Male or female, an English Mastiff generally is a great family companion who can fill your home with laughter as this pet displays its quirky and clownish behavior despite the massive and intimidating size.
Male English Mastiffs are better for owners who put huge importance regarding their size and certain behaviors exclusive to this gender while its female counterparts are great for those who have just enough space to accommodate her proportions as well as those who prefer independent dogs.
We have to recognize that there is indeed a huge difference between the two genders and understanding each personality, need, and behavior is key to successful dog ownership. Let’s get to know both dogs better through this article!
Physical Differences
Physical traits are great indicators that tell us that gender plays a huge role in the anatomy of a dog. When two English Mastiffs of the same age are placed beside each other, most of the time, you can predict which of them is a male or a female.
Male
Male English Mastiffs are predisposed to be larger and heavier. The American Kennel Club (AKC) has set an ideal minimum height of 30 inches upwards and a weight that could range from 160 to 230 pounds. Each dog is different and it is always possible that a male Mastiff will grow bigger than the set expectations.
Aicama Zorba was a male English Mastiff who reached 345 pounds and stood at about 37 inches at withers. Although lifestyle is a huge factor, what usually explains why males are larger than females is due to sexual selection.
Female
All English Mastiffs are widely known to be big, however, if you go for a female one, the measurements will be quite low compared to that of a male Mastiff. Her ideal height starts at 27.5 inches according to the AKC while her perfect weight should be anywhere between 120 to 170 pounds.
Again, she can reach higher peaks regarding her proportions, but if you want her to join shows, she needs to be within the desired limit.
Noticeably, when all puppies in a litter are born, their sizes are more or less the same. At one point, a female’s growth will spurt faster than the males making her taller. However, her high levels of hormones can fuse the growth plates making her fast growth short-lived. Hence, males overtake them regarding measurement since they do not produce as much estrogen as the female does.
Temperamental Differences
The English Mastiff is ideally a calm canine who prefers a warm, loving, and peaceful home. The breed has a general disliking toward conflicts and has a penchant for forming meaningful relationships with his family members.
As a whole, the English Mastiff breed is an excellent family companion, but the experience is different if you get a male or a female.
Here are the distinct personalities of each sex which you’ll notice from the English Mastiff:
Aggression Level
Male
Unprovoked aggression is not an inherent trait for a male English Mastiff, but that doesn’t mean that he’s incapable of becoming hostile. Aggression shows mostly when he sees an unfamiliar dog or person in his territory.
Remember, male dogs usually fight for dominance and they see anyone new as a threat to their current status in the hierarchy. Since he is a colossal breed, he can take down anyone or easily pin to the ground the home invader.
Nevertheless, males are not belligerent beings. They are playful and more easy-going towards other pets and children compared to the females.
Female
When triggered, a female English Mastiff can show greater heights of aggression toward others. This gets worse if she’s pregnant or if she’s nursing a litter. She becomes more dignified as she ages, so showing her and her family some respect will be appreciated.
While boys fight for dominance, people joke that females fight to the death. They are not to be underestimated as they are highly territorial, especially when they have puppies or kids to protect.
It boils down to the maternal instinct of a mother English Mastiff. And even if she’s not pregnant or she doesn’t have any pups yet, once she’s considering your kids to be hers as well, she’ll fight anyone for their welfare.
Affection Level
Male
Males love to receive attention from their owners and they aren’t shy to show how affectionate they are in return. Due to their constant demand to be noticed, they will sometimes end up going wherever you are in the house. This is why English Mastiffs are considered to be velcro dogs since they do not know what privacy is!
They love to be petted and cuddled, especially when the season is cold. You’ll also get to observe that no matter what age your male dog is, he’ll still act silly or puppy-like. With that, they will be more fun and loving dogs to a quite extreme level.
Female
No doubt, females wouldn’t deprive you of their affectionate nature. They are caring and very gentle when it comes to dealing with kids. However, the difference between them and their male counterparts is that, once she’s received enough attention and love, she’ll be walking away and minding her own business.
Females tend to be mostly independent than males. Leaving them alone for a few hours won’t be something they’ll mind since they have other tasks that they can preoccupy themselves with and they are not that demanding of your attention.
Additionally, females are moody. Today, she will be affectionate and the next day, aloof or grumpy. Her heat periods will cause a lot of shifts in her behavior.
Social Level
Male
When socialization training has been incorporated into your male dog early on, his friendliness level will increase. As long as you introduce them both properly, you’ll see them having the time of their lives in just a few minutes after getting to know each other.
Male English Mastiffs are outgoing, laidback, and less territorial than females. At times, you’ll see him mingling with the other dogs in the park. He does best with dogs who are not rowdy or very dominant. It is mostly the same with cats.
A lot of times, relationships with other dogs and pets result well if they grew up together. Still, same-sex aggression may occur, so that’s something you should take note of to prevent future conflicts.
Female
When trained to socialize at a very young age, the female English Mastiff won’t have a hard time showing her friendly nature to others. However, same-sex aggression is still evident no matter the gender.
Since her hormone levels may change from time to time, especially when in heat, her social skills may be largely affected. Aggression may show even if she has no history of displaying it. Irritability and nervousness can also be observed from a female Mastiff.
She will be more cautious, suspicious, and unapproachable toward others if she’s a mother.
Who’s a Better Guard Dog?
Both male and female English Mastiffs are great guard dogs. Their sizes and features including their claws and sharp teeth are enough to intimidate any intruders. However, their masses won’t enable them to chase after the stranger.
If we are to choose who’s better on certain aspects like higher levels of territorial instinct, potential aggression, and wariness, hands down the females would generally win the contest. They are more eager to do their duties, but that doesn’t mean that males are incompetent.
Everything will still depend largely on how they were trained. In terms of strength, males have the greater edge.
Which English Mastiff Puppy Costs More?
Usually, female English Mastiffs are pricier than male ones. This is because, with only one female, you can eventually have more English Mastiffs. You only have to pay a small fee for a stud to mate your dog, and after a considerable amount of time, 1 to 16 puppies are born.
Anyone who is thinking of starting a breeding business will profit by just going for the female Mastiff. Of course, several other factors may come into play such as quality, supply and demand, and location. Nevertheless, a dog’s sex matters in every transaction.
Who’s More Prone to Health Problems?
Health is not determined by sex. Male and female English Mastiffs are prone to developing medical conditions although these may vary depending on their sex. For example, males can experience prostate issues or testicular cancer while females can develop mammary tumors or have an infected uterus.
Health status for dogs are mainly factored by environment and lifestyle. Sex only determines what an English Mastiff may potentially get if it involves the reproductive organs.
Who Is a Male English Mastiff Best Suited For?
For prospective dog owners who have no problem with pets who will go all over their faces, follow them anywhere in the house, or have a huge liking for games, the male English Mastiff is best suited for you. He will constantly ask for you to pet him or cuddle him to complete his day.
He can’t be left alone for long periods, especially without any company. He will eat more since he’s predisposed to grow bigger than the females. Additionally, mood shifts won’t pose a challenge to your relationship with your dog, but having him neutered will prevent him from running away to mate.
Who Is a Female English Mastiff Best Suited For?
Female English Mastiffs are best suited for those who do not prefer clingy pets. They know when it is enough to spend time with their owners and they highly respect your need for alone time. They are more careful with kids and other animals, given that they are trained to behave well. You can depend on her when it comes to guarding your home as she’s diligent with her responsibility as a guard dog.
You may have occasional obstacles with her behavior during the highs and lows of her hormonal levels, but this can be remedied through spaying. By letting her undergo this surgery, she will have better health as she’s at a lower risk of developing breast tumors. Aside from that, her aggression level will also be mellow.
