you in this difficult and often confusing time of your life. Here are some tips for you to stay mindful of when gathering information for your dog bite case:
- If you find yourself if you are face to face with an aggressive dog that has an aggravated interest in you, refer to 10 Tips to Survive a Dog Attack
- Seek medical attention immediately following the dog bite incident, as soon as the area is safe. Call 911 or ask someone to do so for you
- Take or have pictures/videos taken of the dogs involved, injuries, location of the dog attack, etc.
- Any evidence is good evidence. Anything that had anything to do with the experience
- Gather a list of names and contact information of anyone who witnessed the dog attack
Your primary focus should be your health and safety and those around you. During a dog bite or animal attack, it is common for bystanders to become suddenly involved even though the original focus was on a different victim.
Aggressive dogs can either prey on a victim for a long period of time, or bounce from house to house, looking for unsuspecting people and animals to attack.
Once your injuries are taken care of, give the trusted and skilled dog bite attorneys of Bisnar Chase a call to represent you and win your case.
Have questions? Call (800) 561-4887 for your free consultation and case evaluation.
How To Win Your Dog Attack Case
Dog bite or Mastiff attack cases can become complex and difficult to win if the proper preparations and organization are not taken care of. Here are some examples of the crucial information you will want to make sure you have, to give you the best chances of winning your case and receiving maximum compensation:
- Documented Medical Information
- Police Report
- Photos/Video (where the incident took place, injuries, those involved, etc.)
- Any Evidence
- Eye-witnesses Accounts
Be organized and prepared: have a statement identifying the date, time, location, those involved, a summary of what happened, and any other information your lawyer identifies is an important piece of information for your case.
If You've Been Involved in a Canine Attack
Have you or a loved one experienced a Mastiff attack or bite? If so, you could be entitled to compensation, medical costs, and other financial obligations to be covered. Just call (800) 561-4887 for your free consultation and case evaluation with one of our skilled dog bite lawyers.
Our team of legal professionals and experienced dog bite attorneys have been representing victims, and fighting and winning dog bite cases for over 40 years. With over $750 million won, we have established an impressive 99% success rate and would like the opportunity to represent your case.
If you are concerned about the cost of our representation, know this – if we don’t win, you don’t pay. All costs are discussed in the beginning and you will not be surprised with any hidden fees or costs.
If you have financial obligations you need taken care of now, we are happy to help you in any way we can. Discuss your case with us at no charge or strings attached, just call (800) 561-4887.
