Nebolish Mastiff vs McNab - Breed Comparison | PetzLover

The attractive McNab dog is also known as the McNab Shepherd or McNab Collie. This very lively dog originated in the Mendocino region of Northern California, being specifically bred to withstand tough weather conditions and rough terrain.

The dog is becoming popular outside of California now. A Scottish rancher with the surname McNab left Scotland and arrived in California in the 19th century. He crossed Scottish Border Collies with Shepherd dogs and the ranchers in California started using these dogs for herding livestock.

Today they are still being used as herding dogs in California and other countries. The dog isn’t recognized by the American Kennel Club. It was in 2014 that a group of McNab Shepherd breeders established the McNab Shepherd Registry so as to work towards the advancement of the McNab Shepherd.

With the Mastiff breeds, the rarest and the smallest is the Nebolish Mastiff. Bred to be more agile than the giant mastiffs, the Nebolish was developed in Canada. They were developed by crossing several breeds, such as the English Mastiff, Neapolitan Mastiff, Dogue de Bordeux, Bull Terrier, Bullmastiff, Boxer, St. Bernard, and Deutsche Dogge. Perhaps there was some Great Dane as well. It was also hoped that they would have better health than the rest of the Mastiff breeds.

There are also those who believe the Nebolish Mastiff is not a Canadian crossbreed but rather the re-creation of the giant dogs that lived with the soldiers of Alexander the Great. Still others believe the breed is still being developed and no standard is yet true. They believe the dog is a hybrid. No one knows the exact breeding lines today and not many are breeding the Nebolish today. Thus, the dog is extremely rare.

Only the American Breeder Association (ABA), the Canada Molosser Association (CMA) and the Dog Registry of America Inc. (DRA) recognize the Nebolish Mastiff as a separate breed.

These dogs are courageous, loyal and dignified like all Mastiffs. They are protective of their families or their flocks. They are loving, intelligent and even-tempered. They are known to be great with kids since they are patient and calm – easy to train.

The McNab Dog is a medium-sized working dog. The appearance of this dog varies quite a bit. For instance you may come across a dog with erect ears or floppy ears or a long tail or one that is naturally bobbed.

When it comes to size, you will find that between the males and females they stand at roughly 40 – 64cm and weigh anything from 14 – 30kg.

Most of these McNabs are black or red with white feet, white tipped tails and white markings around the face. The coat is weather resistant and fairly short and dense. You also get tri-colored McNabs. Eyes are usually a brown or copper color though you might find some with bluish eyes as well.

Temperament:

These are such intelligent dogs so with training and socialization you’ll find he is able to learn easily and quickly. He is a self assured dog, so he will respond well to an owner who is firm and fair, patient, kind and consistent.

He is best suited to life in the country as he needs lots of place to run around. If you don’t live on a farm, take the dog for long walks every day as he requires lots of exercise and mental stimulation. He is a loving family member too, getting along well with kids in the home as well as other pets. He is also a good guard- and watch dog, taking his job as protector of his human family very seriously.

The Nebolish Mastiff is very much like all other mastiffs with the exception of height and weight. He has a large head, long legs, strong neck, oval shaped paws, wide chest and large bones. He has solid muscles, large ears and a wide snout. They usually weigh anywhere between 43 and 82 kg. They tend not to slobber like the other mastiff breeds as a result of their breeding. They have a black mask and tail may or may not be docked.

The McNab makes a splendid pet and is known to be even-tempered, being friendly and tolerant with his entire human family.

He gets on well with children in the home as well as other pets. He has always been a hard working pet and doubles up as being an excellent guard dog too. Those who have had the McNab as a pet say that you couldn’t get a more excellent family canine friend.

Children friendliness

Yes, they are very good with children.

Special talents

Agility and swimming

Adaptability

No – they don’t do well with apartments and small spaces. They need a large fenced in yard.

Learning ability

High but can be stubborn

This dog doesn’t really have genetic health issues, but they can suffer with hip dysplasia, a problem that many dogs battle with, whether small or large, young or old.

They can also suffer with epilepsy and an eye disease such as entropion where the lid of the eye is turned inwards. Check its ears and teeth regularly for infections and keep up to date with his vaccinations.

The McNab is a health dog breed so you aren't likely to face any of these common dog health issues.

Bred to be much healthier than other mastiff breeds, the Nebolish has very few health concerns. They live twice as long as most other Mastiff and giant breeds at up to 14 years. The most often reported health issue is:

bloat – where the intestines and stomach organs are twisted or distended. Bloat can be deadly so don’t hesitate on treatment. Avoid it by not overfeeding after or before exercise.

Test for Hip dysplasia as it can cause lameness or arthritis.

Diet:

You can feed your McNab dog commercial dry kibble, but then you want to be sure its the best quality one. Buying inferior foods means that you’re getting a whole lot of ingredients in the food that are bad – sugar, salt, preservatives, fillers, colorants etc. Rather go for the best brands that will ensure that your dog is getting all the vitamins and minerals he needs.

Homemade food is also important and foods such as boiled chicken, brown rice and pasta as well as cooked or raw vegetables chopped up and added to his dry kibble can make for a delicious, wholesome treat. It will be to his benefit if you can every now and then give him some raw meat as well. Make sure to see that he has a constant supply of fresh, cool water.

Exercise:

McNab Shepherds are very active dogs and they are going to require quite a bit of physical exercise as well as mental stimulation. They are dogs who have been used to herding livestock and he loves this busy life. It is why he wouldn’t be happy living in the city but is better suited to farm life or in a home with a large garden. Long walks and hikes will suit him as well as swimming and joining in every game there is.

Grooming:

The McNab is considered to be a low maintenance dog and grooming the short thick coat will be required twice a week. Always check around the eyes and ears as well as inside the mouth for problems and infections.

Feeding the puppy

Don’t overfeed and don’t feed too much protein in the first year. Feed 1-2 cups in two meals.

Feeding the adult

bloat – Tendency to become obese so don’t over feed. About 2-3 cups in 2 meals per day.

Points for Good Health

agility and flexibility

Games and Exercises

This intelligent breed actually enjoys training, toys and all kinds of mentally stimulating puzzles. They love water and are very good swimmers. They need an average amount of exercise - a couple walks per day. Need a large fenced yard. They make great therapy dogs and play catch.