Buddyz is pet business management software that helps grooming salons, dog daycares, boarding businesses, and multi-location pet service operators manage scheduling, check-in, pet profiles, customer communication, payments, and daily operations in one platform.

Who is Buddyz built for?

Buddyz is built for pet business owners and teams running grooming salons, dog daycares, boarding facilities, and multi-location pet service businesses. It adapts to grooming-only shops, daycare-only operations, combined services, and multi-location businesses.

Is Buddyz free to start?

Yes. Buddyz starts with a free Core Platform that includes smart scheduling, pet intelligence, and smart check-in. Add-on capabilities for grooming, daycare, boarding, operations, customer communication, payments, and reporting are available as modular add-ons.

Does Buddyz replace scheduling software like Vagaro or MindBody for pet businesses?

Buddyz goes beyond scheduling. While it includes smart scheduling and booking, it also provides live operations workflow, pet intelligence (profiles, grooming notes, vaccine tracking), customer communication, deposit and payment processing, and business reporting — all in one platform built specifically for pet service businesses.

Can Buddyz track pet vaccine records?

Yes. Buddyz tracks vaccine records, expiration dates, and compliance requirements as part of each pet's profile. This is particularly useful for daycare and boarding businesses that require up-to-date vaccination documentation before accepting pets.

How does Buddyz reduce no-shows for pet appointments?

Buddyz reduces no-shows by enabling businesses to collect deposits at booking, save cards on file, and send automated appointment reminders to customers. This combination of financial commitment and timely communication significantly reduces last-minute cancellations and no-shows.

Does Buddyz work for multi-location pet businesses?

Yes. Buddyz supports multi-location operations with shared customer and pet profiles across locations, location-level access controls, role management, team visibility, and consolidated business reporting.

What makes Buddyz different from traditional pet salon software?

Traditional pet salon software focuses on calendar booking. Buddyz is a full operating system that adds live workflow visibility, operations intelligence, pet profile management, grooming history tracking, automated customer communication, and payment processing alongside scheduling — giving pet businesses a complete platform instead of disconnected tools.

Are English Mastiffs good family dogs?

The English Mastiff is famously affectionate and patient with its family, earning its 'gentle giant' reputation. It bonds deeply and is calm and steady indoors. The main consideration is sheer size: an adult can easily knock over a toddler simply by turning around, so supervision and a quiet retreat space are essential in a home with small children. With early socialisation and training, the Mastiff is a wonderful, devoted family companion.

How much exercise does an English Mastiff need?

Mastiffs are low-energy giants that need only modest exercise: a couple of steady walks a day, totalling around 30 to 45 minutes, usually suffices. Crucially, exercise must be gentle and low-impact, especially in puppies and adolescents, because giant-breed joints develop slowly and are easily damaged by too much running, jumping, or stair-climbing. Take great care in warm weather too, as this large, somewhat flat-faced dog overheats easily.

Do English Mastiffs drool a lot?

Mastiffs are serious droolers, thanks to their large, loose jowls. Expect drool after eating and drinking, when excited, and often flung onto walls and furniture with a shake of the head. Prospective owners really should be comfortable with this. Keeping a cloth handy to wipe the mouth and jowls helps prevent the skin around the lips from becoming sore, and protects your home from the worst of it.

How long do English Mastiffs live?

Like most giant breeds, the English Mastiff has a relatively short lifespan, generally in the region of 6 to 10 years. Giant dogs age faster and are prone to conditions including hip and elbow problems, heart disease, certain cancers, and bloat. Choosing a responsible breeder who health-tests, keeping the dog lean, feeding appropriately, and providing good preventive veterinary care all help give a Mastiff the healthiest, longest life possible.

England • Working

English Mastiff

A colossal, dignified gentle giant — one of the heaviest dogs on earth, with a calm and devoted heart.

Weight120–230 lbs

Height27–34 in

Lifespan6–10 years

SizeGiant

Overview

Massive, powerful giant breed with a short fawn, apricot, or brindle coat, distinctive black mask, and dignified demeanor. Known for combining imposing size with a gentle, loyal temperament and protective instincts.

Best for

•Experienced owners with plenty of space who want a calm, loyal, low-energy giant and understand the realities of a huge dog. The English Mastiff suits confident handlers who can afford its upkeep, manage its strength, and appreciate a dignified, family-devoted companion.

May not suit

•First-time owners, apartment dwellers, or anyone on a tight budget or short of space. This is an enormous, powerful, drooling dog with a short lifespan and high food and veterinary costs, and its sheer size makes early training and socialisation essential rather than optional.

History & Origins

Ancient breed known in Britain for over 2,000 years, descended from Roman Molossian war dogs. Used as estate guardian, war dog, and big-game hunter. Modern breed refined in medieval England and saved from extinction after World War II.

Characteristics & Traits

Apartment Living2 / 5

Families with Children4 / 5

First-Time Owners1 / 5

Other Dogs3 / 5

Alone Time Tolerance3 / 5

Shedding Level3 / 5

Grooming Needs3 / 5

Trainability3 / 5

Barking2 / 5

Prey Drive2 / 5

Energy Level2 / 5

Lifestyle

Apartment Living

2/5

Families with Children

4/5

First-Time Owners

1/5

Other Dogs

3/5

Alone Time Tolerance

3/5

Shedding Level

3/5

Grooming Needs

3/5

Behavior

Trainability

3/5

Barking

2/5

Prey Drive

2/5

Exercise

Energy Level

2/5

Exercise & Training

Aim for around 30–45 minutes of total activity per day. Modest, steady exercise suits this giant. Keep it gentle and low-impact to protect the joints — never over-exercise a young Mastiff, and take care in warm weather.

Daily Walks by Living Situation

Apartment or Home Without a Backyard

2 walks / day

~20 min each

Flats are impractical for a dog this size, but wherever it lives the Mastiff needs a couple of steady daily walks rather than strenuous activity.

Home With a Backyard

2 walks / day

~20 min each

A secure garden gives useful room to potter and stretch out, but the Mastiff is a devoted indoor family dog, not an outdoor kennel dog.

Daycare or Park Time?

Daycare is rarely necessary for this calm, low-energy breed and requires a venue equipped for giant dogs. If used, choose a quiet setting with careful, size-aware supervision.

The English Mastiff has a somewhat shortened muzzle and a huge body, so it can overheat easily. Exercise in the cool of the day, always provide shade and water, and never leave it in a warm car or room.

As a giant breed, the Mastiff must not be over-exercised or allowed to jump, run hard, or climb stairs excessively while young. Its joints develop slowly, and too much strain can cause lasting damage — keep puppy and adolescent exercise gentle and controlled.

Deep-chested giant breeds are at risk of bloat (gastric torsion), a life-threatening emergency. Feed measured meals, avoid vigorous exercise right after eating, and learn the warning signs so you can act fast.

Training

Intelligent and willing but laid-back and a little stubborn, so early, patient, positive training is essential given its future size.

Start training and socialisation in early puppyhood — a fully grown Mastiff is far too strong to correct once habits form.
Use calm, positive, consistent methods; this sensitive giant responds to gentle guidance and shuts down under harshness.
Teach loose-lead walking and a reliable settle early, while the dog is still a manageable size.
Keep sessions short and rewarding, as the Mastiff is intelligent but can be laid-back and a little stubborn.
Socialise widely with people and dogs so its natural, watchful guarding instinct stays measured and confident.

Establish manners and lead skills while it's a puppy — a calm, well-trained adult Mastiff is a joy, but an untrained one is unmanageable.

For Pet Parents

The English Mastiff wears a short, dense, easy-care coat, so brushing is simple. The grooming commitment lies elsewhere: daily cleaning of the facial folds, constant management of heavy drool, and the sheer physical effort of caring for one of the largest dogs in the world.

Difficulty: Moderate

Grooming Commitment

The English Mastiff's short coat is easy to brush, but the real work is in the details of a giant, wrinkled, drooly dog. The facial folds need daily cleaning and drying, drool needs wiping to prevent skin problems, and the sheer size makes routine care — from nails to bathing — a genuine physical job.

At-Home Basics

Difficulty: Moderate

Caring for Your English Mastiff at Home

Brush weekly for shedding

A weekly going-over with a rubber curry brush lifts the steady loose hair from the short coat and keeps shedding around your home under control.

Clean the facial folds daily

Gently wipe the wrinkles around the face and muzzle every day and dry them well, as trapped moisture and drool quickly cause skin irritation and infection in these folds.

Manage the drool

Mastiffs drool heavily, especially after eating or drinking. Keep a cloth handy to wipe the mouth and jowls so saliva doesn't sour and irritate the skin, and expect to wipe walls and furniture too.

Keep on top of nails and teeth

Trim the large nails about every four weeks, using a grinder if needed for their size, and brush the teeth several times a week to prevent dental disease.

Mistakes to Avoid

Leaving the facial folds damp or dirty, which quickly leads to skin infection.
Ignoring drool build-up around the mouth, causing soreness and unpleasant smells.
Letting the huge nails grow long because trimming a giant dog feels like a chore.
Skipping regular full-body checks, so lumps, sores, or hidden problems go unnoticed on such a large dog.

When to Call in a Professional

The Mastiff's coat rarely needs a professional groomer, but many owners use one for bathing, nail trims, and thorough checks simply because handling a dog this size at home is hard work. See your vet promptly for any persistent skin trouble in the facial folds, and if nail trimming is a struggle.

Coat & Colors

Type: Short and dense
Family: Short double coat
Undercoat: Yes
Shedding: Moderate
Seasonal Change: Minimal
Matting Risk: Low

Common Problem Areas

Facial foldsJowlsEarsSkin folds

Frequently Asked Questions

Ready to book your English Mastiff's grooming session?

Connect with a Buddyz professional to schedule online in minutes.

Not the right match?

Continue exploring our directory to find the perfect breed for your lifestyle.

Browse All Breeds

Are you a professional?

Use Buddyz to manage your salon, understand complex coats, and educate pet parents.

Learn About Buddyz Pro