Dunkirk Mastiffs

Meet the Breeds is back

2010-10-16T03:52:00.000-07:00

It's time for the AKC Meet the Breeds event at the Javits Center Oct 16 & 17! We got the booth set up yesterday. The slideshow and handouts are ready for the 35,000+ visitors we are expecting. Come on down and join us if you can. Buy you tickets online you will pay less than at the door plus save even more by using the promo code FRIENDS. Get your tix now at www.

meetthebreeds.com

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Mastiff booth at Suffolk County Kennel Club show

2010-10-05T11:16:00.000-07:00

Well we were a bit rushed at this booth--we forgot out table, tablecloth and were short on tape and clamps but we made do. As always the dogs were very popular. Our new poster titled "Living With A Mastiff: Or How a MAstiff WIll Change Your Life Completely" was very well received. It was good to have so much information hung in a way that was right in people's faces. The text on this poster is taken from the previous postings we have here on our blog. We had a lot of positive comments on the format and information. people also enjoyed the binder with 60 pages of History, FAQs, photos and engravings.

Thanks to everyone that helped us get this together!

Living with a Mastiff: Summary

2010-07-07T11:58:00.000-07:00

If these Mastiff accommodations seem to be too much, then the Mastiff is not the breed for you. If you are undaunted, begin your search for the right breeder for you. Look for a responsible breeder who breeds health-tested, well-tempered dogs that meet the breed standard. The breeder you choose should be a resource for you for the life of your dog. All dogs should be sold with a contract and AKC papers. The Mastiff Club of America website (www.mastiff.org) has an excellent FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) section that includes a Questions to Ask a Mastiff Breeder page. Taking your time and doing some research will help ensure that the bringing a Mastiff into your home will be a fantastic and sometimes slobbery experience!

Living with a Mastiff: part 5 Vehicle

2010-07-06T09:41:00.000-07:00

A single Mastiff can be transported in the back seat of your average sedan. Should you need to transport other people and a Mastiff you will need to move up to a larger vehicle. Vans, minivans, SUVs and even some cross-over SUVs can work.

A crate is the safest way to transport any dog. Although not many vehicles can accommodate a Mastiff-sized crate.
Depending on the height of your vehicle, you may need to purchase a ramp to make entry and exit safe. Aside from the fact that most Mastiffs will not jump into an SUV, having one jump out is inviting injury. Remember that the ramp would need to be able to hold over 200 lbs.
It is best to have a wipeable vinyl or leather interior. Mastiffs love to rest their heads on the back of the seats in front of them. Let’s just say that can leave a mark.
A dog barrier is an excellent idea. Some Mastiffs like to climb over the seats to get closer to their owners — irregardless of what is on the seat in front of them (kids, luggage, a cake). Also should there be an accident, a Mastiff can become a 200+ lb projectile. The barrier keeps everyone safer.

Living with a Mastiff: part 4 Food

2010-06-30T09:14:00.000-07:00

Mastiffs require a good quality food that is not too high in protein. They should be fed adult food — even as puppies. They eat much more food than smaller breeds making them more expensive to keep.

A growing Mastiff will eat 8-12 cups of dry dog food a day. A full grown adult will eat 6-8.
One Mastiff can easily go through a 33 lb bag of food in a 20 days.
Do not underestimate cleanup! Remember 33 lbs in is 33lbs out!
Never be give cooked meat bones, rawhides, or anything else that could easily be lodged in the throat or cause an obstruction.
If supplements are given (eg. to support joint health) dosage is determined by weight. So again the cost here is greater than that of a small dog.
Be prepared to change the water bowl often. Mastiffs are not neat drinkers
and many do not like to drink slobbery water. Towels around the bowls can help reduce the number of times you slip walking thru the area!

Living with a Mastiff: part 3 The Vet

2010-06-24T09:59:00.000-07:00

Expect your vet bills to be large. Most vets have a set office fee. The amount of medication your dog may receive however, is determined by weight. The cost of medicating a 200 lb mastiff is much greater than that of an 8 lb Yorkie.

Find a vet with giant breed experience. Giant breeds do not have the same issues as smaller breeds!
Find who is willing to follow your breeder's vaccine protocols and is willing to talk to your breeder if needed.
Find a vet whose office can accommodate a Mastiff. Some exam rooms can be too small to do a proper exam and after 4 months no mastiff is going up on the table!

Living with a Mastiff: part 2 Toys

2010-06-11T11:41:00.000-07:00

It is always important to be sure that any toys given are appropriate for your dog. Not many toys can hold up to the Mastiff. By the time a Mastiff is six months old most toys present a serious choking hazard.

No balls smaller than a soccer ball should be played with. And realize that no soccer ball or basketball can hold up to a Mastiff’s canines.
Mastiffs can easily break pieces of rubber and plastic toys. This can cause serious internal problems and result in surgery. The black Kong is one of the few toys that can hold up to Mastiff chewing.
An empty plastic liter soda bottle with the label removed can be a fun, cheap toy and it is interesting to see inside your mastiff’s mouth through the bottle. Once the bottle is finally defeated and begins breaking it must be taken away as the plastic can be sharp. Freezing water in the bottle can make it last a bit longer for supervised summer fun.
Not all Mastiffs are shredders so large stuffed toys may be fine. Some of the new heavy canvas toys with heavily serged seams can hold up much longer but they can be expensive.
You must supervise all toys and remove any loose stuffing or squeakers. Also once pieces start coming off plastic or rubber toys they must be removed.

Living with a Mastiff: part 1 The Home

2010-04-29T14:36:00.000-07:00

Bringing a giant breed like a Mastiff into your home means more than making a little room on the couch. There are many considerations to take into account to make your home Mastiff-ready.

Most Mastiff owners forego having a coffee table. Aside from the fact that one wag of a Mastiff tail can clear the table, the table makes it difficult for the Mastiff to get on and off the couch.
The weight of a Mastiff laying on the couch day after day can shorten the life span of the couch considerably. Slipcovers can help but nothing can save the cushions from breaking down. Heavy duty leather seems to be the best bet and is easily wiped down.
Walls must be scrubbable. Spit flies whenever the Mastiff shakes its massive head. Once dry, the goobers form very interesting 3-dimensional shapes that can lend character to the walls (and ceiling). Should you wish to remove this fine artwork, baby wipes and magic erasers seem to do the trick.

Mastiffs are very hard on vacuums. While Mastiffs aren’t heavy shedders, it is still alot of dog shedding. Not many vacuums can stand up to the daily collection of hair.
Slippery floors are a problem for any dog. But a giant such as the Mastiff needs good traction to get up and down without injury. If you have wood, vinyl or tile floors, be prepared to put down throw rugs with non-slip pads.
There should be a designated spot in each room for a drool towel. This will keep the goober transfer onto clothing rate down.
It is best to eliminate dry cleanables from any area that the Mastiff hangs out in. Curtains seem to be goober magnets so washable or wipeable materials are a must. Shower curtains can work well!
The dry cleaning rule applies to the owners clothing as well. It is a good idea to have sticky lint rollers on hand!

2010-03-11T12:25:00.000-08:00

The 2010 MCOA National Specialty is quickly approaching, we wanted to remind you of some important details. You can also go to the website for complete information http://www.wix.com/mcoa10/2010%20MCOA. You can start watching for the premium list on the superintendents website Monday March 22 at: www.garvinshowservices.com/

DNA Requirement
Please remember that an AKC DNA profile number MUST be provided on the official entry form for each Mastiff entered in the MCOA National Specialty Shows beginning this year at the 2010 show only Rescue Parade participants are exempt

Just a reminder to send in your DNA swabs in the next couple of weeks, if you have not done so already, they take 6-8 weeks to get back and entries will be closing April 28th for the show. Entries WILL NOT be accepted without an AKC DNA profile number.

You can order your kits from AKC, at:
http://www.akc.org/store/products/index.cfm?category_cde=DNA&product_view=thumb

If you have any questions please feel free to contact: Mary DeLisa
MCOA DNA Sub Health Committee Chair
marydelisamcoa@gmail.com

Trophy Donations
We have posted what we are givings as the trophies on the website and we still have plenty of trophies that need sponsoring. http://www.wix.com/mcoa10/2010%20MCOA

We are only 2 months away from the great event. We really need your support.

Please go to the website and look at the great trophies we have for the winners. E-mail Cece Wardel cecewardell@yahoo.com and we will get you on the trophy list.

If you have committed to a trophy and have not sent in your money please do so or you may loose your position as sponsor for that trophy. Please send all donations to:
Jodi LaBombard
189 Miranda Ln, Roxboro, NC 27574
Brimstonemastiffs@yahoo.com

MCOA 2010 National Specialty Catalog ads!!!
The deadline for ad submission is this Monday March15th.

Ad size: 41/2" wide x 71/2" tall
A Rainbow Bridge and Veterans section special rate.
Color standard rate $135
Black and white rate $80
Rainbow Bridge and veteran black and white ads $45
Price includes 2 Photo's contact Pat for additional photo fee.

You can send your own ads in or provide us with the copy and images to create it for you.
Ads will be reserved once payment has been received.
All money goes to:
Jodi LaBombard
189 Miranda Ln, Roxboro, NC 27574

All ad materials should be sent to Pat Flanagan Borracci at
wallyduncn@aol.com

Logo Wear Information
Hugedog Designs/Design IT. Offers a wide variety of services to fulfill all your decorated garment and promotional item needs. Please visit us for your MCOA 2010 Embroidery Logo Wear item
http://www.companycasuals.com/mcoa/start.jsp

Order your MCOA 2010 inkjet/Screen printed Logo Wear from Multeecustoms today!!
http://www.mcoa.shopmulteecustoms.com/

Reserved Seating
Reserve your front row seat for $40.00 each. (Includes a logo gift) for the entire week of the show Tuesday May 25 through Sunday May 30th. Send your payment money goes to:
Jodi LaBombard
189 Miranda Ln, Roxboro, NC 27574

Please e-mail Doreen Dysert before sending in your reservation to make sure there are seats still available: ddysert@hughes.net

Important Dates to Remember
April 7, 2010
RV cancellation received on or before will receive a refund of their deposit less $50.00 per booked RV space. After this date you forfeit the entire fee paid

April 17, 2010
Room cancellations after this date forfeit entire deposit of 1 night + tax.

April 28, 2010
Deadline to submit forms and all Entries Close
Deadline to order Prepaid Logo wear

Bones Puppy Group 3 1/23/10

2010-01-24T15:39:00.001-08:00

Photo and video editing at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Bones has started practicing for the new show year. We are lucky enough to have a couple of indoor match shows very near us in January. Matches are a great way to get your pup used to the sounds and smell of a show with just a bit less pressure. This past weekend was the second match. Bones did great with all of the other dogs and people. He would still like to go play with every dog but he is just hanging out waiting for them to come over. He's gotten so large over the December/January break I have to rework how we move together! He takes much longer strides than he did a month and a half ago!

By the time the Puppy Working Group started we had worked the kinks out and he did nicely in the ring. He showed to third place over a nice Portugese water dog and bullmastiff.

We have another match on Sunday hopefully it goes just as well!

Mayflower Dogs on tv

2009-11-26T07:35:00.000-08:00

Bones joins the hosts of Fox & Friends and AKC's Lisa Peterson for a segment on the dogs that came over on the Mayflower. The segments was moved outdoors at the last minute. The dogs got a bit keyed up but took in stride. It went fairly well up until the last moment when one of the hosts asked if she could take Bones back out. Then it got interesting!

Mayflower Dogs

We're in the news!

2009-11-23T09:51:00.000-08:00

Our pictures have been picked up and used in several reportings on the Meet the Breeds event.
Veronica and her boy Kirk made into the AKC Gazette.
The whole family along with Kirk and Bones made into an issue of Showsight.
If anyone has any other sightings please let me know. I am trying to collect them all for my daughters.

The AKC Gazette:

Showsight:

Big day for Bones

2009-11-14T14:48:00.001-08:00

Celestial Dunkirk The Real McCoy aka went to his first AKC show on Friday. He just turned 6 months old. It was a bit hard to wake Bones up at 4:30 am but once he realized a car ride was involved he was out the door! He is an awesome traveller and was no problem on the 3 hr trek to the Greater Philadelphia KC show-even though this was his first long trip without Grandpa Kirk. Once we got to the show Bones had a great time meeting people and checking out all the sights and sounds. I was happy that he had no trouble with the sounds of the dryers or barking in big indoor space. He was so relaxed ringside he was rolling on his back, stretching out just praying someone would notice and provide a belly scratch.

When it was our turn to go into the ring Bones was ready to go. He did his first go around with his head up and tail wagging--I almost couldn't keep up! Shades of Grandpa Kirk! He was bit wiggly with the stack but I got him set decently. I let Mrs Canalizo know this was his first show and she started to blow kisses at him and talk sweet nothings. I thought Bones' tail might come off he was getting so wiggly! His down and back was under control and his free stack not bad at all. He was a pro by the time we were going around for Best of Winners.

Bones was Best of Winners for his first show! He made me work hard for the photograph but overall he had a great introduction to the big indoor shows! It was fun for me as Mrs Canalizo was the judge who finished Kirk and I was happy to bring another generation of Celestial mastiffs. And I thoroughly enjoyed Bones' attitude in the ring. It's never a bad show day when your dog is really enjoying himself.

Janice tagged along and was able to get some photos and video of Mr. Bones:

Make an on-line slide show at www.OneTrueMedia.com

A few more videos!

2009-11-11T13:39:00.000-08:00

A couple of new videos have surfaced from the AKC Meet the Breeds in NY back in October. You can see a little more of the dogs with the crowd.

From the Daily News:

From Snouts in Your Town:

Boo

2009-11-08T18:11:00.001-08:00

Kirk and Bones joined the girls for some afternoon trick or treating. The girls dressed as Abby from NCIS and a devil/angel. Kirk and Bones got in the spirit by donning Star Trek shirts in the color of their namesakes. Kirk wore Capt Kirk's yellow shirt and Bones wore the blue shirt like Dr. McCoy. They had a great time and caused bit of a traffic along one of the busier streets!

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Here come the videos

2009-10-20T10:24:00.000-07:00

We did several interviews over the course of the Meet the Breeds weekend.
One was conducted by the AKC staff. My daughters took control of this one. The video has now been posted on AKC's YouTube page:
Mastiffs at Meet the Breed

Meet the breeds day 2

2009-10-18T18:03:00.001-07:00

The princesses and big dogs were back for another day and so were the crowds! The girls and Joe added some facepainting to the costuming courtesy of an onsite booth. We had lots of girl and boy scout troops come through with an assignment to find out a bit about one dog from each group. We were the working dog choice for many of the kids. Many of our young visitors were concerned about the elbow callouses they were worried it was some sort of bruise or injury. We put their fears to rest. Veronica and Morgan were very busy sharing their mastiff knowledge. Dr Newman came by and helped us answer questions for a bit. We did an interview for fox news' website we'll have to look for that!

At the end of the evening Dennis Sprung came along and thanked each booth personally for their participation. We told him we thought it was a great event and we would do it again in a minute. The girls even stopped at the information booth to find out when the next will be. They want to dress up again soon!

It was a great event and the dogs held up wonderfully. The were great representatives of the mastiff breed, the MCOA and the Empire State Mastiff Fanciers!

-

V and Kirk

Kirk and Mario Lopez with David Frei in the background. Who is the bigger star?

Two very tired dogs!

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Meet the breeds day 1

2009-10-17T13:08:00.000-07:00

Day one was a big success! We had loads of people come by the booth--including some that had met the dogs in Times Square on Thursday. Everyone seemed to love the booth design and at the last minute the girls and I decided to put on some medieval type dresses to go along with the castle theme. It was a huge hit. Maria and Bill Ruoto joined us with Morgan and Bruce. Maria and Morgan took part in a photo shoot for a book. Kirk and Bones were part of an AKC photo shoot for the Gazette and AKC products. I did an interview that may become part of Purina sponsored recap of the event. Dr. Newman (our MCOA AKC delegate) joined us for a bit even posing with the girls and dogs. It was a great first day. I am sure tomorrow will be just as crowded and full of activity!

Dr Newman visits

Getting a bit tired

Our full crew

Veronica talking on her extensive knowledge of the breed.

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Setting up

2009-10-16T13:45:00.001-07:00

Well we left at 5am this morning to go set up the Mastiff
booth at the Meet the Breeds show. We were second people there altho my husband pointed we were the only ones setting up. Joe and spent about an hour and a half getting everything up. We have a little more to do tomorrow but we are mostly there and the booth doesn't look bad at all!

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Meet the Breed "Street Team"

2009-10-16T13:25:00.001-07:00

Yesterday we trucked into Manhattan even with the foul weather to help promote the Meet the Breeds event. We met our enthusiastic and cheerful if not chilly group of volunteers in Times Square. After setting up under the overhang at the ABC studio we went to work stopping traffic. I have to say it is no work at all to attract a crowd with two mastiffs. Kirk and Bones had everyone eating out of their hands—die hard New Yorkers and tourists alike! Not a police officer passed without taking a picture with them. In fact I think if I set a booth up charging for photos with the dogs I could retire early! The boys made a lot of friends and I expect we will see more than a few of them this weekend at the Javits Center.

Meet The Breeds — Dog and Cat event — 10/17-18

2009-10-12T14:12:00.000-07:00

On October 17-18, doggie devotees and feline fans from the tri-state area and beyond are invited to attend Meet the Breeds presented by Pet Partners, Inc. at the Jacob Javits Center in New York City. Meet the Breeds, with the American Kennel Club and Cat Fanciers’ Association, is the world’s largest showcase of cats and dogs and offers the public the rare opportunity to meet nearly 200 breeds and interact with dogs, cats, puppies and kittens.

The Mastiff booth will be manned by members of the Empire State Mastiff Fanciers. Our Mastiff booth will also be in competition for “Best Booth in Show” sponsored by WebVet.com that will allow attendees to vote for their favorite breed booth on Saturday with the winners of the best decorated breed booth announced on Sunday. The winning booth will win a $500 prize. In keeping with the English heritage of our breed we are going with a castle theme for our booth. Check back for photos once we are all set up later in the week!

Attendees can meet responsible breeders and get information on how to find the right dog or cat for their lifestyle, training, grooming and pet health. There will be demonstrations in pet safety, grooming, dog and cat agility, obedience, earthdog, first aid and more! Learn about different events you can do with your dog and ways to care for your pet with activities in 7 demo rings all day long. This is an outstanding way for the public how to purchase a dog and how to find the right one for them. Please plan on joining us!

For more information on Meet the Breeds or to purchase tickets, visit www.meetthebreeds.com.

Bones the TV star!

2009-09-18T06:44:00.000-07:00

Our newest addition to the household, Celestial Dunkirk The Real McCoy aka "Bones", and I joined several other breeds for a short tv appearance. We were invited for a segment on Picking the Right Dog For You on channel WPIX. We were there to illustrate an interview on the subject that is appearing in this month's Men's Health. They classified the Mastiff as an apartment dog--now that is fine as long as there is enough room in your apartment! I must have raised an eyebrow when they told me this in the waiting area because then they clarified it for me to say that they were referring more to the dog's activity level. And I would agree that the Mastiff would much rather hang around the apartment with you than go for a multi-mile jog like the Blue Heeler that was on with us. But they do need some exercise to maintain adequate muscle mass and aid their overall health. No one likes a flabby mastiff!

This was Bones' first trip into the city. Having the buses and cars zooming by so close to the sidewalk took him a few minutes to get used but once he met his fellow co-stars he forgot all about the sounds of the city. The Heeler (Kasey) played a bit with Bones which helped release some of his puppy exuberance. By the time we got on set Bones was calm and ready to greet the world. Just before our segment started they had us set on our marks and I had Bones sitting and waiting. One of the assistants ran forward to let me know that Bones was bit "excited" I assured her that as soon as I had him stand it would pop back in and thankfully it did.
I was very proud of Mr Bones. He stood very nicely and did not get chatty. Very nice for just 4.5 months old. As soon as his turn was over he very politely melted to the floor as only a mastiff can do. He instantly won over the cameraman!

For anyone that missed it here is the segment:

You can see it larger at:
WPIX Picking The Right Dog For You

Pictures of our time with Bonnie

2009-06-24T07:58:00.001-07:00

Adopting An Older Mastiff

2009-06-24T06:36:00.001-07:00

The very hardest homes to find for mastiffs that come into rescue are the homes for dogs that are 6 and older. I completely understand why this so. No one wants to bring a dog into their home, hopelessly fall in love with it and then have it leave in just a few short years. That's really hard. But let me tell you a story that I hope will change your mind and make you consider giving a loving home to an older dog.

2 years ago we had lost 2 mastiffs within the year. It was very difficult on our kids (they were 4 and 6 back then) and our remaining mastiff, who had never been alone in his life. On the surface you would think taking in an older dog would be the very last thing we would consider! But friends of ours were overloaded with a family illness and I was so worried that our dog would go into a depression. He was 7 and the thought of losing him made taking in an old girl a no-brainer. Miss Bonnie was 9 when she came to live with us. Many people in our family thought we were nuts. More than once I heard "How can you do this to the kids?" But I thought what a valuable lesson for the girls, to think more about the needs of someone other than themselves and to make it their mission to give comfort. I told the girls that we didn't know how long we would have Bonnie but that the time she spent with us would be the best time we could make it be.

Bonnie came to us and made herself right at home. She and Kirk were like two old people taking walks around the yard, watching the door and holding down the couch together. My daughters loved having a girl in the house and were happy to find out that Bonnie loved snuggle in front of the tv. I would find them reading and using Bonnie as a pillow. Bonnie liked to curl up on the couch and many times I would find my youngest stuffed into the triangle space left in the corner of couch--sometimes you couldn't even see the child! The girls helped take care of her. Bonnie had a bit of arthritis and they would make sure she got her supplements at each meal.

Bonnie joined us at Meet the Breed tables helping to explain the breed to people and showing off how vital an old lady still could be. On dog show mornings, she would run down the hallway blocking me like a linebacker because she didn't want to be left behind. As late as the end of May she joined us a local show.

Bonnie was the Queen! She was calm and sweet but if you entered the room and simply went about your business you would hear her foot stamp the ground and get a big "Woof!" After all, there is no entering the prescence of the Queen without coming over to pet her! We had her for 2 years but it seems like she was with us for so much longer.

Back in October I had Bonnie at the vet for a well visit. The vet was thouroughly impressed with her condition. She even asked what supplements I was giving her! I was so proud of the care we were giving her I began to think she might live foreever--but of course this could not be. These past few weeks we could see that she was starting to fade away and her years were catching up with her. I began to point out to the girls that Bonnie was starting to have trouble, that we wouldn't have her much longer and that we should spend extra time with her. As we realized she was in her final days I took the girls to pick out a special Webkinz doll each. One that they would name after Bonnie. They made their choices very carefully and came home with Bonnie Beaver and Cherry Blossom Bonnie. They sat and hugged Bonnie with the dolls making sure some of Bonnie's love went into each doll. Now they have a bit of Bonnie whenever they want it. The last morning we had Bonnie, we brought her out on the front lawn so she could wait for the busses with the girls. My oldest sang to her before she left, my youngest gave special hugs and kisses. We took pictures to remember her.

It was sad for me and my husband as we sat on the floor with Bonnie at the vet. We both cried as we pet her, telling her how much we loved her and holding her until she was gone. It's never easy. We all cried that night together and I am sure there will be more tears in the coming days. But Bonnie deserved tears! She gave us so much just when we needed it. To anyone who would ask me "How could you put your kids through that pain?" I would say "How could I deny them the fantastic experience of loving and being loved by Bonnie? And of really thinking of someone else and doing the right thing?" Our pain over losing Bonnie will fade and we will all be left with the fantastic memories she gave us and the joy of knowing that we made her last years warm, comfortable and full of life and love.

Now Bonnie was not a rescue dog. She would have had a happy end to her life if she had stayed with our friends. But we were able to share her life thanks to their generosity. When you adopt an older mastiff from rescue you are saving a life. You may be giving comfort and love to a dog that has never known it all. I can't imagine a greater gift for our noble breed. And I promise you will get back what give tenfold. So please consider an older dog.

so you want a mastiff

2008-10-22T09:45:00.000-07:00

Ok so you've decided you can deal the with drool and the size and that the mastiffs relatively low activity level suites your lifestyle. Now where are you going to get your dog? You have 3 choices:
A- You can go to a pet store
B- You can go to a shelter or rescue group
C- You can find breeder

Let's knock A right off the list and I'll tell you why. No one who sells their pups thru a pet store or broker of any kind is putting health, temperament and the betterment of the mastiff high on their list of goals. They are only interested in making some money off these pups. If you buy a puppy from a pet store you will be very lucky if you get a mastiff that looks like a mastiff (I see a lot of pet store dogs that look like they are mastiff-dane mixes), is healthy and mentally balanced. This is a giant breed (I know I say that over and over) and if the dog is genetically unhealthy or mentally unbalanced you will wind up paying a lot of money to try and correct the situation--if it is correctable. And many times your initial costs is the same as if you had purchased from a good and reputable breeder. So stay out of the pet store! Personally I won't buy any of my supplies from pet stores that sell puppies because I think they do people a disservice.

Let's move on to B--shelters or rescue. Hopefully you will never walk into a shelter and just come across a mastiff. I say that because I hope the local mastiff rescue people get there first to properly evaluate the dog and get it into it's proper forever home. Rescue groups like FORM or Southern States Mastiff Rescue (among many more) do a great job of finding homes for mastiffs who have either been dumped at shelters or have been surrendered by their owners. Most of the dogs that come into rescue are between 3-5 years old. Puppies do not come in often --so if is a puppy you want rescue is not the best place to go unless you are prepared for a long wait. There are the occasions when older dogs looking for their last home come in and if you can be that special home than fantastic! Many times rescues come in with a bit of baggage. They may not be good with children or other dogs or cats. They require a bit of extra patience but the rewards can be great and you have the satisfaction of knowing that you saved a dog's life. Please go the Mastiff Club of America's Rescue Contacts page to find to the rescue group near you.

So now we up to choice C- Buying from a breeder. You want to buy your puppy from a good and reputable breeder. You want someone who is breeding to create pups that adhere to our breed standard as closely as possible but who also puts a premium on the health and temperament of the dogs. This pup will be a member of your family and you don't want the heartbreak of falling in love with a dog that is a physical or mental wreck. So what makes a good breeder? Personally I think a good breeder is someone who starts by health testing their dogs. There is an eternal argument among breeders from all breeds on the value of health testing. But plain and simple if you don't health test you really don't know what you are combining in your breeding--you are working in the dark and that can result in some severe consequences health-wise. In a future post I'll get into health tests but for now I will say testing is part of my personal criteria for any breeder that I would recommend. A good breeder should be there for you as a resource for your dog's entire lifetime. So when you speak with breeders make sure you feel that they can be that for you. They don't have to be your best friend--and honestly many "dog-people" don't have the best people skills--but you should feel that you can rely on them. When you contact a breeder--and many have puppy applications on their websites that can help you initiate that contact--you should feel that they are grilling you. After all you are talking to them about buying one of their babies--they should be interviewing you to be sure you will be a good home! If all they want to know is when you can send them a check--run away! A good breeder sells their pups with a contract that states should you, for any reason, not be able to keep you dog it must come back to them! A good breeder NEVER wants to see a pup of theirs wind up in rescue. And a good breeder stands by the life they've brought into this world for its ENTIRE life. The MCOA sire has a great page What Questions To ask A Breeder. read it and refer to these questions!

How do you find this good breeder? Go to dog shows and talk to mastiff owners. Check on the MCOA website for breeders/members in you area that may be willing to give you advice-Membership Directory by state. Being a member of MCOA doesn't mean that someone is a great breeder nor does it mean if they aren't a member they aren't a good breeder. But this is a good place to start. Also the Devine Farm litter announcement page is a good place to see upcoming litters that have at least soome health testing done. No judgement is made on the results of those test but at least you can look for yourself! Join some of the onine web groups and forums. fairwarning--the inherent lack of people skills problem can rear its ugly head here but have the patience to read past all the crap to find some good information!

Mastiffs Message Board
World Mastiff Forum
there are also many Yahoo groups

Responsible Dog Ownership Day (cont'd)

2008-10-02T08:12:00.000-07:00

AKC's RDOD in Madison Square Park, NYC went very well. We had gorgeous weather and a nice turn out. Bonnie and Kirk did great as our mastiff ambassadors and we had a little help from Isabella (Hummer x Mia) and Kane who stopped by. It was interesting watching our dogs interact with their "city cousins". Many of the city dogs are "close talkers". They are used to being in close quarters so they just come right up to another dog's face. I don't recommend that owners let their dogs do that. Better to ask the other owner if their dog is good with other dogs before finding out the hard way! Thankfully our guys didn't take any offense and there were no issues.

In years past we have seen quite a few poorly bred mastiffs at this event who resemble danes more than mastiffs. This year there was none of that. Sadly we did meet quite a few puggles, -poos and -doodles. Their owners were very happy to tell us that they had spent well over a thousand dollars for these "designer breeds". There is no nice way to say it - these dogs are simply mutts created by people hoping to turn a quick buck. There is no consistency in any of these "breeds" and for the life of me I can't understand why you want to mix some of them to begin with! The breeders of these mutts are giving no thought health and temperament. For the same money you could go out and buy a well bred purebreed dog and have some clue of what you are going to wind up. Or better yet, go down to your local shelter and adopt a new family member. Take the money you save NOT supporting these irresponsible breeders and put it towards training classes and you will still be far ahead of the game. And you will have saved life!

Responsible Dog Ownership Day

2008-09-16T17:47:00.000-07:00

Saturday, September 20th is Responsible Dog Ownership Day. The American Kennel Club is hosting an event in Madison Square Park, NYC. Many breed clubs will be manning tables, showing off their breeds, answering questions and promoting responsible dog ownership. We will working at the mastiff table with dogs.

I would say that 8 out of 10 dogs that I evaluate because their owners are giving them up to mastiff rescue are being given up because the owners simply were not responsible dog owners. Now that isn't to say that these owners were abusive or cruel in any way. But they either didn't know enough about the breed or weren't prepared to take on the responsibility of any dog let alone a giant breed. It is surprising to me how many people don't realize how big mastiffs get or that they drool or that they cost more to feed and more to take care of at the vet. But really the biggest error is when owners don't take seriously their responsibility to ensure that their dog is a good citizen. It is one thing to have a tempermental, unruly and unsocial yorkie and quite another to have that in a giant dog. it is reckless and irresponsible. That is how people get hurt.

Many times people say to me but I heard mastiffs are such good and gentle dogs. Well no dog is good out of the box. Mastiffs are good and gentle by nature but if you never train your dog to understand that you are the boss don't be surprised that it doesn't listen or becomes the leader of the pack itself. If you don't socialize your dog when it is a pup you have no idea how it will react to new situations. The dog will be essentially unpredictable and an unpredictable dog is a dangerous dog when it is 200lbs because any mistake that dog makes will be a big one!

Group training classes are a great way to train and socialize at the same time. Group lessons also helps your knowledge of dog behabior grow. By watching how your trainer helps other owners and their dogs deal with different behaviors you are better equipped to handle the situation when you dog does something similar. Positive training is a must and creates a strong bond between you and you and your dog. There is more to owning a dog than snuggling on the couch, taking a walk and playing fetch. You owe it to your dog to help him become a canine good citizen so that you and he can safely interact with each other and the public!

how active are you?

2008-08-27T15:44:00.000-07:00

Are you the kind of person who like to run 5 miles in the morning? Or go for long bike rides and you're looking for a canine companion to come along? Are incredibly busy all week and only have a few minutes of downtime before going to bed but your weekends are fairly free? If so then this is NOT the breed for you. Mastiffs are not the most active breed. They will not go running for miles. They say you should never walk a mastiff further than you are willing to carry them back! Once a mastiff gets tired they lay down and don't get up until they are rested and now amount of cajoling is going to get them to change their mind--did I mention they can be a bit stubborn? They do not know what day of the week it is so they are just as happy to see you when you get home from work on Wednesday as they are on Saturday morning. If you don't have the time to spend with them they are not the breed for you. Mastiffs live to be with their owners. They are happy to take a leisurely walk or hang out on the couch, they'll play in the yard with you for short spurts.

When properly socialized they are a very social breed. Wanting to meet people and get their bellies rubbed. They don't want to be out in the yard while you are puttering around the house. They want to be with you. Fair warning if you stand at the sink too long dog dishes don't take a step back without looking around. Chances are your mastiff has chosen to lay down right behind you dutifully waiting for you to finish up. As breeds go I think they are kind of needy. Personally I don't mind it but it isn't for everyone. Remember when a mastiff sits up next to you on the couch they are taller than you--not everyone likes getting booped on the head as a way of getting attention! But I can't think of anything better than snuggling on the couch, watching a movie with one of huge guys keeping me warm.

A Mastiff in the House

2008-08-18T12:03:00.000-07:00

Having a mastiff around the house will cause you to have to make certain modifications. There can be no flat paint on the wall. When mastiffs shake their big jowly heads spit does fly. You will find it on the wall, the floor, the ceiling, the tv--every conceivable surface. Everything must be wipeable! Magic Erasers, baby wipes, the FloorMate and a heavy duty vacuum cleaner will be your friend. We've given up on having a coffee table--with multiple mastiffs, kids and now the wii who needs a coffee table in the way anyway? You will rethink all renovations and the first question you will ask about all products will be-"Will it hold up to the dog(s)?" Usually the answer is no. So you have to be resolved that everything will just have a shorter lifespan in your house. Our latest sofa is leather sectional. Not the buttersoft leather that could never handle 200lbers daily lounging, but the hard as nails kind. Purchased with the knowledge that it will be come distressed looking and we are going to be fine with that! Forget dryclean only covers or drapes--remember there is no surface safe from the flying goobers. Mastiffs are a wash and wear dog and for your own sanity your home will become a wash and wear home. If you have to live with silk slipcovers and high polished marble floors--this is probably not the breed for you.

getting started

2008-08-10T06:05:00.000-07:00

I've had mastiffs for over 10 years. I love the breed and love talking about them to anyone who is interested. But I do caution you if you are just at the stage of considering getting a dog that it is a big commitment. Getting any dog is a commitment but adding a giant breed to your home is a huge one!

I don't want to talk anyone into getting a mastiff by telling you they are the perfect breed ~ that goes without saying! I would rather give you an honest portrayal of them so that you are sure they are the right breed for you.