The American Bandogge Mastiff is not a purebred dog, as we would normally perceive the term. Bandogge refers to any breed of mastiff of the bulldog type, and comes from a Saxon word – band – chain of meanings. This is because these dogs used to be tied up during the day and released at night to perform their guard duties. The American Bandog Mastiff fits this criteria as he 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 breeders, 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 Mr. Swinford, who was a veterinarian, decided to produce the best possible protection dog. It is not known exactly what breeds were used at the time, but the most common theory is a combination of a pit bull and a large molosser, such as a mastiff. 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 breed of mastiff is to cross bullmastiffs with pit bulls. However, these dogs are often called pitbull mastiffs.
The American Bandogge Mastiff is known for its high intelligence. These dogs are docile, but very trusting. Like all mastiffs, they must have a master who is available to them, as they are loyal but need a lot of attention. Owning an American Bandog Mastiff is unexpected if you will be away most of the time. While these dogs weren’t bred to be fighting dogs, they do share aggressive traits with the animals that are, at least when it comes to other dogs. That means they make a poor choice for people who have never owned a dog or are unfamiliar with dogs that don’t socialize well with others. Some use these dogs for fighting, but this is a bad idea, and most people who breed these dogs do so for good pets that make excellent guards.
Bandogge American Mastiffs have a lot of drive and are easy to train. They do have one small drawback when used for protection, which is their relative silence. “Bark and hold” is the preferred behavior of protection dogs, but Bandogge American Mastiffs are generally unwilling to bark. This is because some of their ancestry comes from fighting breeds, which do not normally bark as a warning. Therefore, teaching your dog to speak can be difficult.
