Carolly, go read your history books... (rolls eyes) History The English Mastiff can be traced back in time to the Venetians, who brought them on trading ships to great Britain, just before the Roman occupation. The Romans finding this large ferocious dog, immediately shipped specimens of various sizes and colours back to Rome for use in the amphitheatres, pitted against lions and gladiators. In the 10th century, the noblemen, of which most were knights, used them for battles, travelling up to 20 miles a day and attacking the enemies horses, breaking the legs with their powerful jaws and killing the knight, biting into the armour to get at them. There are many tapestries in famous art galleries depicting such scenes. They have had numerous uses all through the centuries, and are still a faithful, loving animal to posess. Once you have owned one, and seen the faithful, loving intelligence of this breed, if bred with the care and respect, that such an beautiful animal should be given, you will never want another breed.