Book excerpt: "'Tis sweet to hear the watch-dogs honest bark Bay deep mouthed welcome as we draw near home." This rare book on the Mastiff was originally published in Melton Mowbray in 1886, and has long been considered the most authoritative early work on the breed. Today it remains extremely hard to find in its first edition. VINTAGE DOG BOOKS have republished it, using the original text, as part of their CLASSIC BREED BOOKS series. The author was Honorary Secretary and Treasurer of the Mastiff Club, and a breeder and exhibitor of many prize Mastiffs. The books two hundred and thirty pages contain twenty one detailed and wellResearched Chapters: Origin of the Dog The Mastiff Type The British Mastiff The Alan or Alaunt The Bandog or Mastiff The English Mastiff The Mastiff in Henry V's Reign In Elizabeth's Reign The Mastiff for Baiting Purposes The Mastiff in the 18th Century In the 19th Century Type of the English Mastiff about 1800 The Alpine Mastiff The Great Breeders of the Modern Mastiff Early Dog Shows Noted Mastiffs The Points of the English Mastiff This important breed book is a fascinating read for any Mastiff enthusiast or historian of the breed but also contains much information that is still useful and practical today. Many of the earliest dog breed books, particularly those dating back to the 1900s and before, are now extremely scarce and increasingly expensive. VINTAGE DOG BOOKS are republishing these classic works in affordable, high quality, modern editions, using the original text and artwork.