The Mastiff, or English Mastiff, is one of the heaviest dog breeds in the world, a massive, dignified guardian descended from ancient war and estate dogs. Usually anywhere from 54 to over 90 kilos, with a short fawn, apricot or brindle coat and a dark mask, the Mastiff is calm, gentle, deeply devoted and quietly protective. Behind the imposing size is a soft, affectionate temperament, but the sheer scale, the drool, the cost and the short giant-breed lifespan are all things to understand fully before adopting one.
Mastiffs reach Sydney and NSW rescue when their enormous size, cost, drool and space needs are underestimated, or when a family's circumstances change. Purebred Mastiffs appear alongside Mastiff crosses, and the size and temperament of a cross vary, so the foster carer or shelter assessment of the individual dog with people, children and other animals matters more than the breed label.
A Mastiff suits an owner or family with space and a realistic budget who want a calm, devoted giant companion and can commit to giant-breed costs, joint care and gentle, patient training. In the right home it is a gentle, loyal and deeply affectionate dog. Browse the Mastiffs and Mastiff crosses currently listed from rescues and shelters across Sydney and New South Wales.
Showing 11 dogs
Atticus
About 7 years old • Labrador X Mastiff
Monika's Doggie Rescue
Bruno
1 Year 5 Months • Mastiff / American Staffordshire Terrier
RSPCA NSW
Captain Willow
1 years • Bullmastiff
Animal Welfare League NSW
Diver
3 years • Bullmastiff
Animal Welfare League NSW
Joe
1 year old • Staffy X Mastiff
Sydney Dogs and Cats Home
Kobe
5 Years Old • Mastiff X
Sydney Dogs and Cats Home
Luna
4 years • Bullmastiff
Animal Welfare League NSW
Milo
1 Year • Bull Mastiff X
Sydney Dogs and Cats Home
Penelope
6 Years 4 Months • Mastiff / British Bulldog
RSPCA NSW
Scuba
3 years • Bullmastiff
Animal Welfare League NSW
Tonka
About 1 years old • Mastiff X
Monika's Doggie Rescue
Get notified when a Mastiff is listed
We will email you when a Mastiff or Mastiff cross becomes available for adoption in Sydney, from a rescue or an owner rehoming.
Need to rehome a Mastiff?
If you can no longer keep your Mastiff, listing it for rehoming on LocalPetFinder connects it directly with adopters across Sydney and NSW, and keeps it out of a shelter. It is free.
List your dog for rehoming →Mastiff Adoption Guides
The pre-adoption reading list specific to Mastiffs in Sydney and NSW.
Mastiff Adoption in Sydney
Where to adopt an English Mastiff or Mastiff cross in Sydney, the real costs, and the size, drool and giant-breed care to plan for.
Mastiff Health Issues to Plan For
Hip and elbow dysplasia, bloat, heart conditions and the shorter giant-breed lifespan every Mastiff owner should plan for.
Mastiff Giant-Breed Ownership in Sydney
The real cost, space, drool, heat sensitivity and joint care of living with an English Mastiff in Sydney.
Mastiff Adoption FAQ
Where can I adopt a Mastiff near me in Sydney?
LocalPetFinder lists Mastiffs available for adoption from rescues across Sydney and New South Wales, including the Inner West, Eastern Suburbs, Northern Beaches, Western Sydney and the Sutherland Shire. Rescues that regularly take in dogs of this type include RSPCA NSW at Yagoona and Animal Welfare League NSW at Kemps Creek, alongside foster-based groups. Listings update regularly, so browse the Mastiffs above and apply directly through the rescue.
Are there Mastiff rescues near Sydney?
Yes. Several Sydney and NSW rescues regularly have Mastiffs and Mastiff crosses, including RSPCA NSW, Animal Welfare League NSW, Sydney Dogs and Cats Home, Monika's Doggie Rescue and Maggie's Rescue, plus breed-focused foster networks. A dedicated single-breed rescue is not always active, so the fastest path is to set an alert here and watch the general rescues. Use LocalPetFinder to see which rescues currently have Mastiffs available near you.
Are these Mastiffs for sale in Sydney?
Not for sale, for adoption, which is usually the better deal. Every Mastiff here comes from a Sydney or NSW rescue, not a breeder or classified seller, and the adoption fee already includes desexing, vaccination and microchipping. That fee is typically a few hundred dollars, against often several thousand from a breeder with none of the vet work done. If you searched "mastiff for sale sydney", adopting gets you a vetted dog for a fraction of the price.
Where can I buy a Mastiff in Sydney, and should I?
You can buy from a registered breeder, but it is worth weighing against adoption first. A reputable breeder often charges several thousand dollars and may have a waitlist, while a rescue Mastiff costs a few hundred dollars fully vetted and may be available now. Be cautious of cheap "for sale" ads on classified sites and marketplaces, which are a known hotspot for scams and backyard breeding. The ACCC Scamwatch has documented deposit scams for pets that do not exist. For most Sydney families, adopting a rescue Mastiff is cheaper, faster and gives a dog in need a home.
What health problems do Mastiffs have?
As a giant breed the Mastiff has several serious things to plan for. Hip and elbow dysplasia are common, and as a deep-chested dog the Mastiff is at real risk of bloat (gastric dilatation-volvulus), a life-threatening emergency, so learn the signs. Heart conditions, eye problems such as entropion, and a shorter lifespan of around 7 to 10 years are all part of giant-breed ownership. A rescue Mastiff arrives desexed, vaccinated, microchipped and vet-checked, and any known issue is noted. Ask your vet about joint, heart and bloat management.
Are Mastiffs good family dogs?
Yes, in a home with space. Mastiffs are famously gentle, calm and patient with their family and often wonderful with children they are raised with, which is the classic gentle-giant reputation. The things to plan for are the size, so a Mastiff can easily knock over a small child by accident, the drool, and the guardian instinct with strangers, which needs early socialisation. They suit calm households with room. Each rescue notes how the individual dog has gone with children and other pets in foster or shelter care.
How much exercise and space does a Mastiff need?
Moderate exercise but a lot of space. The Mastiff is a low-energy dog that needs gentle daily walks rather than hard running, and over-exercising a growing giant-breed puppy can damage the joints, so growth must be managed carefully. Indoors they need room simply to move a body that large. Because of the size and short muzzle, heat is a serious risk, so in a Sydney summer walk only in the cool of the early morning or evening, provide shade and water, and keep year-round paralysis tick prevention up if you walk in bushland or coastal areas.
How much does it cost to own a Mastiff?
More than most people expect, and this is a key thing to plan for. Everything scales with size, so food, preventatives, medications dosed by weight, bedding and boarding all cost far more than for an average dog, and giant-breed vet care including any surgery is expensive. Pet insurance is worth serious consideration for a giant breed. A rescue adoption fee is a small fraction of the lifetime cost, so go in with a realistic budget for the years ahead.