Description: The Roman Rottweiler is just like the standard Rottweiler, except that it is bigger and more mastiff-like in appearance and temperament. Its large and massive body brings out an impressive and noble air. Its head is broad and heavy, with some wrinkling, and a deep and well-defined stop. Its muzzle is full and also broad, and its jaws form a scissors bite. Its lips are well-developed and thick. Its eyes are deep set and well apart, and its pendant ears are carried forward and also set apart. It mouth and nose are dark in color, with the nose usually black but really just follows the base color of its coat.

The Roman Rottweiler’s coat is thick and can be long. The usually desired coat is a thick plush one. Its chest is deep with well sprung oval ribs. Its legs are muscular and powerful. Its tail can either be docked or left natural and curved over the back

Dynamics: The Roman Rottweiler has a calm and confident temperament. It is highly trainable, is athletic, courageous, and reliable. Of course, firm and consistent training and socialization is needed. Without a firm hand to guide it, it can become aggressive and uncontrollable. But it is usually a very loyal and devoted dog. It is an intelligent breed and and is a good worker and companion mixed into one. It can also get along well with children and other household pets as long as it has been socialized with them since puppyhood. It can get suspicious with strangers but it is amiable with family and friends.

Breed Group: Mastiff, Flock Guardian

Weight: males at least 120 pounds (54 kg), females at least 80 pounds (36 kg)

Height: males at least 26 ½ inches (67 cm)and can grow to more than 30 inches (76 cm), females at least 24 ½ inches (63 cm) up to 29 inches (74 cm) or more

Color: The coat color of the Roman Rottweiler can be black and tan, black and rust, black and dark, black and mahogany, red and tan, blue and tan or black. Other colors can be expected but not as desirable as those mentioned.

Country of Origin: The Roman Rottweiler came to Europe with the Roman legions, before that serving to herd and protect cattle that fed the Roman soldiers as they were crossing the Alps. The breed was settled in Germany, and this proved to be its end. The Germans wanted Rottweilers smaller in size and began breeding the now popular Rottweiler while the Roman Rottweiler’s line slowly shrunk.

Activities: The Roman Rottweiler should be walked everyday and sufficiently exercised. It likes to run in an open area and there will be no worry for the owner because the Roman Rottweiler will not wander away. Swimming and retrieving a ball is also a favorite past time.

Grooming: The coat of the Roman Rottweiler is easy to groom. Just brush regularly with a firm bristle brush and bathe only when necessary. Of course, if the Roman Rottweiler has a long coat then it needs more attention. But normally, brushing everyday is the most important.

Other Info: The Roman Rottweiler has a life expectancy of 10 to 12 years. It is susceptible to ACL damage and hip dysplasia. It is also prone to entropion, and it tends to snore and overeat. This breed will do okay living in an apartment as long as it is sufficiently exercised.

Photo: CollosalRottweilers.com

AKA: Alentejo Mastiff, Portuguese Mastiff, Mutt of Alentejo

Description: The Rafeiro do Alentejo is a large dog, with a bear-like broad head and strong robust body. Its eyes are dark and its ears are small to medium sized and folding downwards. Its neck is strong and has the regular dewlap, and its chest is broad and deep. Its legs are strong and upright, and its body ends with a long and curving tail. The Rafeiro do Alentejo’s coat is of medium length and thick and straight.

Dynamics: The Rafeiro do Alentejo is an excellent and confident guard dog. It is calm, courageous, but not aggressive. It is also an independent and intelligent dog, and very watchful. It gets suspicious of strangers, especially after dark, which makes it a very valuable guard for our homes. It is more for defense rather than for attacking, and gives out a low, deep bark.

The Rafeiro do Alentejo is affectionate with its family despite its reserved nature with strangers. It can get sensitive to reprimands and is also eager to please. Training and socializing this dog has to be done at puppyhood. It is also important that the training is consistent. This is a serious dog that does its job seriously. The Rafeiro do Alentejo is a very noble breed this way. This breed may be reserved with strangers but gets along nicely with children.

Breed Group: Guard

Weight: males 110-132 pounds (50-60 kg), females 100-121 pounds (45-55 kg)

Height: males 27-28 inches (66-75 cm), females 25-28 inches (64 – 70 cm)

Color: The Rafeiro do Alentejo has a coat of the colors black, wolf-like, tawny, or yellowish, draped in either a fair, striped, or white-spotted paterrn.

Country of Origin: The Rafeiro do Alentejo comes from Portugal, but it is often claimed that the breed was descended from huge dogs on the Tibetan highlands ages ago.

Activities: The Rafeiro do Alentejo is a serious dog made for real work. It does not usually exert energy on unnecessary tasks and instead focuses on getting serious with its real job of guarding herds and properties. This dog may not need any heavy exercise but it still needs to be walked everyday.

Grooming: The Rafeiro do Alentejo is a low-maintenance dog. Brushing its coat daily is enough. Bathe only when necessary.

Other Info: The Rafeiro do Alentejo has a life expectancy of 12 years. This dog is not made for life in an apartment. It likes having an open and large yard, and owners should take care to put a secure fence around because it is very suspicious of strangers.

AKA: Alapha Blue Blood Bulldogs

Description: The Otto Bulldog is tall and very strong, with broad chest legs are muscular and straight. Feet are like cat and large. Male Otto Bulldogs are much heavier than females. Females do have much more feminine looks that could easily be distinguished. The tail is long and never docked. Their ears are regular in length and triangular in shape. Their coat is short and compact that is even on their body. Eyes are like marble with a combination of blue and brown. They are very known to have black mask on their face and patches on their eyes.

Temperament: This breed is a genius, friendly and refine that could be a good companion to their owners. They are also very protective of their owners and could be trained for them to socialize with cats and other dogs in the family. They are a dominant type of breed so they should be trained well. They are also good for children as pet and be also introduced to their playmates for them to be able to know them better and avoid misunderstanding.

Activity: They are required to have long walk everyday and a romp in a secured area they are an athletic dog so they need to regain their energy and be healthy.

Health: Usually some of them may suffer from entropian a condition that lower eyelid rolls inward that may result to eye infection that should be treated to avoid blindness. Life span is about 12-15 years.

Grooming: Easy to groom breed since they have short coat. Brushing them with stiff bristle brush to avoid dead hair. They are an average shedder so only a regular grooming is required for this breed. Bathe them only when necessary.

Group: Mastiff
Color: Blue, Grey, or Merle. Black
Height: 22 inches (55 cm.)
Weight: Males average 80 pounds (36 kg.). Females average 65 pounds (29 kg.).
Country Of Origin: US

Dynamics: In 1980, this breed was maintained by Lana Lou Lane until she was burned in her house. This breed were also used in large plantation in Georgia to guard the slaves working in the plantation and some gate crashers that would attack. This kind of breed has all the appearance of a bulldog but are taller compared to bulldogs.

Photo by Werner

AKA: Newf, Newfie, The Gentle Giant, Blackbear

Description: The Newfoundland is a strong and massive dog, with a broad head and a short wide muzzle. Its ears are pendant and its eyes are a dark brown, wherein the conjunctiva should not show as it does with a St. Bernard. Its nose is black but is brown for bronze-colored Newfoundlands.

The Newfoundland is hardy and big, but it is agile and has an elegant gait. It has a water-resistant long outer coat, with a thick oily undercoat. Its feet are webbed and this makes the Newfoundland a good swimmer. There are dewclaws on its hind legs that should be removed. Its tail hangs down.

Dynamics: The Newfoundland is an intelligent dog with a good temperament. It is patient and obedient, and is known to be friendly with people. It is calm and gentle, and loyal and devoted. It will act on its own if needed, and can be protective. It will place itself between an intruder and its family in order to protect its owners.

The Newfoundland gets along well with people and other dogs, given the proper socialization and upbringing. It is generally good with other pets and animals. It also gets along well with children, as it is a patient and playful breed. It loves companionship and is very sociable. The Newfoundland likes the outdoors very much. It loves to swim and play in the water. It drinks a lot and gets messy with it because it likes to get wet.

In training the Newfoundland, the owner has t o be calm and patient. Training has to be confident and consistent. This breed is very sensitive to your tone of voice and should not receive harsh treatment when it makes mistakes. Also take into account that the Newfoundland moves slow because of its huge body.

Breed Group: Mastiff, Working

Weight: males 30-150 pounds (59-68 kg), females 100-120 pounds (45-54kg)

Height: males 27-29 inches (69-74cm), females 25-27 inches (63-69cm)

Color: The color of the Newfoundland’s coat is most often black, sometimes with little white markings on the feet, end of the tail, and the chest. The coat can also be black with blue highlights, bronze, brown, gray, or even white with black markings.

Country of Origin: The Newfoundland’s origin is believed to be in Canada. There are stories that the Newfoundland came from crosses between Tibetan Mastiffs that were brought to Canada by the Europeans in the 1700s.

Activities: The Newfoundland can entertain itself around the house by just lazing around but, like all dogs, it needs to be taken outside for a walk everyday. Play sessions and exercise are good for the breed, too. It also likes to swim and frolic.

In the past, the Newfoundland helped fishermen by hauling in nets, carrying boat lines, and retrieving anything that fell overboard to the water. This breed can also help with rescuing shipwrecked and drowning people. The Newfoundland is basically an outstanding water rescue dog. On land, the Newfoundland is just as useful as it is used to haul lumber, pull mail sheds, and carry or deliver things.

Grooming: As the Newfoundland has a long coat, daily brushing with a hard brush is important. Bathe only when absolutely necessary. Dry shampoo if needed.

Other Info: The Newfoundland has a life expectancy of 9 to 15 years. Like most dogs, this dog is prone to hip dysplasia and a hereditary heart disease called sub-aortic stenosis (SAS). This breed should have its heart checked when it is 8 to 12 weeks old to find out if it has SAS or not. The Newfoundland is okay living in an apartment as long as it is sufficiently exercised. This breed is sensitive to heat and prefer cool climates.

Photo: DanDee Shots

AKA: English Mastiff, Mastiff
Description: Old English Mastiffs is a heavyweight breed, has broad skull and square shaped structure. They are a very powerful dog that creates strong impression on people. Forelegs are wide set apart. Their black mask on their eyes and nose is prominent on them. Their hazel eyes are dark and small that goes along with their small ears too. Their coat comes in various colors. Teeth are in scissors bite and tail is set high reaching the hocks.

Temperament: Known as a dignified and courageous breed. They are a loving dog especially to their master. Also calm but could also protect their owner against harm, capable to be a guard dog that could give protection to their owner especially with those suspicious strangers. They are an easygoing and gentle dog too and very loyal to their owner and very dedicated towards their family, small dogs and children.

Activity: A daily exercise is required for them as they tend to be lazy. Daily walks and jog will keep them healthy and fit as long as owners should impose that they should heel beside their owner during walks and jog to instill in their mind who their leader should be.

Health: Hip dysplasia is common to them also prone to bloat, gastric torsion,ectropion, vaginal hyperplasia, elbow dysplasia. Life span is about 10-12 years.

Grooming: They are easy to groom since they have short hair and does not shed heavily. They needed to be brushed to remove dead hair and wipe with towel to make their coat shine and soft to touch. Bathe them only when necessary.

Breed Group: Mastiff, AKC Working
Color: golden fawn, light fawn, brindle, silver, tiger, and apricot
Height: Dogs from 30 inches (76cm) Bitches from 27 inches (69cm)
Weight: Dogs about 160 pounds (72kg) Bitches about 150 pounds (68kg)
Country Of Origin: Britain

Dynamics: The Old English Dog Belongs to the World’s top 5 guard dogs. That is why they could be an excellent guard dog to their owners. They belong to the mastiff group which is known as powerful and been delegated as the arena gladiator in a bloody sport of bull.

Photo by BLikly