Irish Mastiff Hound vs Cordoba Fighting Dog - Breed Comparison

The Irish Mastiff Hound is a huge dog – a mix of the English Mastiff and the Irish Wolfhound.

Both of these dogs have been around for a long time and actually have ancient histories. The Mastiff for instance has origins that date back to ancient times in China, while the Irish Wolfhound has origins that date far back to 391 AD.

Today this dog is regarded as an excellent companion for any home.

The Cordoba Fighting Dog is believed to be an extinct dog breed, but research will reveal that there are still those who believe that some of these dogs do still exist.

The dog was regarded as an aggressive, fighting dog and was a crossbreed of the Mastiff, Bull Terrier, Boxer and Bulldog.

Known also as the Argentine Fighting Dog or the Perro de Presa de Cordoba, this dog comes from Argentina where it was used for dog fighting, hog hunting as well as being a guard dog. It is thought that it became extinct in the 20th Century.

Breeders in Cordoba worked at developing a new fighting breed of dog based on the Bull Terrier. The breed became known as the Perro de Presa de Cordoba or Fighting Dog of Cordoba. He resembled the Bull Terrier and came in shades of fawn and brindle, although Argentine fanciers preferred the plain white dogs.

Over breeding for white coated dogs led to skin problems and other health problems, making it that except for fighting, the dog wasn’t in demand elsewhere. As fighting of dogs became more frowned on, the dog became extinct.

This is a large crossbreed which can stand at 85 to 91 cm in height and weigh in the region of 47kg to 74kg.

He essentially has the short, smooth coat of the Mastiff but other dogs may well inherit the longer, more wiry coat of the Wolfhound. Coloring of the coat can be quite varied and can be brown, grey, white, tan or black. Some dogs take more after the Mastiff while others have more Wolfhound characteristics. They have a large head, some have a somewhat wrinkly face because of the Mastiff side, the ears are fairly small and floppy and the tail is long.

Temperament:

Even though they're so huge, these are easy going dogs that are able to fit in well with most human families. Described as gentle giants, they are loving, loyal, easy-going, even-tempered and eager to please.

The Irish Mastiff does well in the city or in the country because he isn't particularly active and will be happy to have a comfortable spot to lie close to you, however with such a large dog, you will certainly need a garden.

The Cordoba fighting dog is a mixed breed. Bull Terrier, Mastiff and Bulldog make up this dog breed.

He was a large dog, standing at between 58 and 62cm and weighing between 32 to 55 kg. He was lean and muscled with a wide chest and small ears that were cropped. His powerful jaws were to be avoided as once they settled around another dog’s throat, the grip was vice-like. The dog’s coat was short and was essentially white with black marks on the body and around the head.

Temperament:

A Cordoba Fighting Dog is aggressive and strong. While most dogs benefit immensely from training and socialization, these dogs, even with training, remained somewhat aggressive, so they were no doubt not a good choice for first time dog owners, or for those with children in the home. Also the dog was always aggressive towards other dogs.

You could safely say that if these dogs were around today, they would not be looked upon as the ideal family pet.

Your big Irish Mastiff Hound is cool, confident and calm. He isn't particularly energetic and as long as he gets a nice walk as well as some mental stimulation, he'll be happy, wanting to spend a good part of the day lying close to where you are.

Socialization and training will be good for him and he learns easily. He is just a big gentle giant who promises to make you a wonderful canine friend.

The Cordoba Fighting Dog was a hunter and also a fighting dog. It was a fierce, aggressive dog, and while he may have formed a bit of a bond with his owner, he wouldn’t have made a good family pet.

With an unstable temperament, who knows when he could have turned on his owner or the owner’s family? Certainly he wouldn’t have tolerated any other pets in the home.

Perhaps it is better if he has become extinct because dog fighting is abhorrent and hopefully being banned today, and he would never have been much good as a family pet.

Many people find giant dogs irresistible because they're usually gentle, patient and loving. However, it is their very size which makes them more prone to certain health concerns and gives them a shorter lifespan.

It is why it is so important to ensure you feed your pet a healthy diet to ward off illness. A large dog like the Irish Mastiff doesn't have a particularly long lifespan, and with good care he can get to 9, 10, 11, 12 years of age.

Hip Dysplasia:

This condition is more common in large dogs and it can lead to joint degeneration, arthritis and pain. Your pet may even be reluctant to get up and greet you when you come home which can be very sad. Vet intervention will certainly be required.

Dilated Cardiomyopathy:

This heart disease is commonly seen in large dog breeds where the heart becomes weak so that it can't pump blood throughout the body. Coughing, difficulty with breathing, weakness and lethargy are just some of the symptoms of this disease and will also require veterinary intervention.

The Cordoba Fighting Dog was a generally healthy breed but even so, its very lifestyle made it want to gobble down his food without much chewing. This possibly resulted in a number of problems such as bloat.

Bloat:

Bloat is a serious condition which the Cordoba had to deal with and which happens with modern day dogs too. It is an ailment not to be taken lightly. Your dog will need to get to the vet as soon as possible. The dog’s stomach fills with gas, which can also result in the stomach twisting.

When the stomach fills with gas, pressure is put on the diaphragm, making it difficult for the dog to breathe. The dog’s abdomen is swollen, he has difficulty with breathing and he will likely be drooling. It is an ailment which can happen to any breed of dog, regardless of age. Larger dog breeds, however are more prone to it.

Grooming:

He has a short coat, and grooming of this laid-back dog will include brushing him twice a week, trimming his nails and making sure that you check inside his ears for ear infection.

Diet:

Large dogs have special nutritional needs, particularly because they are more prone to illnesses such as hip dysplasia. You want to make sure that the foods he eats are rich in Omega-3 fatty acids, glucosamine, chondroitin, amino acids and antioxidants because these will ensure proper joint health.

You've got to be careful what you feed a large breed dog because of the weight management issue too. Excess weight puts stress on the joints and promotes the development of osteoarthritis. Speak to your vet about portion control and meat protein for your pet and how to ensure excellent nutrition to avoid common dog illnesses.

Fresh, cool water needs to be available to your pet every minute of the night and day.

Grooming:

The Cordoba Fighting Dog was a short haired dog and no doubt his owner would have given him a brush down every now and then to keep him looking presentable.

Diet:

The Cordoba was used for fighting to the death with other dogs, so a strong dog like this will have required a high-protein diet. The owners particularly wouldn’t have wanted a dog with hip- and elbow dysplasia and they would have ensured a good choice of raw meat, cooked brown rice and vegetables.

Manufactured dog food started emerging about the mid-1800s and the dogs would have been fed this, made up of wheat meals, meat and vegetables which was then mixed with cooked meat and vegetables.