Can English Mastiffs Live Outside?
by admin ~ March 27th, 2008Q: Can english mastiffs live outside? I’ve been told they are inside dogs but we live in Arizona and have always had outside dogs.
A: No, they really don’t do well outside. They overheat very easily, and the summers in the desert can kill a mastiff if they are left outside.
You may also want to consider the fact that dogs are pack animals – it is in their nature to live in families. When left alone in the backyard while your family lives inside, giant breeds can become very destructive as an outlet for their frustration - they want to be with their pack but are forced to be separated. Most people that attempt to keep giant breeds as backyard dogs end up turning them over to shelters after having their yards, plants, a/c units, sprinkler lines and even stucco and siding destroyed, or due to constant barking.
They make great pets if you’re able to spend a lot of time training, exercising and socializing, but they definitely are a lot of work in that regard and I would never recommend keeping a mastiff or a great dane outdoors only.
Mastiffs are typically calm dogs as adults, and they are relatively easy to house train. If you really are committed to wanting a mastiff but have never had indoor dogs before, I would check with a mastiff rescue to see if they may have an adult that would be a good match for your family. By eliminating the difficult puppy training phase, you will probably have a much easier time training and adjusting to an indoor dog. You can check out www.petfinder.org or www.azanimalassistance.com for information on adoptable dogs.
