Mastiff

The Mastiff is a famous hound, bred in the lowland regions of Gilneas, and prized for it's tenacity, loyalty, and sturdy build. The Mastiff has been used extensively as an aid to huntsmen and rangers, and is also occasionally used by the Alliance as a War Dog. This hound was originally bred to guard livestock, possessing a deep and strong voice to intimidate stronger predators. It evolved over hundreds of years to have heavy bones and a bonecrushing bite. Infamously, the Mastiff's jaw musculature allows it to lock an enemy in place, breaking ankles, femur bones, and knees with ease.

They are also used, albeit rarely, as  search and rescue dogs. Larger breeds of Mastiff have also been utilized as beasts of burden, pulling small carts of supplies for farmers and other professionals. The modern Gilnean Mastiff is pervasive in Gilneas, and some feral hounds have become a problem for other native animal populations. It is not unheard of for a Mastiff to contract rabies when it comes into contact with a wild animal, and as a result, some Mastiff hounds have been shot by their own masters as a result.

Brew Hounds


In the mountains of Alterac, the people there were known to breed a special type of Mastiff known commonly as the "Brew Hound". These hearty beasts were bred with thick shaggy coats and trained from early on to scour the Alterac Mountains for lost travelers. In their kegs on their harnesses, they carried brew and minor supplies for anyone they came across in order to aid with the rescue of the lost. Said dogs were trained to help with the lost to bring them back to civilization, and were also valued for their ability to defend up against the fierce inhabitants, such as the Wendingo, of the mountains. Following the destruction of the Kingdom of Alterac, these Brew hounds became less prevalent, and many abandoned hounds made their homes in the snowy mountains where they learned to survive on their own.

The Alterac Syndicate was known to keep packs of these hounds, the more sadistic would deliberately abuse or drive the hounds rabid to unleash on those who traveled through their territory without permission or paying their tolls. In more recent times, this breed has come back into favor amongst the Alliance, having been used in Northrend during the War against the Lich King. Their re-appearance during this time led to their return to human companionship. With their breeding having been adapted by both the Alliance and Horde, they have become more prevalent yet again, though typically just for companionship.