Our daughter using Mini as a pillow.
WHY A MASTIFF?
This page will hopefully help you decide wether the Mastiff is the right breed for you.
Mastiffs are a wonderful breed and i would not be without them in my life. But they are not the dog for everyone! You definitely need to do a bit of research into the breed to know what you wil be bringing into your household, after all, it is a new family member you will be purchasing :~))
Buying your Mastiff from a reputable breeder is very important. A registered breeder is a must. They are an expensive breed to buy and you want what you pay for. You want that cute little puppy to actually grow up and look and behave like a Mastiff should. Then have a good look at the dogs they are breeding, are they trying to improve the breed, or just breeding for the sake of it to make a 'buck'. A good breeder will always be breeding to benefit the Mastiff breed as a whole and will usually always keep something for themselves from it to continue on with in their breeding programme.
What remains of the litter will be placed carefully as companions in homes where they can be loved as someones pet....the best dogs are people pets!
Health testing is very important. Alot of people try and cheat their way out by saying 'my lines don't have any problems' or 'my dogs are healthy' How do they know this if they have not run the tests to prove it? A good breeder will be health testing their dogs (hips and elbows for dysplasia at a minimum) to try and prevent any health problems arising in their future offspring.
The price of Mastiff puppies and why they cost so much is probably the question asked most! For a quality puppy from a registered breeder the price will usually be around $2-3000. Alot goes into breeding these big dogs, so many things to factor in. A breeder has to put their life on hold for more than 8 weeks usually to raise a litter. (means no work, loss of income, and no sleep!) The cost to feed and raise the mother and puppies is very high. Vet bills for c-sections, antibiotics, puppies vaccinations, micro chips, health checks, general care (eg. food, formula, toys, collars) puppies registrations, and so on is a huge expendature. The puppies are well cared for and raised in a suitable environment (usually inside the home) and socialised properly ready for their new homes, so much goes into them to give those babies the best chance in life....they're healthy and well adjusted ready for their brand new homes!
Sure you may find a bargain from the paper and think you are getting a good deal...but how are they raised, are the parents health tested, do they look anything like Mastiffs, what are their temperaments really like, are the parents even registered with the ANKC, are the puppies going to be in the registration system??? Usually none of these things! and if you were to get a puppy at a bargain price....it usually means many trips to the vet to fix all the problems this puppy will have in later life, because it was more than likely not bred with care.
Breeders that do things properly usually don't make anything from selling their puppies, it all goes into the dogs!
Puppies should always come with their registration papers, wether they be placed on the Main Register or the Limited Register. Some breeders will also have contracts on their puppies, mostly this is so the breeder is assured their puppies are well cared for and not bred with when they shouldn't be. New owners may be asked to de-sex their Mastiff when it is old enough, this is for the benifit of the dog itself and to the breed. There are too many poorly bred Mastiffs and dogs out there as it is and not every dog needs to have puppies.
Mastiffs as adults weigh anywhere from 70kg to 100kg (sometimes more) with females roughly being 27.5" and over and males 30" and over. This is just a guidline so you have a basic idea.
Mastiffs come in three main colours, Fawn, Apricot or Brindle, all with black masks.
They are a very large animal and can be quite a handful at times! What starts off as a cute little puppy very quickly grows and becomes larger than life. Training your puppy when it is young is very important so obedience classes are a must, especially if you want that well behaved 100kg dog!
Mastiffs do drool, so if you are a clean freak and hate gooey slimey things then this breed might not be for you. They mainly drool when there is food around, when they are eating and drinking and when it is hot. Being fed and watered outside is the best thing to do. Having a rag or two around the house to wipe their mouths stops it getting on you, like on your lap when you are having cuddles :~) I don't find it much of a problem myself, you get used to it.
Mastiffs don't need much grooming, they are very easy to keep! A wash twice a month with a quick brushing, an ear clean, make sure their toenails aren't getting too long with a clip if needed and your set! When spring comes about they do tend to shed their coats a little, not alot and nothing a good brush wont fix.
Food wise they don't eat as much as you would imagine. But a good quality feed is a must. These are a large breed and do grow very quickly, a low protein diet is in order for them to ensure proper development of the muscle and bone structure without problems. High protein diets cause all sorts of growth problems so stay away from these with your Mastiff.
Mastiffs don't need alot of exersize. But they do get bored and some need alot of mental stimulation. Giving them lots of toys to play with and going out and about to interesting places keeps them busy and will stop them from landscaping your garden for you :~)) Although they don't need hours of walking everyday they still love a walk along the beach or a roam around the park. They can be couch potatoes, but that is not true for every Mastiff and mine are definitely not!
They don't need a huge back yard but it needs to be one that is secure and well fenced with preferably a high fence because they are quite capable of jumping. Your Mastiff shouldn't be allowed to roam free, ever.
It's very important to socialize your Mastiff. Taking them out and about to different places, meeting new people and dogs, exposing them to different environments and situations, as well as being in your home with you and your family, around your visitors and friends, loved and respected, will ensure your Mastiff is happy and will make him/her a very well adjusted family member that will be able to do anything with you and go anywhere you want him/her to.
Generally Mastiffs love kids and make great family dogs, they are very loyal and loving family guardian. They don't bark unecessarily, only when there is something or someone to bark at will they make a noise. With the little ones they are very gentle and most of the time they know how to behave around them, usually it is the kids you have to tell off for running and being silly!
Because of their sheer size alone they make good guard dogs, a would be intruder would only have to take one look at them and would run! BUT Never should a Mastiff be put in harms way or used as a vicious guard dog as such. When the time comes that you should ever need them to protect you or your family they will and it will come naturally, it's not something that needs to be taught to them.
To end my piece i just have to say, make sure this is the breed for you...if it is that is GREAT....you wont find a better friend than a Mastiff....or two or three.....the saying they are like potatoe chips...well it is true...once you have one you just can't stop!
Please read "About The Mastiff" and "Puppy Enquiries" for more info www.mastiff.com.au/
For registered breeders see www.dogzonline.com.au/breeds/breeders/mastiff.asp
I hope this has helped you a little. Be sure to look at our links page and visit the forums, they are a great place for learning and meeting people around the world!
When i get the time this page will be updated with much more information!