Live Life Team
Also called the Puerto Rican Mastiff, this is a rare Molosser breed; the only breed of dog native to the island of Puerto Rico.
The dog was developed from Molosser breeds brought to Puerto Rico by Spanish and Latin American settlers. These dogs bred with the traditional island dogs of mixed ancestry (Perros Jibaros) to create a specific native Molosser breed. The dog was established as a rare breed in 1979.
Molosser breeds were used mainly for protection. Fighting Mastiff crossbreeds, similar to the Puerto Rican Mastiff can be traced back to the Conquistadors of the 15th century.
However, the Gran Mastin was not recognised as a true native breed until the late 19th century when it was used as a plantation dog. It was considered superior to imported Mastiffs as its native blood meant it could withstand both the colder climate of the mountain and the tropical humidity of the foothills and campus. This made it much valued by visiting traders.
The breed gained notoriety during the Spanish-Indian wars. The dogs were loyal, fierce, brave and bloodthirsty and would often die protecting their masters. This behaviour stems from its Mastiff bloodline. As well as being used for large game hunting Spanish Molossi were also used as war dogs, when their game would be enemy soldiers and native peoples.
The Mastin is a heavy, muscular dog, weighing up to 150lbs (68 kg). The back, neck and chest are compact and extremely muscular. The dog has long, solid limbs.
A naturally aggressive breed, it is rarely seen outside its native island.
