Also known as the Mastin Borincano, Becerillo de Borinquen, Perro Barsino de Hacienda, and the Gran Mastin de Borinquen, the Puerto Rican Mastiff is an intelligent, protective, and loyal 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 Puerto Rican Mastiff has not been well documented. Enthusiasts believe that the Puerto Rican Mastiff descended from various Spanish Mastiff breeds and native island dogs, and may date back as far as the 16th century, though this has never been proven scientifically or otherwise.
Throughout its history, the Puerto Rican Mastiff has been most commonly used for the sport of dog fighting, hunting large game such as wild boar, and as a watch and guard dog, proving its superior abilities to work endlessly while providing warm and gentle companionship.
Today, while the Puerto Rican Mastiff has attained a regional popularity as a working and companion dog, the breed remains extremely rare outside of its native Puerto Rico.
Personality Traits
Best known for its loyal and protective nature, the Puerto Rican Mastiff is willing to do anything necessary in order to protect its owner and property. These dogs thrive on strong and dependable relationships with humans, and love to play the role of guardian. This breed is very intelligent, yet stubborn, overly confident, and independent at times, creating difficulty in training. As a pet, the Puerto Rican Mastiff is loyal, loving, and very affectionate. The Puerto Rican Mastiff is not suited for full-time indoor or apartment living, as it enjoys spending time outdoors, taking long and leisurely walks, and having plenty of room to roam, run, and play.
Train-ability
Due to its stubborn, overly confident, and independent attitude, the Puerto Rican Mastiff can prove somewhat challenging to train. These dogs are known for growing bored and impatient with repetitive exercises and tasks, and can be quite difficult to housebreak.
Establishing immediate dominance, trust, and respect is key to successfully training the Puerto Rican Mastiff. This breed requires an experienced, confident, and patient handler with a stern yet gentle approach to repetitive exercises and tasks.
Benefits and Disadvantages of the Breed
There are many benefits to owning a Puerto Rican Mastiff, such as its no hassle, low maintenance coat. This adventurous breed is always on the move, and often quite amusing and entertaining to watch while at play. When properly socialized from a young age, the Puerto Rican Mastiff gets along well with children and other pets, known for its sweet and gentle approach to small children. These dogs are alert, protective, and territorial, making incredible watch and guard dogs by announcing the arrival of guests and unwanted visitors, and serving as a deterrent to would-be intruders. The Puerto Rican Mastiff is loyal, loving, and very affectionate, making an excellent guardian, family pet, and companion alike.
Unfortunately, there are also disadvantages to owning a Puerto Rican Mastiff. These active and athletic dogs require large amounts of daily exercise and room to run and play outdoors, especially when under the age of two years. 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. A Puerto Rican 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.
Sadly, the public opinion of Mastiff breeds is that of a bloody-thirsty man-eater, which has lead to breed bans and the need for additional insurance. It is advised to check state and local laws before purchasing a Puerto Rican Mastiff.
As previously mentioned, the Puerto Rican Mastiff remains extremely rare outside of its native Puerto Rico and can prove quite difficult to obtain. Individuals seeking to purchase this breed often encounter such challenges as inability to locate a breeder, very high prices, and being placed on long waiting lists.
Common Health Concerns
While the Puerto Rican Mastiff is typically known as a healthy and hearty breed, they may suffer from a few health problems, including: hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia, likeliness to develop cancer, congenital heart defects, cryptorchidism – failure of one or both of the testicles to fully descend, obesity, and bloat.
Now that you know all about the breed, do you think you are ready to own a Puerto Rican Mastiff? Remember, purchasing a pet is a big decision and should be discussed thoroughly and seriously with your entire family.
Sources:
http://www.moloss.com/breeds/ghi/g001/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/gran_mastin_de_borinquen
