An Easter Monday filled with curious glances, cautious approaches and an English Mastiff whose calm nature spoke for itself.
“Excuse me, is that a Molosser?”
Before Ingo and I had even properly left the car park, an older gentleman approached us. His question did not sound anxious or hesitant – quite the opposite. He had spotted Ingo with obvious enthusiasm and wanted to learn more about him.
I explained that Ingo was an English Mastiff, answered his questions about Ingo’s age and weight, and gave him time to greet Ingo calmly. That was how our visit to the small wildlife park in Weiskirchen began on Easter Monday, 6 April 2026.
For me, however, the looks and questions were nothing new. I had visited this wildlife park with a Mastiff before and already knew the effect such a giant can have on other people. Very little surprised me that day. Instead, the scene in the car park offered another reminder: when a Mastiff comes along, the animals in the enclosures are not the only ones attracting attention.
A Calm Giant Among So Many Families
It was warm and sunny, and the atmosphere was easy-going and relaxed. Many families with young children were making the most of the bank holiday with a day out. None of this disturbed Ingo. The animals in the few small enclosures barely interested him; the other visitors, however, seemed far more interested in him.
An English Mastiff of Ingo’s size attracts attention wherever he goes. Some people stopped in delight, while others initially preferred to observe him from a little distance. A few dogs also reacted tensely or barked at him. Ingo ignored them completely and remained calmly by my side. He did not need to respond or demonstrate just how large and powerful he was. His composure spoke for itself.
I was particularly touched by his encounters with the children. When some parents first saw this enormous dog, they instinctively drew their child a little closer. That is understandable: anyone who does not regularly meet an English Mastiff can find it difficult at first to put the breed’s size into perspective.
The children themselves were often curious before they were afraid. Some asked their parents and then me whether they could stroke Ingo. When their parents agreed, Ingo stood quietly and patiently allowed them to touch him. It was easy to see that he enjoyed the attention – Ingo has always loved being stroked and is naturally affectionate towards children.
At the same time, it is important to me not to make sweeping statements about all dogs. Each of our English Mastiffs has their own personality, and not every dog in the Celtic Mountain pack seeks out the company of children as naturally as Ingo does. He, however, brings a special degree of calmness and friendliness to encounters like these.
When Caution Becomes a Special Experience
The difference in size between Ingo and some of the young children was almost touching. A few were barely taller than he was, yet they stood beside him full of curiosity. As they stroked him, many parents also began to notice just how calm he remained. Some then came closer themselves, asked questions or visibly relaxed. Others remained a little more cautious – and that was perfectly all right too.
It was especially lovely to see how proud some of the children were after touching Ingo. Meeting such a large dog is an extraordinary experience for a five- or six-year-old. I can easily imagine that, for some of them, the memory of stroking this enormous yet gentle dog will last longer than their memories of many of the animals in the wildlife park.
Moments like these show what a positive encounter can achieve. Uncertainty does not disappear because of grand promises, but because people are given the opportunity to experience a dog who remains calm and gives them time. I answered their questions, reassured the children and their parents – and otherwise simply allowed Ingo to speak for himself.
Helping People Understand the Breed Is Part of Responsible Breeding
Anyone out and about with a Mastiff will almost always encounter looks, questions and sometimes reservations. That is part of everyday life with these extraordinary dogs. For me, patiently answering questions, taking people’s concerns seriously and allowing contact wherever both dog and person feel comfortable is also part of my responsibility as a breeder.
This is not about having to convince everyone of the breed’s merits. Respect for such a large dog is entirely understandable. That makes voluntary, positive encounters all the more valuable. They show that an imposing size and great gentleness can indeed go hand in hand – while also reminding us that every dog must be regarded as an individual.
Ingo did not have to “prove” anything special that day. He was simply himself: calm, friendly, fond of children and completely unimpressed by barking dogs or the many eyes upon him. That was precisely why he became the real attraction for so many visitors to the little wildlife park.
An Ice Cream for Ingo
After our warm and eventful outing, I stopped at an ice cream parlour on the way home. Because Ingo had handled the day so wonderfully, he was given a small sweet treat to cool down as well. His own ice cream disappeared in no time – and, of course, the enormous dog enjoying his ice cream once again attracted plenty of curious glances.
And so a lovely Easter Monday came to an end – a day on which initial caution repeatedly turned into genuine connection. Perhaps some of the children will not remember every enclosure in the wildlife park. But they will probably remember the enormous Ingo they were allowed to stroke.
For me, that is an important part of life with Mastiffs: not merely telling people about their nature, but giving them the opportunity to experience it for themselves.
More from Everyday Life with Our Mastiffs
Our dogs accompany us not only to shows and as part of our breeding programme, but above all in everyday life. Sometimes this also brings more serious experiences – such as the day Ingo swallowed a small toy.
You can find more of our experiences and practical knowledge about ownership, development and life with this special breed in our Mastiff Guide.