The English Mastiff, or simply the Mastiff, is a type of working dog that was developed for fighting and guarding in England during the 19th century. They have a very large and well-muscled body that is sturdy and built for strength. Mastiff dogs typically have a tan or apricot-colored body with dark facial features, and their wrinkly faces are their main feature.
Aside from their appearance, Mastiffs also have a nurturing and obedient temperament that makes them excellent pets. A major factor to consider before determining whether a specific dog breed is going to be a good pet for you will depend on how much their care will cost. You can expect to spend $90 – $650 monthly.
Whether you are wanting to look after a Mastiff on a budget or consider whether this dog’s overall cost is going to be right for you, this article will explain it all.
Bringing Home a New English Mastiff: One-Time Costs
The main one-time costs for a Mastiff will be the dog itself, the microchipping, sterilization procedure (spaying or neutering), and necessary vaccinations. After the initial cost of the Mastiff, you will spend most of your money on their monthly supplies or veterinary checkups. Mastiffs will cost as much as any other large dog breed, with the cost varying on the quality and amount of supplies you purchase.
Let’s take a look below at the cost of the Mastiff dog itself before we discuss their supplies and procedures.
Free
You are unlikely to get a dog like a Mastiff for free unless someone is willing to give them to you without making you pay an adoption fee. This can be from a friend or family member that can no longer care for their Mastiff anymore. You can also be gifted a Mastiff, but although the dog is free, there are still many financial considerations you need to make.
Adoption
- $150 – $350
If you are someone that enjoys giving dogs a second chance at life, adopting a Mastiff from a recognized shelter or rescue center is a good idea. They will be lower in price than if you were to purchase one from a breeder, usually costing no more than $400. This is because you only need to pay the adoption fee, and not for the dog’s quality and breeding history. Adopting a Mastiff means that you won’t always know the exact history of the dog or their birth date, but adoption is an option for Mastiff dogs.
In some cases, the Mastiff may have already received their vaccinations and been sterilized which reduces your once-off costs.
Breeder
- $850 – $1,700
Purchasing a Mastiff from a reputable breeder is the next best option aside from adoption. While breeders usually charge more for their dogs because of quality, you still want to ensure that the breeder you are buying from is reputable. This means that the breeder cares about the dog’s health, temperament, and preserving the quality of the breed rather than breeding for quantity. You are also more likely to get a puppy Mastiff with breeding records so you are aware of any potential health problems they might have inherited.
Initial Setup and Supplies
- $500 – $1,500
When you first get your Mastiff, the initial cost may be high or low depending on what your dog needs. Due to the Mastiff dog requiring larger supplies because of their size, it might cost more simply due to the price of all the materials used to make it.
While there are optional costs like a brush and nail clipper, you may still need to buy these if you prefer to groom them yourself rather than take your Mastiff to a groomer. You will need to spend money at the veterinarian to get your Mastiff’s vaccinations up to date if they haven’t received them already. Whether you have a male or female Mastiff, it is best to get them microchipped, spayed, or neutered by a veterinarian.
Unless they get damaged in some way or your Mastiff outgrows them, you won’t have to continuously spend money replacing your Mastiff’s collar and food or water bowls.
List of English Mastiff Care Supplies and Costs
| ID Tag and Collar | $15 |
| Spay/Neuter | $40 – $350 |
| Veterinary Checkups | $50 – $250 |
| Pet Insurance | $10 – $100 |
| Microchip | $25 – $60 |
| Teeth Cleaning | $250 – $400 |
| Bed | $30 – $70 |
| Nail Clipper (optional) | $7 |
| Brush (optional) | $5 – $8 |
| Food | $5 – $60 |
| Toys | $20 – $55 |
| Food and Water Bowls | $10 |
| Grooming Items | $30 – $90 |
How Much Does an English Mastiff Cost Per Month?
- $90 – $650 per month
As with other dogs, you will need to budget for the monthly expenses of your Mastiff Dog. This includes supplies such as food and toys. If you have gotten your Mastiff as a puppy, you will need to purchase new food and water bowls, beds, and any puppy-sized supplies as they grow. In addition to food and toys, you may also need to buy treats, dietary supplements, and pet insurance.
Mastiffs who have chronic health problems may also need their monthly medication purchased which can either be covered by pet insurance or paid out of your pocket. Since Mastiffs have low-maintenance coats, you will spend less money on their grooming needs.
Health Care
- $50 – $1,000 per month
A Mastiff is generally a healthy dog, although they are prone to health problems like hip dysplasia, degenerative myelopathy (DM), and eye abnormalities. This makes it important to have money set aside in savings in case you need to take your Mastiff to a veterinarian in the case of an emergency.
Health care is important for every dog, and it can be very expensive depending on what procedure your dog needs to be done such as flea treatments, deworming, or dental care. When Mastiffs are older and enter their senior years, taking them to a veterinarian for regular health checks is important. The initial costs for health care in Mastiff dogs are mainly their inoculations, microchipping, and sterilization.
Other monthly costs to consider are:
Food
- $20 – $100 per month
A healthy and balanced diet is essential for your Mastiff, but the better quality the food is, the more you might pay for it. A good diet for Mastiffs will consist of meat-based proteins, vegetables, fruits, and amino acids. Your Mastiff should be getting all their daily nutrients from their staple food. So, make sure you choose one that has fewer fillers and potentially harmful ingredients and more nutritious ingredients that will keep them full and energized throughout the day.
Grooming
- $10 – 50 per month
A Mastiff has a short coat that is easy to groom and generally quite low maintenance. While they are heavy shedders, fine hairs are easy to clean from clothes and around the house. Due to the Mastiff’s short and manageable coat, they don’t require much grooming aside from bathing and nail trimming. The coat is also so short that it doesn’t require much brushing unless you want to remove some loose hairs. If you don’t want to take your Mastiff to get a bath and nail trim at a veterinarian’s office or groomer, you can do it at home. This means that you will need to buy a dog-friendly shampoo and conditioner along with dog nail clippers to do it yourself.
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Medications and Vet Visits
- $60 – $300 per month
Mastiffs are healthy and robust dogs, but they can still get sick or develop a chronic health condition that requires prescription medication or expensive vet visits. Unless you have a sick Mastiff that requires monthly medications, you won’t need to spend money every month for the vet. Depending on what your Mastiff needs to get done, procedures like anesthesia-based dental cleaning and surgeries can be costly.
Pet Insurance
- $10 – $100 per month
It’s always a good idea to invest in pet insurance if you have a dog. While you do have to pay money monthly, pet insurance can help with any costly vet bills. In the long run, investing in pet insurance can save you thousands of dollars in the case of emergencies or unexpected surgeries, or treatments your Mastiff may need. There are several different pet insurance plans you can choose from with each one varying in price.
Environment Maintenance
- $10 – $50 per month
Unlike cats who regularly need litter box supplies, dogs are relatively cheap to maintain in your home. The main environmental maintenance cost would be cleaning supplies, such as a vacuum for the pet hair or a cleaning solution for any messes. If you take your Mastiff on regular walks, you will need to invest in poop bags to keep the environment clean for others. Fortunately, these things don’t usually cost very much.
| Cleaning supplies | $20/month |
| Stain and odor-removing cleaner | $12/month |
| Poop bags | $5/month |
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Entertainment
- $15 – $100 per month
Mastiff dogs will require some form of entertainment, such as chew toys to keep them busy. This will help prevent your Mastiff from getting bored and prevent unwanted boredom-based behaviors. These toys and forms of entertainment can vary from cheap to expensive depending on the types of toys you buy to keep them entertained. You can also invest in enrichment activities like daily walks or visits to the park which means you need to buy a harness and leash for your Mastiff.
Dog toys like chews, balls, and interactive toys are generally inexpensive and sold at a variety of different pet stores. Since Mastiffs are very big dogs, they will require larger toys which can cost slightly more. You also have the option of subscribing to a monthly subscription box for dogs that sends you enriching items for your Mastiff every month.
Total Monthly Cost of Owning an English Mastiff
- $90 – $650 per month
Like most dogs, Mastiffs aren’t going to be cheap pets since their supplies, health care, and food will add to your monthly costs. The cost is greatly influenced by the quality of products you purchase and whether your Mastiff requires health care for that month.
You will save on the grooming supplies with a Mastiff since they are very low maintenance in that department. However, you might find that the cost of food and toys for your Mastiff will be higher than some other dog breeds due to their size. Since a Mastiff is a big dog breed, you will need to purchase appropriately sized food portions which generally cost more.
Additional Costs to Factor In
- Pet sitters: If you go away on vacation or need someone to look after your dog, you will probably need to hire a pet sitter. The cost varies depending on whether you hire from a personal pet sitter or an agency.
- Emergency vet visits: Unexpected medical emergencies can happen anytime with any dog breed, so setting money aside each month ensures you will be financially prepared in the case of an emergency.
- Household damage: It’s not uncommon for dogs to chew, unintentionally break, or damage household products. This means that you might need to spend money fixing or replacing these items.
- Behavioral training: While Mastiffs are generally well-tempered dogs, any behavioral problems may require the help of a professional. This is especially common for puppies or newly adopted Mastiffs that haven’t received any previous training.
Owning an English Mastiff on a Budget
It is possible to reduce the cost of owning a Mastiff dog without compromising their well-being. You can choose to spend your money wisely and be conscious of your money on the items that they need and not unnecessary ones like extra treats, toys they don’t use, or grooming supplies they don’t need. However, you will still need to spend money on necessary veterinarian checkups and healthcare.
It will also be a good idea to choose a high-quality food that is within your budget but will keep your Mastiff healthy. Instead of getting a Mastiff from a breeder or pet store, you can look for a Mastiff that is needing to be rehomed or adopted, and adults will usually have received their inoculations and sterilization in these cases.
Saving Money on English Mastiff Care
- Check your local grocers and pet stores for any discounts and sales on their dog products. This can help you save money on any necessary supplies your Mastiff needs.
- Buying a multipurpose cleaner that can be used around your home and to clean up messes your Mastiff makes saves you money from buying two different cleaning products.
- Investing in pet insurance can reduce the amount of money you spend on your Mastiff at the vet.
- Keeping your Mastiff healthy by feeding them quality food, giving them plenty of exercise, and keeping them safe in their environment can prevent possible health problems or accidents that require a trip to the vet.
- Buying grooming supplies for your Mastiff like nail clippers and bathing products saves you from having to spend extra money for professionals to do it.
In Conclusion
The initial costs of owning a Mastiff are going to form the bulk of your expenses, excluding having to purchase the Mastiff itself. The cheaper routes would be to get your Mastiff from someone rehoming their dog for free or getting them from a rescue or shelter where you only have to pay the adoption fee.
The ongoing expenses for a Mastiff are going to be health care, pet insurance, food, enrichment, and any monthly prescription medications. Even as a healthy dog breed, certain health problems that they can develop can create an expensive vet bill, so having money aside for situations like this will be helpful.
Part of your responsibility as a good Mastiff dog owner will be to ensure you can provide for your dog financially, including spending money on their health care.
See also:
- Bullmastiff vs. English Mastiff: Differences Explained
- Is an English Mastiff Hypoallergenic? Vet-Verified Facts & FAQ
Featured Image Credit: Ricantimages, Shutterstock
