American Molossus Dog Breed Pictures, Characteristics, and Facts

The American Molossus is a mixed breed, so they don’t have history as their own breed. With that being said, both parent breeds are well established and loved.

The ancestor of the American Bulldog is the similar but stouter & more wrinkled Old English Bulldog, brought to North America by working class immigrants who wanted to keep their working dogs to help on the farms. While the Old English Bulldog was bred for certain genetic traits relating to appearance, early farmers bred these dogs with the best working qualities for all-around farm work. The developing breed’s agility, intelligence, and loyalty made them good for handling cattle, as well as hunting. Feral hogs are an invasive species introduced to the American south that had no natural predators, and the strong jaws and muscular build of the American Bulldog made them perfect for hunting hogs. Unfortunately, the « bulldog » portion of the breed’s name refers to a brief time in their history when they were used for the cruel sport of bull-baiting. Today, the American Bulldog is mainly a guard dog and energetic family pet, and although often overlooked for breeds like the Border Collie, they can be skilled at sports like agility or flyball. 

The Neapolitan Mastiff, known affectionately as the Mastino, is an ancient breed. Their ancestry is believed to date to 3000 BCE, the beginning of the Bronze Age, when Upper and Lower Egypt were unified and mastiff-like working and guard dogs emerged in Tibet. While often kept as a guard dog due to their resounding barks and protective nature, the Neopolitan Mastiff doesn’t seek out trouble. Despite their huge size, this breed pictures themselves as lap dogs, and they’d be happiest cuddling on the couch with you after a walk.