Country/Date of Origin: Spain/800s
A descendant of the ancient Molossian dogs, this Mastiff was probably introduced to Spain by Phoenician traders. It was developed into its present form in the vicinity of Madrid, where its primary use for many centuries was as a guard dog of both livestock and homes.
Although it is centuries old, a breed standard was not drawn up until 1946. Commonly seen at Spanish dog shows, the Spanish Mastiff is rarely seen outside of its home country.
FCI Group: 2 (Working)