Amstiff Dog Breed Pictures, Characteristics, and Facts

The Amstiff is a mixed breed, so they don’t have history as their own breed. Both parent breeds, however, are well known and loved. The American Staffordshire’s origins lent it to a variety of different tasks: managing bulls, bringing down large game like wild boars, and ratting. Unfortunately, the breed was then favored for cruel sports like bull-baiting and dogfighting, which left the breed with the reputation of being aggressive or mean that still clings to it today. However, fans of the breed recognize their intelligence, playfulness, and loyalty. The Mastiff originates from one of the most ancient now-extinct dog breeds, the Molosser, which likely originated in the mountains of Asia, perhaps in Tibet or northern India. The breed was originally used to guard flocks of sheep from large predators that were deterred by the dog’s large size and ferocious guarding abilities. Today, the Mastiff is less frequently used as a working dog and more commonly kept as an adoring large companion that can additionally serve as a guard dog.