Janet V.'s Page

MOLOSSER:

Molosser is a name for a group comprising several breeds of large, solidly-built dogs, probably all descended from the same root stock.

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.

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.

LIST OF MOLOSSER BREEDS

Akbash Dog
Alano Español (Spanish Alano)
Alapaha Blue Blood Bulldog
Alp Mastiff (Cane Garouf)
American Bulldog, including:
Catahoula Bulldog
JDJ American Bulldog
Scott’s American Bulldog
Southern White American Bulldog
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 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)
Greater Swiss Mountain Dog(Grosser Schweizer Sennenhund)
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
Polish Tatra Sheepdog
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 Inu (Japanese Mastiff)
Valley Bulldog
Vucciriscu
Xochaso