Old English Bulldog vs Irish Mastiff Hound - Breed Comparison

The Irish Mastiff Hound is a huge dog – a mix of the English Mastiff and the Irish Wolfhound.

Both of these dogs have been around for a long time and actually have ancient histories. The Mastiff for instance has origins that date back to ancient times in China, while the Irish Wolfhound has origins that date far back to 391 AD.

Today this dog is regarded as an excellent companion for any home.

This is an extinct dog breed. It is believed that the dog came from ancient dogs such as the old Mastiff. The Old English Bulldog was the original English Bulldog but quite different from the modern variety, with longer legs as well as a longer muzzle and more aggressive.

It is believed that the Old English Bulldog was the ancestor to many breeds and there have been efforts to recreate the Old English Bulldog, bringing about quite a few new Bulldog breeds. Records are actually unclear as to its origins and when you read up on its ancestry, you see that a lot of the information is conflicting.

A number of breeders have attempted to recreate this extinct breed with some success, but it must be borne in mind that these recreations aren’t the Old English Bulldog, as the genetics of it are extinct.

This is a large crossbreed which can stand at 85 to 91 cm in height and weigh in the region of 47kg to 74kg.

He essentially has the short, smooth coat of the Mastiff but other dogs may well inherit the longer, more wiry coat of the Wolfhound. Coloring of the coat can be quite varied and can be brown, grey, white, tan or black. Some dogs take more after the Mastiff while others have more Wolfhound characteristics. They have a large head, some have a somewhat wrinkly face because of the Mastiff side, the ears are fairly small and floppy and the tail is long.

Temperament:

Even though they're so huge, these are easy going dogs that are able to fit in well with most human families. Described as gentle giants, they are loving, loyal, easy-going, even-tempered and eager to please.

The Irish Mastiff does well in the city or in the country because he isn't particularly active and will be happy to have a comfortable spot to lie close to you, however with such a large dog, you will certainly need a garden.

This dog is extinct but he used to be a fairly broadly set, muscular dog, taller than the bulldog of today.

The average height of this dog was 36 – 40cm, weighing in at about 18 to 22kg. One of the dog’s more noticeable characteristics was his lower jaw that projected quite a bit in front of the upper jaw. The dog was deep-chested, the head broad and the nose and muzzle short.

The breed was developed for bull baiting, but in England, with the adoption of the Act of cruelty to animals, there was a decline in the interest for the dog, leading to it becoming extinct. There are old paintings from the 1800s and one such painting, Crib and Rosa, gives an idea of the form and size of the Old English Bulldog.

Temperament:

The regular English Bulldog today is often confused with the Old English Bulldog but it is a far sweeter breed than the Old English Bulldog. It is believed that the Old English Bulldog was an aggressive dog, bred to be this way because of his role in bull baiting.

As a pet though, brought up as a companion, he no doubt would have made a loving, loyal pet.

Your big Irish Mastiff Hound is cool, confident and calm. He isn't particularly energetic and as long as he gets a nice walk as well as some mental stimulation, he'll be happy, wanting to spend a good part of the day lying close to where you are.

Socialization and training will be good for him and he learns easily. He is just a big gentle giant who promises to make you a wonderful canine friend.

Not much information is available on this extinct dog. Perhaps because of his history of being used for bull baiting, he wouldn’t have made a good family pet as he was too aggressive. He wouldn't have been a good choice for a first time dog owner and he wouldn't have been a good choice of pet for children.

He was possibly owned by a single person who made money from him. Small wonder then that he became extinct when he was no longer required for this role.

Many people find giant dogs irresistible because they're usually gentle, patient and loving. However, it is their very size which makes them more prone to certain health concerns and gives them a shorter lifespan.

It is why it is so important to ensure you feed your pet a healthy diet to ward off illness. A large dog like the Irish Mastiff doesn't have a particularly long lifespan, and with good care he can get to 9, 10, 11, 12 years of age.

Hip Dysplasia:

This condition is more common in large dogs and it can lead to joint degeneration, arthritis and pain. Your pet may even be reluctant to get up and greet you when you come home which can be very sad. Vet intervention will certainly be required.

Dilated Cardiomyopathy:

This heart disease is commonly seen in large dog breeds where the heart becomes weak so that it can't pump blood throughout the body. Coughing, difficulty with breathing, weakness and lethargy are just some of the symptoms of this disease and will also require veterinary intervention.

This dog, although extinct would have battled with common dog illnesses that can still be seen in the modern bulldog today.

Brachycephalic Airway Syndrome:

Brachycephalic airway syndrome is all about upper airway abnormalities and can be quite a problem in your Old English Bulldog because of the shortened muzzle of these breeds. These particular dogs have a smaller upper jaw and an overcrowding of of teeth and you will see that effort is required to inhale. They breathe more easily through the mouth then the nose. They have noisy breathing, particularly during exercise and in hot weather.

Cherry Eye:

Dogs have 3 eyelids, and cherry eye is the term used for prolapsed nictitating membrane, or the 3rd eyelid, when the eyelid comes out of place and you get a pink mass. It is a common condition found in Bulldogs, a genetic problem where surgical intervention or medicine may be recommended.

Grooming:

He has a short coat, and grooming of this laid-back dog will include brushing him twice a week, trimming his nails and making sure that you check inside his ears for ear infection.

Diet:

Large dogs have special nutritional needs, particularly because they are more prone to illnesses such as hip dysplasia. You want to make sure that the foods he eats are rich in Omega-3 fatty acids, glucosamine, chondroitin, amino acids and antioxidants because these will ensure proper joint health.

You've got to be careful what you feed a large breed dog because of the weight management issue too. Excess weight puts stress on the joints and promotes the development of osteoarthritis. Speak to your vet about portion control and meat protein for your pet and how to ensure excellent nutrition to avoid common dog illnesses.

Fresh, cool water needs to be available to your pet every minute of the night and day.

If the Old English Bulldog were still around today, you would have cared for him like you would most other dogs -

Feed your Old English Bulldog puppy 4 times a day with high quality puppy food.

At 6 months of age you can be giving your young dog 2 meals a day.

Commercially manufactured food is fine if its a high quality one. Always check out the top 5 ingredients on the packaging – the first 2 should be protein or meat. Follow a simple, consistent diet to minimize symptoms. Your adult dog can have kibble and sometimes you can add in chopped boiled chicken, brown rice and vegetables such as sweet potatoes, carrots and spinach. A little bit of raw meat can also be added to the kibble once in a while. Never leave your dog without a constant supply of fresh, cool water.

Even though the dog is extinct, dog owners of that time would have had to watch their dogs for ticks and fleas and any of the common dog illnesses of that time.

The dog would have had some kind of grooming – a brush down a couple of times and he would have been checked for ear and eye infections.