What Breeds Make a North American Mastiff? Origins and Key Traits Explained

Have you ever wondered what powerful breeds come together to create the gentle giant known as the North American Mastiff?

If you’re considering adding one of these magnificent dogs to your family, understanding their genetic makeup is crucial for knowing what to expect in terms of temperament, size, and care needs.

The North American Mastiff combines the calm strength of the English Mastiff with the agility and protective instincts of the Kangal Shepherd Dog.

This careful breeding creates the NAM’s unique characteristics, resulting in a dog that moves with surprising grace despite its massive frame.

The North American Mastiff, often called NAM by enthusiasts, represents a relatively new breed that has only gained recognition since 2000.

You’ll discover how these parent breeds influence everything from the NAM’s protective nature to their exercise requirements.

Understanding this genetic foundation helps explain why your North American Mastiff might display certain behaviors and physical traits, making you a more prepared and confident owner.

Origins Of The North American Mastiff

The North American Mastiff was developed in Missouri by Percy Dailey and Desiree Coleman at Monsterpiece Kennel. They wanted to create a healthier version of traditional mastiff breeds.

This breed didn’t exist naturally. Instead, breeders strategically selected dogs from different mastiff breeds and lineages from around the world over 20 years ago.

Primary Foundation Breeds:

• English Mastiff (facial features)
• Kangal Shepherd (agility and movement)
• Five additional mastiff breeds from the mastiff family

The breeders spent many years carefully choosing which dogs to breed together. Their goal was simple: create an attractive family guardian that works well with children.

You’ll find that this breed combines the best traits from its parent breeds. The North American Mastiff gets its gentle face from the English Mastiff bloodline. Meanwhile, it gains athletic ability from the Kangal Shepherd heritage.

The development process focused on selective cross breeding rather than random mixing. Breeders studied each dog’s health, temperament, and physical traits before making breeding decisions.

This careful approach helped create a mastiff that maintains the family guardian instincts you expect. Yet it also offers better health outcomes than some traditional mastiff varieties.

The breed remains relatively new compared to ancient mastiff lines. However, the thoughtful breeding program has produced consistent results across multiple generations of North American Mastiffs.

What Breeds Make a North American Mastiff?

The North American Mastiff combines English Mastiff and Kangal Shepherd bloodlines as its primary foundation. These two breeds give the North American Mastiff its distinctive look and abilities.

Primary Parent Breeds:

• English Mastiff – Provides the gentle temperament and facial features
• Kangal Shepherd – Contributes agility and working drive

The North American Mastiff was developed from seven foundational mastiff breeds through careful selection. Breeders wanted to create a healthier version of traditional mastiffs.

You’ll notice the breed shows traits from other mastiff types too. The Bullmastiff likely influenced its protective instincts. Neapolitan Mastiff bloodlines may have added to its impressive size.

Some breeding programs also included Great Dane genetics. This helped improve the breed’s overall health and reduce common mastiff problems.

The exact mix varies between breeding lines. Different breeders used slightly different combinations of these mastiff breeds.

This careful breeding created a dog that looks like an English Mastiff but moves with more grace. You get the best qualities of multiple mastiff breeds in one package.

Characteristics Of North American Mastiff

The North American Mastiff is a gentle giant that combines impressive size with a calm temperament. These dogs typically weigh between 140 to 200 pounds and stand 27 to 36 inches tall.

Physical Traits:

• Heavy bone structure with muscular build
• Short, dense coat in various colors
• Large head with expressive eyes
• Strong, powerful jaw

Your North American Mastiff will display protective instincts without excessive aggression. They make excellent family guardians who can distinguish between real threats and normal situations.

Temperament Features:

• Calm and patient with children
• Loyal to family members
• Intelligent and trainable
• Protective but not overly aggressive

Unlike some mastiff breeds, North American Mastiffs adapt well to family life. They bond strongly with their owners and show remarkable gentleness despite their size.

These dogs need mental stimulation and moderate exercise. Your mastiff will be content with daily walks and playtime rather than intense physical activity.

Key Behavioral Traits:

The breed’s guard dog abilities come naturally, but they respond well to training. Early socialization helps them become well-rounded companions who know when protection is needed.

Your North American Mastiff will likely be calm indoors but alert to visitors or unusual sounds. They prefer being close to their family rather than working independently.