6. Dogue de Bordeaux (French Mastiff)

Country of Origin: French

Coat: Fine, short and soft to touch

Temperament: Strong, powerful, imposing, fearless, confrontational with stranger, consider first class guard and watch dog. Can be very aggressive with other dogs if not socialized well.

Brief History: The Dogue de Bordeaux was known in France as early as the fourteenth century. Dog fighting was popular in the nineteenth century, particularly in southern France in the region around Bordeaux. Hence, the city lent its name to these large fighting dogs.

7. Dogo Argentina

Country of Origin: Argentina

Coat: Short white coat

Temperament: Excellent guardian dog, extremely loyal to the families, have high pain tolerance.

Brief History: In 1920’s, Dr. Antonio Nores Martinez developed a dog, which combine to be the family pet, a guardian dog and also good in hunting. He started with a now extinct mastiff-type breed called the Dog of Cordoba. He crossed breed with Great Dean, Spanish Mastiff, Boxer, Bull Terrier, Boxer and French Mastiff.

8. Japanese Tosa (Japanese Mastiff)

Country of Origin: Japan

Coat: Dense and harsh short-haired coat
Temperament: Patience, composure, boldness and courage. It is a quiet and obedient dog. They are calm but vigilant demeanor. They are quietly affectionate with its owner but somewhat aloof with strangers. Can be aggressive to intruder of animal or stranger.

Brief History:

Japan has a long history of dog fighting, begining in the 14th century. This breed was produced as a hybrid of Shikoku-ken and Western breeds. They were name after the area where they were bred. Breed used to create Tosa include Bulldogs, Bull Terrier, Great Danes, etc. The Tosa’s established features of stamina and fighting instinct typically found in Mastiffs may be attributed to the involvement of such breeds.

9. Italian Corso (Italian Mastiff)

Country of Origin: Puglia (South of Italy)

Coat: Short, smooth and dense coat

Temperament: Strong, active and protective to the owner. Have even temperament and quite easy to be trained.

Brief History: The breed was originally to be found mostly in the south of Italy, Puglia, and also similar dogs were found throughout Sicily. It was a farm dog, used for big game hunting, guarding, and many other purposes throughout its history. Recovered from near extinction through the efforts of a group of enthusiasts in the 1980’s, now the Corso is becoming a very popular breed globally.

10. American Pitt Bull Terrier (APBT)

Country of Origin: United States

Coat: short-coated dog with smooth, well-defined musculature

Temperament: Courages, loyal, full of energy, their natural aggressive tendencies are toward other dogs and animals, not people mostly

Brief History: Sometime during the nineteenth century, dog fanciers in England, Ireland, and Scotland began to experiment with crosses between Bulldogs and Terriers, looking for a dog that combined the gameness of the terrier with the strength and athleticism of the Bulldog. The result was a dog that embodied all of the virtues attributed to great warriors: strength, indomitable courage, and gentleness with loved ones. Immigrants brought these bull and terrier crosses to the United States. The American Pit Bull Terrier’s many talents did not go unnoticed by farmers and ranchers who used their APBTs for protection, as catch dogs for semi-wild cattle and hogs, to hunt, to drive livestock, and as family companions. Today, the American Pit Bull Terrier continues to demonstrate its versatility, competing successfully in Obedience, Tracking, Agility, Protection, and Weight Pulls, as well as Conformation.