The Truth Behind The American Bandogge Mastiff

The American Bandogge Mastiff isn't a purebred dog, as we'd normally perceive the term. Bandogge refers to any mastiff breed of the bulldog type, and comes from a Saxon word – banda – meaning chain. This is because these dogs were commonly tied up during the day, and released at night to perform their guard duties. The American Bandog Mastiff fits this criteria, since it originated as a guard dog and these dogs' ancestry is often part Pit Bull Terrier, and part Neapolitan mastiff. However, these dogs have been bred for several generations by some kennels, without introducing any other breeds. The American Bandogge Mastiff has a homogeneous body type, and is a recognizable variety of dog.

These dogs originated in the late 1960s, when a Mr. Swinford, who was a veterinarian, decided to produce the best protection dog possible. It's uncertain exactly which breeds were used at that time, but a combination of pit bull and a large molosser, such as a mastiff, is the most common theory. Most people produce American Bandogge Mastiff puppies by crossing pit bulls with large, strong Neapolitan mastiffs. Usually, the mastiff is the female. Sometimes, an English mastiff is used instead of the Neapolitan. Another method used to create dogs that conform to the appearance and standards of this particular Mastiff breed is crossing bull mastiffs with pit bulls. However, these dogs are often called pit bull mastiffs.

The American Bandogge Mastiff is known for its high intelligence. These dogs are docile, but very confident. Like all mastiffs, they ought to have a master who's available for them, since they're loyal but need a lot of attention. It's unwise to own an American Bandog Mastiff if you'll be away much of the time. While these dogs weren't bred to be fighting dogs, they do share aggressive traits with animals that are, at least when it comes to other dogs. That means that they make a poor choice for people who've never owned a dog, or aren't familiar with dogs that don't socialize well with others. Some do use these dogs for fighting, but this is a bad idea, and most people breeding these dogs do it to have good pets who are excellent guardians.

American Bandogge Mastiffs have a lot of drive, and are easily trained. They do have one small drawback when used for protection, which is their relative silence. "Bark and hold" is the preferred behavior for protection dogs, but American Bandogge Mastiffs are usually unwilling to bark. This is because part of their ancestry comes from fighting breeds, which do not ordinarily bark as a warning. Thus, teaching your dog to be vocal could be difficult.