With risk of speaking the obvious, the mastiff is breed of large dogs; so they can be really intimidating when it comes to physical appearance. But in spite of the large physic, the mastiff is naturally - and generally speaking - cool easy going in temperament.

That said - temperament and character of almost any dog really is individual and highly influenced by the way a dog is brought up. Mastiffs are no exception and in their young prime will need adequate training to bring out the good qualities and depreciate the unwanted behavior.

In general mastiffs exhibit the following traits

Shyness: Mastiffs can be very shy, especially if they don't get the proper amount of social exposure to people and other dogs. In fact it can be right on the brink of paranoid fear if you shelter your dog. Some may find that shyness in a dog endearing or "cute", but it can be a real hazard if someone trying to be friendly to your pet may somehow corner him and get a real good chomp to the hand.

The best way to get over shyness in your mastiff is continuous and consistent exposure to people, and situations. Play music, run the vacuum, take your mastiff on walks and introduce him to other people and dogs; it's so critical in the mastiff puppy years

Stubbornness: Mastiffs rather do their own thing; you may teach it a trick one day and he'll ignore the command the next day. Mastiffs are smart, they remember and they know a command when they hear it. Stubborn and hard to train will be more evident in later years and if they think "I'm the boss"

Mastiffs are loyal, and they really love their masters, but you got to be a "Master" to overcome the stubbornness by asserting yourself as what some call the "pack leader" or "alpha". Again establishing this in younger years makes for a more obedient dog when older.

Sensitivity: Mastiffs have the sensitivity of two-year-old children for most of their life. Any big noises like thunder or yelling can make them cower. This can be considered a degree of shyness but negative emotional stress like anger if only expressed in vocal tonality can easily crush their sprit.

Sensitivity to a degree can be overcome with stimulus but you do not want to expose your mastiff to anger, hate, and belligerence; this distances you emotionally from the dog. With mastiffs like with children you ought to be in control of your tonality and know that sometimes a calm disapproving voice can be just the right amount of discipline in those times of correction.

So it is up to you to nurture and train the type of temperament you want in your mastiff. Irresponsible owners will let the dog do what it will, resulting in a very unstable, anti-social, and disobedient dog. Dedicated mastiff owners will ensure the mastiff's upbringing is nurtured with discipline to build a character with desirable qualities.

Imagine a mastiff that growls and cowers from strangers passing by, pulls YOU around on the leash and ignores your every command. Now Image a mastiff that comes when called, sits when commanded, passes strangers and other dogs on the street without so much as a twitch (or maybe just a casual wag of the tail), and greets your friends at the door without barking fiercely or making a nuisances  of himself. It's really only up to you.

Before choosing your new English mastiff as a family companion, take into consideration that an English mastiff will live 10 - 15 years, so you should ensure that your choice of breeder is reputable, trust worthy and you can refer back to them in times when you and your mastiff need them most. This process is not to be rushed; if you want a happy and healthy mastiff then you're going to find one by having high quality breeder first. Here's how you find breeders and screen out the good ones.

Good Places to start looking for a reputable English mastiff breeder.

1. A dog show; find out about community dog shows happing in your area and go check them out. If you see the English Mastiff on display then approach the person demonstrating the dog and ask if they can refer you to a good breeder.

2. Veterinarians; There may be several vet's in your town or city so you can just go through a list in the phone book and call up a few to see if they recommend any breeders.

3. Online directories; do a regional search "English mastiff breeders your-city"

Screening out a good English mastiff breeder

When screening a breeder you're generally looking for someone that has a genuine love and enthusiasm for the English mastiff. Everything else follows this and after you do a few screenings of some breeders you know exactly who you can trust with providing you with a puppy.

So how do you tell if a breeder loves their English Mastiffs?

The breeder will be selective to whom they sell, you'll almost need to sell you're self and your home as a good place for the puppy to grow up in.

They'll keep the dog in a family environment, some breeders might keep them in the house but others will have a kennel setup that should be obviously seen as comfortable and well maintained; clean, good bedding, and heating. Ask to see where all the dogs are kept, a good breeder that has nothing to hide and will gladly show you.

Upon visiting the mastiffs should be happy to see you, friendly and comfortable around you. They will not shy away or cower (that's a sign of mistreatment). A good breeder will encouraged you to "get to know" the puppies and parents.

A breeder who loves their English mastiffs will provide them with the best food possible to ensure good health. The mastiff should have a healthy shine to the coat, looks well fed and has a good energy level. Ask the breeder what type of food is given to the dogs; it should be a high quality premium food.

Test the breeder's knowledge of the English mastiff

The level of knowledge someone has shows the level of interest, so ask some open ended questions; a good breeder will respond confidently, without hesitation.

Ask what type of genetic health problems English mastiffs usually have and if there Is a lower risk in her breeding bloodline.

Ask them how long they usually live, how much do they weigh, how long have they been breeding English mastiffs, how often must they eat, what kind of clubs and associations they belong to, are the puppies going to be show quality, how long does it take for them to reach a full body weight, and etc..

What to expect from the breeder

Expect the breeder to have expectations of you, this is a sign of a breeder that ensures the mastiffs health and safety when entrusting it to someone else (you).  Don't be surprised if the breeder asks you to provide proof of adequate living conditions for the dog, provide proof of permission from a landlord to have a "large dog", sign a contract that ensures you spray or neuter, explain why you want a English mastiff as a companion, provide a veterinarian reference, enter into a contract that holds you to return the mastiff in case you cannot keep it any longer, and to tell them who will be primarily responsible for the pet.

Some other clues to the quality of a English mastiff breeder is if they exclusively breed them, they hold records of veterinary visits and vaccinations, are willing to provide you with assistance after you have purchased and have taken the puppy home, will not hesitate to provide you with references, and will provide you with a guarantee of the puppies health.

That about it, if you follow this advice you find a breeder that stands by their mastiff and by you. You'll be glad you did.