WHY A MASTIFF

 

This page will hopefully help you decide whether 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 will 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. Have a good look at the dogs that breeder is breeding from, are they trying to improve the breed, or just having puppies 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 from their litters for themselves to continue on with in their breeding programme. What remains in the litter will be placed carefully as companions in homes where they can be loved as someone's pet....the best dogs are peoples pets! Talking to as many breeders as possible is the best way and gain knowledge to determine who the right breeder is for you, don't just settle for the closest one, or the cheapest one, Australia is a big country so be sure to have a good look around and chat chat chat.

Health testing is very important and should be used as a tool to breed better healthier dogs. A good breeder will be health testing their dogs (Hip and Elbows for Dysplasia at a minimum) to try and prevent any health issues arising in their offspring.
The price of Mastiff puppies and why they cost so much is probably the question i get asked the most! For a quality puppy from a registered breeder the price will usually be around $3-3500. 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 right. (means no work, loss of income, and no sleep!) The cost to raise and feed the mother and puppies is very high. Vets bills for c-sections, antibiotics, puppies vaccinations, microchips  health checks, registrations, general care, (eg food, formula, toys, collars etc) many many phone calls to prospective owners...and so on is a huge expenditure  The puppies are well cared for and raised in a suitable environment (usually inside the house) and socialised properly, so much goes into them to give those babies the best chance in life....they're healthy and well adjusted ready for their new homes.

Sure you might find a bargain from the paper or what not 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 Mastiffs and registered with the ANKC (Australian National Kennel Council) will the puppies be in the registration system???  A bargain is just that, a bargain....and usually it will mean many trips to the Vet to fix all the issues that the irresponsible breeder couldn't care a less about.

 

Breeders that do things properly usually don't make anything from selling their puppies, it all goes into the dogs! So what you may spend with that reputable breeder on a quality puppy will be well worth it!

 

 

Papers or no papers? Puppies should always come with their registration papers, whether they be placed on the Limited Register  (Pet Only) or Mains Register (Showing/Breeding). Some breeder will also have contracts on their puppies, mostly this is so the breeder is assured that their puppies are well cared for throughout their life. De-sexing contracts are common and are for the protection of the dog. There are too many poorly bred dogs out there as it is and not every dog needs to be having puppies

 

Mastiffs as adults weigh anywhere from 70-100kg (sometimes more) with females roughly ranging from 27.5" and over and males 30" and over. This is just a guideline so you have a basic idea.

Mastiffs come in three main colours, Fawn, Apricot and Brindle, all should have black mask and ears. 

They have a relatively short and easy care coat although they can shed quite allot when the warmer months arrive. There are also Mastiffs sometimes born that can be 'fluffy', but it is not the norm. There is a DNA test to determine if a dog carries the gene for breeding purposes.

They are a very large animal and although generally quite easy going and placid they can be quite a handful at times, especially the boys when they get to their 'teens'. What starts off as a cute little puppy very quickly grow and becomes large than life. Training your puppy when it is young is very important so obedience classes are highly recommended, especially if you want that well behaved 100kg dog!

 Mastiffs do drool! So if you get a bit erky over slime they may not be the right breed 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 drool rag or two around the house to wipe their mouths stops it getting on you, like on your lap when you are having cuddles or between your toes....I don't find it much a problem, 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 they're toenails aren't getting too long with a clip if needed and you're set! When spring comes about they do tend to shed their coats, sometimes it will be minimal and sometimes quite allot, 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 muscles and bone structure without problems. High protein diets can cause all sorts of growth problems so stay away from these with your Mastiff. Eagle Pack and Black Hawk i have found to be quite suitable.

Mastiffs don't need a lot of exercise  But they do get bored and some need allot 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 walking everyday they still love a walk along the beach or down 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 backyard but it needs to be one that is secure and well fenced with preferable high fences because they are quite capable of jumping. Your Mastiff should never be allowed to roam free, ever.

It is very important to socialise your Mastiff, not just as a young pup but as they grow into adulthood as well. Taking them out and about to different places, meeting new people and dogs, exposing them to different environments and situations, will help ensure your Mastiff is happy and will make him/her a well adjusted family member that will be able to do anything with you and go anywhere you want him/her to go.

Generally Mastiffs love kids and make good family dogs, they are very loyal and loving family guardians. They don't bark unnecessarily  only when there is something or someone to bark at will they make a noise and they do take their job seriously, it is their instinct to guard their house and home, their family.

Because of their sheer size alone they make good guard dogs, a would be intruder would only have to take one looks at them and would run!

But never should a Mastiff be purposely put in harms way or taught to be and used as a vicious guard dog as such.

 

To end my piece i just have to say, make sure this is the breed for you first, before you buy, if it is GREAT...you wont find a better friend that a slobbery Mastiff...or two or three...the saying they are like potato chips is true!

 

 

For registered breeders visit www.dogzonline.com.au/breeds/breeders/mastiff.asp 

 

Hope this helps a little.