Molosser: Difference between revisions
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'''Molosser''' is a name for a group comprising several [[dog breeds|breed]]s of large, solidly-built [[dogs]], probably all descended from the same root stock. The name derives from [[Molossia]],modern day [[Albania]]. |
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'''Molosser''' is a name for a group comprising several [[dog breeds|breed]]s of large, solidly-built [[dogs]], probably all descended from the same root stock. The name derives from [[Molossia]]<ref>Dogue De Bordeaux: A Comprehensive Owner's Guide by Joseph Janish,ISBN-10: 1593782152,2003,Page 10,"... THE DOGUE DE BORDEAUX The Dogue de Bordeaux falls into a group of dogs classified as molossers, descendants of the Molossus, a dog that lived around the time of 700 BC. Based on ancient carvings and paintings, it appears that Molossus ..."</ref>, a subregion of ancient [[Epirus (region)|Epirus]]<ref>The Mini-Atlas of Dog Breeds by Andrew De Prisco,ISBN-10: 0866220917,1990,page 136,"... Mastiff prototypes , such as the Molossus of Epirus and Babylonian Mastiff, were used as flock guards against wolves and other predators. ..."</ref> , in North-West [[Ancient Greece]]<ref>The Mammals of the Southern African Sub-region by J. D. Skinner,ISBN-10: 0521844185,2006,page 277, "... XXII. F<u11ily MOLOSSIDAE Gervais, 1856 Free-tailed bats The name of the family is derived from the Greek molossus, a kind of dog used by Greek shepherds in ancient times. The head of a molossid is reminiscent of a ..."</ref>. |
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Molossers are sometimes called "'''mastiffs'''". The proper noun "Mastiff", however, is used to refer to the [[English Mastiff]], a breed that originated in England over two thousand years ago. Other terms include "'''Mastín'''" ([[Spanish language|Spanish]]), "'''dogge'''" ([[Germanic languages|Germanic]]), and "'''dogue'''" or "'''dogo'''" ([[Romance languages]]). |
Molossers are sometimes called "'''mastiffs'''". The proper noun "Mastiff", however, is used to refer to the [[English Mastiff]], a breed that originated in England over two thousand years ago. Other terms include "'''Mastín'''" ([[Spanish language|Spanish]]), "'''dogge'''" ([[Germanic languages|Germanic]]), and "'''dogue'''" or "'''dogo'''" ([[Romance languages]]). |
Revision as of 20:08, 3 March 2008
Molosser is a name for a group comprising several breeds of large, solidly-built dogs, probably all descended from the same root stock. The name derives from Molossia,modern day Albania.
Molossers are sometimes called "mastiffs". The proper noun "Mastiff", however, is used to refer to the English Mastiff, a breed that originated in England over two thousand years ago. Other terms include "Mastín" (Spanish), "dogge" (Germanic), and "dogue" or "dogo" (Romance languages).
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b1/Mastif_brazylijski_g56.jpg/220px-Mastif_brazylijski_g56.jpg)
Breeds such as the Bullmastiff, Dogue de Bordeaux, Fila Brasileiro, Mastin Del Pirineo, Spanish Mastiff, Neapolitan Mastiff, Tibetan Mastiff, and many others fall into the larger category of "Molossers", but are not "Mastiffs". Each is a separate and distinct breed.[1] The Boxer breed is also included, as it is a creation from other Molossers including the Original English Bulldog.
Molossers typically have heavy bones, pendant ears, a relatively short and well-muscled neck, and a short muzzle. Although some Molossers are used for search and rescue, such as the Newfoundland and the Saint Bernard, most are used as guard dogs, due to their deep voices and natural guarding instincts, or livestock guardian dogs for protection against large predators as well as poachers. Some breeds like the Greater Swiss Mountain Dog have also been used as cart dogs.
Origins
The first known record of a molosser-like dog was in 1121 BC, when a Tibetan mastiff trained for hunting was given to a Chinese emperor. The mastiffs would later be imported to Mongolia, Mesopotamia and Central Asia where they would mix with local dogs, resulting in a loss of long hair and colour uniformity. The main features, such as height and a massive head with a big short muzzle were kept. The dogs were considered valuable in Babylon, and are mentioned in cuneiform in the 4th century BC. A large mastiff-like dog is shown on the ancient terracotta by Byrs Nimruda. The dog is rather tall: 90 cm at the withers, has a stocky head and powerful hind quarters. The dogs were used for hunting in ancient Assyria. Archeological digs of the Ashurbanipal palace (7th century BC) revealed pictures of dogs felling wild horses and donkeys. Assyrian mastiffs were also used for military purposes and for protection.
The ancient mastiffs would later be imported from Assyria and Babylon to Egypt and Asia Minor. Xerxes I of Persia led predatory wars to enlarge the borders of his empire, taking with him large war dogs in his Army. After his army's defeat by the Spartans, the mastiffs were taken to Greece as trophies of war. The mastiffs would be bred in Molossia and from there, spread all over the Mediterranean under the name of "epirian" dogs or molosses.
The Alans kept mastiff-like dogs taken from Eastern Europe which acted as retrievers, watchdogs and fighting dogs. The mastiffs were used in unison with sighthounds to hunt Wisent, aurochs and bears. Groups of Alanian tribes came to Europe during the Migration Period, fighting on the territory of modern France, Spain, Portugal and Northern Africa, taking with them their dogs. The Alanian mastiffs then spread to the British Isles. [1]
The Bulldog breeds split from the Molossers in England and spread to the New World with colonization as well as Western Europe and, though smaller, are considered by some to still be Molosser breeds.
List of molosser breeds
![]() | This list is incomplete; you can help by adding missing items. |
- Akbash Dog
- Alano Español (Spanish Alano)
- Alapaha Blue Blood Bulldog
- Alp Mastiff (Cane Garouf)
- American Bulldog, including:
- American Mastiff (Panja)
- American Pit Bull Terrier
- American Staffordshire Terrier
- Antebellum Bulldog
- Anatolian Shepherd Dog
- Appenzeller Sennenhund
- Argentine Dogo
- Bandog
- Bergamasco
- Bernese Mountain Dog (Berner Sennen)
- Boerboel (South-African Mastiff)
- Boston Terrier
- Boxer
- Branchiero Sicliano
- Brazilian Bullmastiff
- Broholmer
- Bucciriscu Calabrese
- Bulldog
- Buldogue Campeiro
- Bullmastiff
- Bully Kutta (Pakistani Mastiff)
- Ca de Bou (Perro de Presa Mallorquin, Mallorquin Bulldog, etc.)
- Cane Corso (Sicilian Brancheiro)
- Cão da Serra da Estrela - see Estrela Mountain Dog
- Cão de Castro Laboreiro
- Cão de Fila de São Miguel
- Cão de Fila da Terceira
- Cão de Gado Transmontano
- Catahoula Bulldog
- Caucasian Shepherd Dog
- Central Asia Shepherd Dog
- Dosa Inu (Korean heavier form of Tosa)
- Dogue de Bordeaux (French Mastiff)
- Dogo Argentino
- Dogo Cubano
- Dogo Guatemalteco
- Dogo Sardesco
- English Mastiff (Mastiff)
- Entlebucher Sennenhund (Entlebucher Mountain Dog)
- Fila Brasileiro (Brazilian Mastiff)
- Gran Mastin de Borínquen
- Great Dane (German Mastiff)
- Grosser Schweizer Sennenhund (Greater Swiss Mountain Dog)
- Gull Terr
- Hovawart
- Himalayan Sheepdog
- Indian Mastiff (Sindh Mastiff)
- Kangal Dog
- Kuvasz
- Landseer (sometimes considered a colour variety of the Newfoundland)
- Leonberger
- Moscovskaya Storozhevaya Sobaka (Moscow Watchdog)
- Neapolitan Mastiff
- Nebolish Mastiff
- Newfoundland
- Olde English Bulldogge
- Perro Cimarron
- Perro de Presa Canario
- Perro de Toro
- Pit Bull
- Polish Tatra Sheepdog (Tatra Mountain Sheepdog, Tatra Shepherd Dog, Polski Owczarek Podhalanski, Owczarek Podhalanski)
- Presa Canario
- Pyrenean Mastiff
- Pyrenean Mountain Dog (Great Pyrenees)
- Rafeiro do Alentejo
- Rhodesian Ridgeback (African Lion Hound)
- Rottweiler
- Sage Koochee (Afghan Sheepdog)
- Saint Bernard
- Šarplaninac
- Shar Pei
- Spanish Mastiff
- Saint Bernard (Alpine Mastiff)
- Tibetan Kyi Apso (Bearded Tibetan Mastiff)
- Tibetan Mastiff
- Tosa (Japanese Mastiff)
- Valley Bulldog
- Vucciriscu
- Xochaso
Nebolish Mastiff the standard originally recorded in 1867