The Ultimate English Mastiff Grooming Guide
English Mastiff grooming care is a subject that experienced Mastiff owners know well, yet if they’re being entirely honest, I’m sure it would have troubled them once upon a time.
The English Mastiff is a large breed and the key areas of grooming such as bathing will seem extremely daunting, but despite its slobbery nature, the dog is actually surprisingly hygienic.
Does the English Mastiff require a lot of grooming?
No, the English Mastiff actually requires minimal grooming. This may be due to their more laid back lifestyle which means they’re not constantly running around, digging and all that other good stuff. That said, odours and bacteria still build up over time, so occasional grooming is a must.
In our English Mastiff grooming guide, we’ll aim to give you direction on how to bathe and clean their coat, ears, eyes and face whilst also covering general hygiene areas such as claw trimming and dental health.
One last thing, before we dive into the grooming process, it’s essential to understand the importance of grooming your English Mastiff. Regular grooming not only keeps your Mastiff’s coat healthy and shiny but also helps prevent skin infections, matting, and other potential health problems. Grooming also strengthens the bond between you and your Mastiff, making it a vital aspect of your dog’s overall well-being.
How to care for your English mastiff’s coat
There are many factors that go into caring for an English Mastiffs coat. First off, there’s the grooming side of things such as brushing and bathing. However, owners shouldn’t neglect the role that diet and nutrition has on coat health.
That said, for the purposes of this guide, let us just stick to the grooming side of things. You can find more on English Mastiff feeding and diet/nutrition here.
Do English Mastiffs Shed?
The quick answer is yes, English Mastiffs do shed. However, due to their short hair, dealing with the shedding is entirely manageable.
The Mastiff has a short double coat which consists of guard hairs which are usually straight and wiry. This is basically the coat you see when looking at the dog. However, underneath that is a woolly undercoat which only appears on closer inspection.
It is the undercoat which gets released by the dog throughout the seasons, typically in spring time.
Luckily, you won’t find huge clumps of hair lurking around the house. Your Mastiffs shedded hair will be single strands of fur that will likely stick to your clothes and furniture. And although that can be annoying, it’s nothing that can’t be handled with a good lint roller.
Brushing Your English Mastiff
Brushing is an essential part of Mastiff grooming, even though your English Mastiff doesn’t have a long coat. Regular brushing removes dirt, loose hair, and tangles from your dog’s coat. You can use a bristle brush to handle this. Many are double sided so you can choose which side is appropriate for your Mastiffs fur length.
How often should you brush your English Mastiff? Most experienced owners seem to think every few days is an optimal amount. This helps remove any dead skin or loose hair.
Steps to brushing your English Mastiff:
1
Lure them with their favourite treat
You want your Mastiff to associate brushing & the wider grooming tasks with an enjoyable experience.
2
Remove the collar
Getting the brush around the neck can feel really good for many dogs, especially as it’s an area that’s hard for them to reach when scratching themselves.
3
Use downward strokes
Brushing in a downward motion is the best way to go. Brushing in an upwards motion is painful for most dogs.
4
Look for areas of shedding
Spend time brushing areas that are more prone to shedding such as the lower back.
5
Avoid the jowls
The jowls on Mastiff breeds are very sensitive. Owners should avoid irritating them too much.
Bathing an English mastiff
Bath time is a challenge for many larger breeds. You may be lucky enough to have an outdoor shower, but for the many of us that don’t, you should bring the following things:
- Multiple towels
- Slip mat
- High quality organic and natural dog shampoo/conditioner
- Patience and a sense of humour
To be fair, I shouldn’t fill you with horror, you may be fortunate enough to have a Mastiff that loves the water, many do.
Ideally, you should be looking at bathing your English Mastiff once every 6 weeks (roughly). Although this may depend upon how much time your Mastiff spends outside, the current climate, their level of shedding, any skin conditions that may need treatment.
You’ll likely find a unique routine that works for you and your furry friend, however I find that the following steps work pretty well across the board.
1
Preparation
It’s important to get a step ahead of the game. Run the bath with lukewarm water (around 40.556°C / 105°F), bring your doggy towels and place them beside the bath, have your shampoo at the ready.
2
Calm the nerves
If your dog is nervous about bath time, it’s a good idea to get them calm ahead of placing them in the bath. You can do this with gentle strokes whilst slowly wetting their fur.
3
Gradually add shampoo
Ease your dog into the process by adding a little shampoo around the neck and back, gradually working your way up to head whilst being careful to avoid the eyes.
4
Rinse shampoo
It’s a good idea to rinse the shampoo off with a low pressure shower head. A gentle rinse is more enjoyable and relaxing.
5
Dry the dog
Be strategic with your towels. Place one on the floor outside the bath, place one on its back as it leaves the bath as its first instinct is to shake water everywhere. Once it has got that out of its system, you can use a dry towel to give them a good dry.
As an extra tip, owners can invest in an anti-slip mat. Many dogs cannot stand the slippery surface on a bathtub and wet floor as it upsets their sense of balance. A good anti-slip mat can help give them some reassurance.
Cleaning Your English Mastiffs Ears
Like many Mastiff breeds, the English Mastiff naturally has floppy ears. Floppy ears can lead to less air entering the ear canal, which may lead to a more moist inner ear and a slight risk of infection.
Owners should be looking to clean their English Mastiff’s ears once a month and always be on the lookout for dirt build up, ticks and any signs of infection. Ears are very sensitive, so it’s important that you remain careful and gentle when cleaning.
Steps for cleaning your Mastiff ears:
1
Grab a wipe
Get yourself a couple of small, clean cloth or pads. Generic makeup pads can work well.
2
Grab your cleaner of choice
Dab your pads or cloth in your preferred ear cleaner. A good one will typically have some form of organic antiseptic/antibacterial like tea tree or witch hazel.
3
Lift the dogs ear back on itself
Carefully fold the ears back ready for cleaning.
4
Get a grip on the pad
Place your finger in the middle of the pad, then place your finger in the inner ear and do a gentle scooping motion until completely clear of any dirt or debris.
5
Use multiple cleaning pads
Use a fresh pad to clean the dirt from the outer ear. Repeat the steps 1- 5 for the other ear.
Cleaning Your English Mastiffs Eyes
Many Mastiffs are prone to eye bogies… This is due to the saggy skin and facial wrinkles/folds. Some English Mastiffs are more droopy around the eyes than others. However, owners should stay on top of this area so that eye infections do not occur.
Although the cleaning process requires a simple wipe with a sanitary cloth, owners need to be extra careful and mindful that the eyes are another sensitive area for your pooch.
It’s best to stay on top of this every time that you see eye gunk building up around your dog’s eyes.
How to trim an English Mastiffs nails
The dreaded cutting of the claws is in my opinion the most difficult area of home grooming your Mastiff. Ideally, this is an area that your Mastiff becomes familiar with from a very early age.
I cannot recommend a top end pair of trimmers highly enough, the last thing you want is a pair that feels clumsy and dull. I have spoken to some owners and experienced dog groomers that have had some success with a dremel for nail trimming, which (depending on the dog) can be less anxiety inducing.
Here are the steps for trimming your Mastiffs claws:
1
Clean the paws
Be sure to use a sterile cloth wipe away any dirt from your Mastiffs paws, focusing on the pads and any dirt around the claws.
2
Bring a source of light
You can use the torch on your phone or simply ensure you’re in a room with great lighting. It’s critical to have a good view when trimming claws as we want to avoid cutting too far and damaging the nerve.
3
Bring Treats
Your pooches favourite treats can help persuade them. They can also act as a form of positive reinforcement for good behaviour.
4
Clam them
Speak to them and stroke them gently to help ease any nerves they have over the process.
5
Find the point of the nail where the vein is
Then cut the point of the claw just before the vein is visible.
7
Reward with treats
Give your dog a treat when they have finished.
A common sense tip is to ensure that your Mastiff is getting enough walking in. Walking can help wear down the nail so that they do not get out of control.
Cleaning Your mastiffs teeth and gums
It’s unlikely that your English Mastiff is going to enjoy the cleaning of its teeth and gums. And to be frank, the task is quite daunting to start with, especially if you’ve read about their bite pressure.
The recommended frequency for brushing your Mastiffs teeth and gums is typically once a week. However, this really depends on the owner. Some choose to do this every other day, while others choose to do this once a month.
For dental health excellence, we recommend the following tips:
1
Brushing their teeth
Yes, obviously this is the first step. Brushing teeth will remove plaque and tartar build-up and keep their oral health in good shape. Brushing just once a week can provide massive benefits. The more you do it, the less resistance your dog will likely have to it. Especially if they’re rewarded for it after. Brushing can be a challenge at first. But stay patient. It’s also critical to note, please do not use human grade toothpaste and instead shop for a dog friendly alternative.
2
Dental stain removers
Similar to a brush, many stores now sell dental stain removers for dogs.
3
Utilise dental chews
Doggy dental chews are a great, low resistance tool when it comes to cleaning your Mastiff’s teeth. They’re tasty, stimulating, and made specifically to target plaque and tartar build-up.
4
Chew toys
Similar to dental chews, many chew toys perfectly mimic biting and gnawing on a bone. This action helps to scrape plaque and tartar build up off their teeth as well as providing mental stimulation.
5
Clean diet
A good clean Mastiff diet removes harmful ingredients from food that may cause issues with dental health such as sugars, preservatives, gluten or overly excessive grains.
6
Watchful for infections
As you get to grips with your Mastiffs dental health, ensure you’re looking for signs of infection or gum disease. If you find anything alarming, please arrange a visit to your vet.
Cleaning Your English Mastiff’s Facial Folds
All that delightful slobber can often find itself wedged in between your Mastiffs wrinkles and facial folds (not just your walls and sofa). It is an unfortunate part of Mastiff ownership that the breed is quite messy, although unintentionally.
Thankfully cleaning the facial folds of a Mastiff is simple enough. You can use a simple clean cloth or wipe to remove any dirt, food or slobber that has built up within the folds. You probably want to make sure that you’re on top of this daily if the problem is excessive. Gross right?
English Mastiff Grooming schedule
The English Mastiff isn’t as high maintenance as many other breeds of dog, however it still needs a bit of TLC when it comes to hygiene.
Typically a schedule such as below is perfect:
| Every 2-3 Days | Every 6-8 Weeks |
| Brushing | Bathing |
| Eye Cleaning (if needed) | Trim Claws |
| Dental Cleaning (if needed) | Ears Cleaning |
| Facial folds Cleaning |
Tools For Grooming Finishing
Many owners get by with minimal tools, it really depends how seriously you want to take things. If however, you are interested in taking grooming to the next level, you could look at investing in the following tools:
- A grooming glove – Excellent for low resistance brushing and shedding
- Hydrating spray – Helps to lock in moisture post wash
- Natural Organic Shampoo – A high quality shampoo ensures no nasty ingredients are used on your dog’s skin and coat.
- A dog lick pad – These can be stuck to your bathtub and smothered in dog friendly peanut butter so that your dog is distracted as you go about your cleaning business.
English Mastiff grooming summary
As with many things in the Mastiff world, the size and stubborn temperament of the English Mastiff can intimidate owners from areas such as grooming.
That said, the Mastiff is usually gentle and good grooming opens up an opportunity to bond. That’s not to say it isn’t full of challenges. The sheer size alone makes the thought of getting them into a bathtub nearly impossible to imagine, let alone the thought of cleaning their teeth and claws.
It’s best that your English Mastiff is conditioned from early on to be relaxed when being groomed. This can be done through a lot of positive reinforcement and repetition. It’s vital that your Mastiff is well trained and socialised as this helps develop their temperament for more challenging aspects of ownership such as home grooming.