English Mastiff Progression: Growth Chart, Milestones, and Training Tips

The English mastiff is a majestic giant among dog breeds. They are exceptionally strong, loyal, and recognizable. Even if you’ve never owned one, you probably know what a mastiff is.

The English mastiff’s lineage traces back to antiquity, where it played a vital role in various civilizations. These colossal canines were revered for their imposing stature and unwavering loyalty. They were on the battlefields of Rome, plus were one of the two dogs on the Mayflower. Known for their guard abilities, English mastiffs are very defensive.

We’ll discuss this breed below, specifically how they progress and grow. As they are extremely large dogs, they remain puppies for a pretty long time.

Milestones of an English Mastiff Puppy

English mastiffs are known for their gentle and friendly nature. However, they are natural guard dogs, so it is very important that they are socialized properly. Otherwise, they can see everything as a threat, leading to aggression. Because they’re so large, this aggression can be a huge issue.

To make them well-adjusted adults, you must socialize them early.

It’s important to introduce them to many different people, animals, and environments at a young age. Keep these interactions positive, as this will help these dogs understand that not everything is a threat.

We highly recommend enrolling your puppy in socialization classes, where your dog can interact with other puppies and people in a controlled environment. This helps ensure that his first interactions are positive.

You should also get your puppy used to handling. Gently touch and handle their paws, ears, and body regularly to accustom them to human touch. This makes things like grooming and health care much easier as they age.

Take your puppy for short trips to different places, such as parks, streets, and stores, to get them used to various sights and sounds. As soon as they get their first puppy shots, you can start introducing them to these new, interesting places.

Obedience

English mastiffs are generally eager to please and respond well to positive reinforcement training methods. However, because they are so large, it is very important that you train them from an early age. Start with basic commands like “sit” and “stay.” These basic commands are necessary for these dogs to develop into obedient adults.

Once your dog has mastered these commands, you can move on to more complex commands.

Use treats, toys, and verbal praise regularly. Plan on using these throughout the beginning of the training phase and then slowly wean your dog off.

Reward-based training is the most effective option for English mastiffs. They are very food- and attention-motivated, which makes them pretty easy to train. Avoid harsh punishments or negative reinforcement, as this can lead to fear or aggression issues.

As with any dog, consistency is key. You should always use the same commands and reward system so that the dog knows what to expect.

Behavior and Temperament

English Mastiffs are known for their gentle and protective nature, making them excellent family pets. While they are very large, they are often termed “gentle giants.” Therefore, you don’t typically have to worry about aggression.

However, these dogs can absolutely be aggressive if they aren’t properly trained or socialized.

While they are known for being gentle, we do recommend using positive interactions to encourage this natural tendency. It’s important not to rely on the fact that these dogs are gentle. They need to be trained and socialized just like any other dog.

While these dogs are usually well-behaved, they can exhibit problems when not properly trained or socialized. These can include things like separation anxiety, territorial behavior, or overprotectiveness. You must consult with a professional dog trainer if your dog has consistent behavioral problems, as these dogs can be very dangerous when aggressive.

Exercise and Activity

Because they are so large, English mastiff puppies should not engage in high-impact exercise. They must protect their joints and bones to prevent conditions like hip dysplasia and other issues later on.

However, they still need exercise. You should let them take short, low-intensity walks and engage in plenty of playtime.

As Mastiffs are prone to hip and elbow dysplasia, it’s crucial to maintain a healthy weight throughout their life. You should continue to encourage exercise throughout their life. Monitor their diet and adjust it if necessary. These dogs eat a lot of food, but they sometimes eat too much food.

Provide moderate exercise as they grow to keep their muscles strong and their weight in check. These dogs can be lazy very quickly. It’s essential not to let your canine skip exercise. When in doubt, speak with your veterinarian.

Growth Chart for English Mastiffs by Age

Below, we’ll take a look at each stage in a puppy’s life, including some tips for how to take care of your English mastiff at each stage.

Birth to 4 Weeks

English mastiff puppies are born large, weighing around 1.5 to 2.5 pounds. They usually measure around 8 to 12 inches in length, as well.

Puppies primarily rely on their mother’s milk for nutrition during the first few weeks. Ensure that the mother is well-fed and provide a clean, warm environment for the puppies. At this point, caring for puppies is mostly about taking care of their mother.

4 to 8 Weeks

At this point, puppies begin opening their eyes and ears. They can become pretty active as they start to explore the environment and interact with others. This stage is when socialization starts.

Usually, puppy food is introduced at this point, as they are often weaned completely around 8 weeks. Puppies start to grow rapidly.

8 to 12 Weeks

This stage is crucial. Puppies will start to grow rapidly (in both size and strength). Puppies should receive their first shots around this time, which allows them to start socializing outside of the home.

Often, puppies are sent to their forever home around this time.

3 to 6 Months

English mastiffs continue to grow at this point. However, their growth may start to slow considerably. They may weigh between 30 to 60 pounds by this point and stand around 14 to 20 inches.

Most dogs will teethe at this point, and they may start to chew more to soothe their gums. You should provide plenty of chew toys at this point and prepare for some destructive chewing.

6 to 12 Months

Male mastiffs typically reach sexual maturity around 6 to 9 months, while females may take longer, up to 12 months. Because these dogs are larger, they tend to reach sexual maturity later.

Adolescence is a period when rapid growth can contribute to joint and bone issues. It’s important to feed them a large-breed puppy food formula to avoid hip dysplasia and similar conditions. Once they stop growing, you can transition to adult food.

When transitioning to adult food, you should monitor your dog’s weight. Avoid overfeeding, which is very common in this dog breed.

1 to 2 Years

English mastiffs typically reach their full height and weight by 18 to 24 months. Males can reach from 160 to 230 pounds and stand 28 to 36 inches tall. Continue to exercise your dog regularly to help prevent obesity. However, avoid strenuous exercise, which can cause joint problems.

When Will English Mastiff My Stop Growing?

Usually, English mastiffs stop growing sometime between 18 to 24 months. Some females may grow for slightly less time – sometimes around as soon as 12 months. By the age of 2, most English mastiffs have reached their full adult size and weight. However, some individuals may continue to fill out and develop muscle tone for another year or so.

Dogs tend to reach their full height and length before they “fill out.”

How Big Will My English Mastiff Be When It’s Fully Grown?

Males reach a height from 28 to 36 inches tall at the shoulder. Females are much shorter, standing at around 27 to 33 inches tall at the shoulder. Adult male English mastiffs typically weigh between 160 to 230 pounds or even more in some cases. Adult females generally weigh between 120 to 170 pounds.

It’s important to note that some English Mastiffs may fall slightly outside these ranges, as individual genetics and environmental factors can play a role in their final size. Additionally, some English mastiffs bred for show purposes may be at the smaller end of the size range, while those bred for working or as pets may be at the larger end.

Proper nutrition is absolutely essential for your dog to reach the proper height and weight. Overfeeding can lead to obesity and health issues. It’s essential to consult with a vet and develop an appropriate diet, as these dogs have specific nutrition needs due to their large size. English mastiffs have an average lifespan of 6 to 10 years, and some studies show 7 years as the average lifespan.

When Should My English Mastiff Be Spayed or Neutered?

Many veterinarians recommend spaying or neutering your dog between the ages of 4 to 6 months. This is often considered the standard age for the procedure and is recommended by many animal welfare organizations. Early spaying or neutering can help prevent unwanted pregnancies and reduce the risk of certain health issues, such as mammary tumors and testicular cancer.

Your dog can go into heat and get pregnant without you even knowing. Therefore, it’s important to start early (usually).

However, some vets recommend waiting until the dog is closer to 12 or 18 months before spaying or neutering. This approach allows your dog to fully mature and physically develop before the procedure. For bigger dogs, delaying the procedure is sometimes recommended.

You should consult with your veterinarian before making this decision, of course. There are pros and cons to each option, and your dog’s specific characteristics may come into play.

When Should My English Mastiff Be Housebroken?

When your dog gets fully housebroken depends on many different factors, such as your dog’s consistency of training and temperament. Because these dogs are larger, they are usually housebroken pretty early. Their bladders are bigger, so they tend to become housebroken earlier.

You can start housebreaking your dog at 8 weeks of age. As soon as you bring your dog home, you should begin the process. If you don’t, you risk your dog learning bad habits, which will only increase the difficulty of training.

Establish a consistent routine for feeding and bathroom breaks. Often, puppies need to go out every few hours, as well as after eating. Frequent outdoor trips are best. Often, every 1-2 hours is a good place to start.

Keep a close eye on your puppy, as preventing accidents is the key to successful training.

When Should My English Mastiff Stop Eating Puppy Food?

You should start transitioning your dog as soon as they quit growing. Usually, this is around 12 to 24 months for most English mastiffs. It’s better to keep your dog on for food longer than shorter. Therefore, wait to switch until your dog stops gaining weight. Your vet can also provide specific recommendations based on your dog’s weight.

If you don’t feed your dog the proper diet, they won’t get the proper nutrients. Therefore, they may end up with health issues, like hip dysplasia, due to the lack of proper nutrients.

When Will My English Mastiff Start Losing Teeth?

Despite growing for longer than other dogs, these dogs don’t actually lose their teeth later. Instead, they start to lose them around 3 to 4 months of age and will continue to lose them until around 6 months of age.

Often, this process is uncomfortable for puppies, so you need to provide the proper chew toys to keep your dog’s gums happy. Your dog’s adult teeth will start going through as soon as their baby teeth fall out. Adult dogs have around 42 teeth in total.

The teething process varies from dog to dog, but by around 7 to 8 months of age, most English Mastiffs will have completed the teething process and should have a full set of adult teeth.

When Should I Start Training My English Mastiff?

You should start training your English mastiff as soon as you bring them home. Otherwise, you risk your dog picking up bad habits, making them harder to train. English mastiff puppies are often intelligent and eager to please, making them a pretty easy dog to train overall.

Socialization is critical for these dogs, so you need to start as early as possible. Socialization starts as soon as your dog comes into the house. Start taking them to new places to meet new people as soon as your dog gets their first vaccinations.

Continue basic commands and housebreaking during the early months of your dog’s life. They should start mastering the basic commands between 3 and 6 months, depending on how often they are trained and their temperament.

What Commands Should I Teach My English Mastiff First?

You should start with the most basic command: “sit.” This command is necessary for many others, so you have to teach it first, much of the time.

You should then move on to commands like “stay” and “come.” These commands are important for your dog’s safety, as they should always come when called. Plus, they also work well with more complicated commands, like walking off a leash.

Teaching your dog to lie down on command is useful for situations where you want them to remain calm and relaxed, such as when guests come over or during mealtime. You can also teach them the “calm” command, though this is considered advanced and often harder to teach.

The “leave it” command is vital for preventing your English mastiff from picking up or interacting with items they shouldn’t, such as harmful substances or objects that could be a choking hazard. It can be harder for dogs to master, as it involves a lot of self-control. Therefore, it’s important to start it early, though they may not master it for several months.

Similar to “leave it,” “drop it” is used when your dog has already picked something up. It instructs them to release the item immediately. Once again, this command is challenging, so you’ll need to practice it a lot.

There are other commands you can move on after this basic training. For instance, “wait,” “quiet,” and “place” is all important. However, these commands are more challenging, so they’re often taught later.

Pictures of English Mastiffs as Puppies

Pictures of English Mastiffs at 6 Months

Picture of Fully Grown English Mastiffs

Other Dog Breeds Similar to English Mastiffs

• Bullmastiff: The Bullmastiff is the closest relative to the English mastiff, so they are extremely similar. They’re large, muscular dogs known for their protective and loyal nature (much like the English mastiff). They can make excellent, friendly pets and watchdogs.
• Saint Bernard: Saint Bernards are another giant dog breed. They’re extremely massive but also gentle. Like English mastiffs, they’re often known as gentle giants.
• Great Dane: Great Danes are one of the largest dog breeds in the world. They share the English mastiff’s giant size and are generally gentle giants with a friendly and affectionate nature.
• Irish Wolfhound: Irish wolfhounds are very large and tall. They’re not as heavy as English mastiffs, but they are often taller. Despite their size, they often think of themselves as lap dogs.

The photo featured at the top of this post is © iStock.com/Astakhova