The American Bandogge Mastiff is one of the newer breeds. It’s been around for less than 50 years but has already managed to make a lot of friends. These dogs were first bred by veterinarian John Swinford, who bred an American pit bull terrier with a Neapolitan mastiff; and the rest is history in the making.

There are a few variations on this breed, with one of the more common being a cross of the American pit bull and the English mastiff. Those dogs whose parents are certified purebreds are the most attractive and healthy of the American Bandogge Mastiffs – known as a very attractive breed in their own right. They are muscular animals as you’d expect from their pit bull heritage. They also display the brindled patterns in their fur typical of the pit bull. Black brindle is the most common, but red, blue and tawny colors are also sometimes seen.

One of the most easily trained of all breeds; the Bandogge has a natural aptitude for learning thanks to their high intelligence and calm nature. They also have plenty of confidence, not so surprising in a dog which is half mastiff and can weigh in at close to 140 lbs! They’re calm, gentle and for the most part quiet dogs, but their size and their fierce loyalty make them excellent guard dogs. However, since they don’t really bark, you might think of them less as a guard dog and more as a four legged bodyguard. Still, their size alone makes these animals a potent deterrent against burglary.

Despite the Bandogges intimidating size and strength, you’d be hard pressed to find any other dog which is as gentle, loving, friendly and even as sensitive. They are extremely sociable and can be prone to loneliness and even separation anxiety and are known to howl the blues when their families aren’t around. If you’ll need to leave your Bandogge at home all day while you work, you may want to invest in a dog walker who can spend a little quality time with them, another dog or even a cat to keep them company. Like other breeds, Bandogges will get along with and even befriend other animals if it becomes accustomed to them at a young age.

Since these are large dogs, they do need their exercise and they love to walk, run and play. You’ll definitely have to give them a couple of daily walks and some outdoor playtime whenever you have the opportunity. These gentle dogs bond quickly with their new families and you’ll find it works both ways. They are intensely loyal and are especially good with children; their calm nature combined with their energy makes them ideal companions for kids. The short coats of American Bandogge Mastiffs are easy to groom and keep up since they’re easy to brush. Other than a slight tendency towards dry skin, these dogs are a pet owners dream.

These dogs have a long list of good qualities to recommend them. They’re loyal and will protect children and other pets as if they were their own, they’re very intelligent and easy to train, playful and loving, large and fierce looking dogs who love and gentle by nature. All this and easy to groom too! The American Bandogge Mastiff may be a new breed, but they are one which is certain to stick around they live up to the title of man’s best friend like few other breeds.