The author argues that the category of "mastiffs" doesn't truly exist and is instead composed of retired dogs from various other functional types. Here's a breakdown: 

English Mastiff: The author contends that the English Mastiff is essentially a breed created at Lyme Hall to pay homage to the legend of Sir Piers Legh being saved by a mastiff in battle. Before this recreation, the dogs at Lyme Park were boarhounds. These "mastiffs" were originally England's Great Danes, a cross between bulldogs and large sighthounds. 

Neapolitan Mastiff and Cane Corso: The Neapolitan Mastiff and Cane Corso were likely the same dog before the early 1900s. They served as Italy's answer to the Alano Espanol, primarily used for bull-catching. Even in the 1970s, Italian immigrants in New York referred to them as bulldogs. 

Boerboel: The Boerboel, originally known as the "farmers' bulldog," weighed around 60 lbs in photos from the 1970s. The giant Boerboel we see today is a recent fabrication. 

Dogue de Bordeaux: This breed, too, is considered a bulldog. Historical photos show working Dogue de Bordeauxs from around 1900, with the largest individual weighing 105 lbs. 

In summary, the author challenges the existence of a distinct "mastiff" category, suggesting that these breeds are actually repurposed dogs from other functional types. While some controversy surrounds this view, it's an interesting perspective on canine history! 🐾 [1] 

Source: Conversation with Copilot, 7/26/2024 

1. Change my view- No such thing as "mastiffs" - Molosser 
2. German Shepherds Then and Now - molosserdogs.com 
3. Comment to 'Change my view- No such thing as "mastiffs"'