The History of Molosser Dogs

Molosser is a category of large, solidly-built dog that includes several breeds, probably all descended from the same root stock. The name derives from Molossia, a subregion of ancient Epirus, ancient Greece, where the large shepherd dog was known as the Molossus. The proper noun "Mastiff", however, is used to refer to the English Mastiff, a breed that originated from Celtic dogs in England over two thousand years ago. Other terms include "Mastín" (Spanish), "Dogge" (Germanic), and "dogue" or "dogo" (Romance languages).
Breeds such as the Bullmastiff, Dogue de Bordeaux, Fila Brasileiro, Pyrenean Mastiff (Mastín del Pirineo), Spanish Mastiff, Neapolitan Mastiff, Tibetan Mastiff, and many others fall into the larger category of "Molossers", but are not "Mastiffs". Each is a separate and distinct breed. The Boxer breed is also included, as it is a creation from other Molossers including the Old English Bulldog. Molossers typically have heavy bones, pendant ears, a relatively short and well-muscled neck, and a short muzzle. Although some Molossers are used for search and rescue, such as the Newfoundland and the Saint Bernard, most are used as guard dogs, due to their deep voices and natural guarding instincts, or livestock guardian dogs for protection against large predators as well as poachers. Some breeds like the Greater Swiss Mountain Dog have also been used as cart dogs.

Molosser breeds:
Akbash Dog, Alano Español (Spanish Alano), Alapaha Blue Blood Bulldog, Alpine Mastiff (extinct), Alp Mastiff (Cane Garouf), American Bulldog, American Bull Molosser, American Mastiff, American Pit Bull Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier, Antebellum Bulldog, Anatolian Shepherd Dog, Appenzeller Sennenhund, Argentine Dogo, Bandog, Banter Bulldogge, Bergamasco, Bernese Mountain Dog (Berner Sennen), Boerboel (South-African Mastiff), Boston Terrier, Boxer, Brazilian Bullmastiff, Broholmer, Bucciriscu Calabrese, Bulldog, Buldogue Campeiro, Bullmastiff, Bully Kutta (Pakistani Mastiff), Ca de Bou (Perro de Presa Mallorquin, Mallorquin Bulldog, etc.), Cane Corso (Sicilian Brancheiro), Cão da Serra da Estrela (Estrela Mountain Dog), Cão de Castro Laboreiro, Cão de Fila de São Miguel, Cão de Fila da Terceira, Cão de Gado Transmontano, Catahoula Bulldog, Caucasian Shepherd Dog, Central Asia Shepherd Dog, Dosa Inu (Korean form of Tosa), Doberman Pinscher, Dogue de Bordeaux (French Mastiff), Dogo Argentino, Dogo Cubano, Dogo Guatemalteco, Dogo Sardesco Dutch Mastiff (An alternate name for a Pug, technically a misnomer from a genetic standpoint), English Bulldog, English Mastiff (Mastiff), Entlebucher Sennenhund (Entlebucher Mountain Dog), Fila Brasileiro (Brazilian Mastiff), Gran Mastin de Borínquen, Great Dane (German Mastiff), Greater Swiss Mountain Dog(Grosser Schweizer Sennenhund), Gull Terr, Hovawart, Himalayan Sheepdog, Indian Mastiff (Sindh Mastiff), Kangal Dog, Kuvasz, Landseer (sometimes considered a colour variety of the Newfoundland), Leonberger, Moscovskaya Storozhevaya Sobaka (Moscow Watchdog), Neapolitan Mastiff, Nebolish Mastiff, Newfoundland, Olde Boston Bulldogge, Old Roman Bull-Dog, Olde English Bulldogge, Perro Cimarron, Perro de Presa Canario, Perro de Toro, Polish Tatra Sheepdog, Pyrenean Mastiff, Pyrenean Mountain Dog (Great Pyrenees), Rafeiro do Alentejo, Rhodesian Ridgeback (African Lion Hound), Rottweiler, Sage Koochee (Afghan Sheepdog), Saint Bernard, Šarplaninac, Shar Pei, Spanish Mastiff, Saint Bernard (Alpine Mastiff), Staffordshire Bull Terrier, Tibetan Kyi Apso (Bearded Tibetan Mastiff), Tibetan Mastiff, Tosa Inu (Japanese Mastiff), Valley Bulldog, Vucciriscu, Xochaso.

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[039agoni]

Molosia is in Albania and that Eprius part is Albanian, but greeks stoled from us...

[HuntingDoggy]

@039agoni interesting.. :)

[BradM73]

I think the soundtrack was major overkill for this video. I was waiting for a dog to rip someone's head off or something...

[HuntingDoggy]

@BradM73 music choice was intensionally (sorry for bad english) over dramatized :) When talking about ancient molosser dogs, music cant be epic enough (accordin to me that is)

[StefyStuff]

For those interested, there is a new breed of molosser being developed, it is called the American Bull Molosser, It resembles an African Boerboel, but has a slightly rounder head, and it is a medium to large sized dog with no recorded health problems so far, look it up on your web browser.

Copy and paste to other videos and thumbs up so others can see!

[9985017708]

Best molosser dog that fits today's dogs are Cane Corso in my opinion.

[westwaykuttas]

interesting 

[TRENTBANGERZ]

Great video

[surleyguru]

@Skywalker91 It shouldn't the molosser dogs all were brave, and ferocious when need be, great hunters as well as protectors.

[sfentonas88]

@HuntingDoggy

interesting?Open a history book you idiot....

[sfentonas88]

@arislempis

ρε γαμησέ τον.Με τον αλβανό κάθεσαι και μιλάς?Τους δίνεις και αξία.

[InfoRoom]

@039agoni Yes sir... Dardan..rules

[039agoni]

@arislempis hahah u'r funny man, we r not from caucasus, slavian people like serbians macedonians are from caucasus, im ilyrian exacly dardan, please read more for history. There is no old greece.

[asesinorum]

@039agoni well, in ancient greece Albania didnt exist at all, it was the Ilyrians :P so i dont think they stole anything to albanian but illyrians...

[arislempis]

@039agoni Epirus is in greece...Molossians were the people of Alexander the greats mother...In that time there wasnt a country named albania...Albania has 160 years of history ,WE didnt steal anything from you ,you are migrants in europe from caucasus ,try to make your OWN history...