I LOVE Mastiffs, Neapolitian Mastiffs to be exact, closely follwed by the English. And then the French and Italian....LOL I'm hoping that once I get out of school and on my own two feet that I'll be able to purchase one. (So....ten years down the road. )

I've met some Mastiffs that have been boarded at work and I've loved each and every one. They are such big mushes, but they aren't kidding when they say they drool! They rub up against your pant leg and you have a nice drool spot there for a while. And their water dishes are always coated in drool as well. Yuk.

As awesome as the Mastiff personality is (loving, easy going, protective), without training they can be a HUGE handful. Max, a handsome reverse brindle Mastiff, has NO training. He weighs 120lbs and he pulls on a leash, jumps on you, and lunges at other dogs....some people may think it is cute when it is a five pound Chihuahua misbehaving, but when the dog is the size of a pony, it is just dangerous.

If you purchase a Mastiff from a breeder, make SURE that they screen for health problems and they are breeding well tempered dogs. Poorly bred Mastiffs can have tons of health problems (hip dysplasia being the major one) and if a Mastiff isn't socialized or bred properly, they can have temperment problems in either excessive shyness or excessive agression.
If you adopt from a shelter or rescue (Yay for you! ), they screen for temeperment problems, but since the dogs are from ill breeders, it will most likely have health problems sooner or later. However, that doesn't always hold true. We found my Labrador, Blackie, on the streets and he's 11 years old (will be 12 in Januaray) and he's fit as a fiddle.

It is rare to see Mastiffs in shelters, but that is because they are scooped up by rescues!

Here are a couple of links that may be helpful to you:
Do I really want a Mastiff?
Mastiff breeder referral
Raising a Mastiff
Mastiff FAQs ->-> Very good!
Some rescue groups
Stories about Mastiffs from Mastiff owners

Mastiffs are my favorite dogs....who could not love this face?!?

Pupper in the about picture weighs 165lbs and they said he could put on 10-15lbs more.
http://search.petfinder.com/petnote/...?petid=9111033