Friday, February 15, 2013

English Mastiff Postcards

This IS my happy face...
English Mastiff
postmarked in 2013

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The English Mastiff, referred to by most Kennel Clubs simply as the Mastiff, is a breed of large dog. Distinguishable by enormous size, massive head, and a limited range of colors, but always displaying a black mask, the Mastiff is noted for its gentle temperament. 

The greatest weight ever recorded for a dog, 343 pounds (156 kg), was that of an English Mastiff from England named Aicama Zorba of La Susa, although claims of larger dogs exist.  According to the 1989 edition of the Guinness Book of Records, in March 1989, when he was 7 years old, Zorba stood 35 inches (89 cm) at the shoulder and was 8.25 feet (251 cm) from the tip of his nose to the tip of his tail, about the size of a small donkey.  After 2000, the Guinness Book of World Records stopped accepting largest or heaviest pet records.
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Brindle English Mastiff
postmarked in 2013
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Valentine's Real Photograph
postmarked 1934
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Mastiff - The Star Series  of London
printed in Bavaria -  postmarked 1911

3 comments:

ONeal said...

Beautiful dogs. As a dog lover, and animal lover, in general, I was glad to read that Guiness stopped the records for heaviest pets. Something like that could easily lead to abuse by pet owners in an attempt to set such a record.

Postcard Blogger said...

I never thought of it before, but you're right about the World Records - As for the dogs, we have raised, showed and worked in rescue for English Mastiffs for years. They are by far my favorite dogs ever.

ONeal said...

That's great about your rescue work! I currently have 8 dogs of my own. They were all in need of a home for one reason or another. I'm all about mutts!