Also known as the Spanish Mastiff and the Bully Kutta, the Alangu Mastiff is a loyal and protective breed. But how do you know whether you are ready to purchase a pet and if this breed is right for you? This information is absolutely necessary in making the decision to purchase a pet.
History
The exact origin of the Alangu Mastiff has not been well documented. Enthusiasts believe the breed to date back as far as 486 BC in ancient India, though this has never been proven scientifically or otherwise.
Throughout its history, the Alangu Mastiff has been most commonly used for fighting, hunting large game, and as a guard and watch dog, proving its superior abilities to work in most any environment while providing protection and companionship.
Sadly, the Alangu Mastiff is still currently being used as a fighting breed in areas such as Pakistan.
Today, the Alangu Mastiff remains very rare outside of the Middle East.
Personality Traits
Best known for its caring and protective nature, the Alangu Mastiff thrives on strong and dependable relationships with humans, and is willing to do anything necessary to protect its owner and property. This breed is highly intelligent, yet stubborn and independent, creating difficulty in training. As a pet, the Alangu Mastiff is loyal, loving, and affectionate. These large dogs enjoy spending time outdoors as playing games such as fetch and tug-of-war.
Train-ability
Due to its dominant, stubborn, and independent attitude, the Alangu Mastiff can prove challenging to train. This breed is known for growing bored and even annoyed with repetitive tasks and exercises.
Establishing immediate dominance, trust, and respect is key to successfully training the Alangu Mastiff. These dogs require an experienced, patient, confident, and forceful handler with a firm yet gentle approach.
Benefits and Disadvantages of the Breed
There are many benefits to owning an Alangu Mastiff, such as its no hassle, low maintenance coat. This active breed is often quite amusing and entertaining to watch while at play. When properly socialized from a young age, the Alangu Mastiff gets along well with children and other pets, often making friends quickly, and known for its caring and gentle approach to small children. The Alangu Mastiff is very alert, protective, and dominant, making an effective watch and guard dog, announcing the arrival of guests and unwanted visitors, and serving as a deterrent to would-be intruders. This breed is loyal, loving, and affectionate, making an excellent family pet and companion alike.
Unfortunately, there are also disadvantages to owning an Alangu Mastiff. These energetic and active dogs require large amounts of daily exercise and room to run and play. Anyone wishing to purchase this breed lacking the adequate amount of time and space to dedicate to the dog is strongly advised against doing so. An Alangu Mastiff not receiving the proper amount of exercise and space will often act out by destroying property, chewing, barking, whining, and ignoring basic training such as housebreaking.
The Alangu Mastiff has a strong instinct to hunt and will occasionally indulge in a good chase. When on the run, these large dogs are surprisingly quick, and may pose a threat to other animals, neighborhood pets, and small woodland creatures. The Alangu Mastiff must be leashed or properly secured at all times when outdoors.
The public’s opinion of the Alangu Mastiff and the majority of all Mastiff breeds is that of an evil, blood thirsty man-eater. While this breed has been unfortunate enough to have been used for centuries as a fighting dog, the Alangu Mastiff has been unfairly judged. Properly trained and socialized specimens are very gentle, caring, and loyal pets.
As previously mentioned, the Alangu Mastiff remains very rare outside of the Middle East and can prove difficult to obtain. Individuals seeking to purchase this breed often encounter such challenges as inability to locate a breeder, extremely high prices, and being placed on long waiting lists.
Common Health Concerns
While the Alangu Mastiff is typically known as a healthy and hearty breed, they do suffer from a few health problems, including: hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia, patellar luxation – dislocation of the knee, cataracts, primary lens luxation – dislocation of the lens, obesity, and bloat.
Now that you know all about the breed, do you think you are ready to own an Alangu Mastiff? Remember, purchasing a pet is a big decision and should be discussed thoroughly and seriously with your entire family.
Sources:
http://www.heydogs.com/a/alangu_mastiff.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/alangu_mastiff
