English Mastiffs, Anyone own one ?

[JD 500]

Thinking pretty seriously about getting an English Mastiff.
Any members here own one or know someone who does ?

Have talked to a breeder and researched the breed, here's a pic of Mom:

and Dad:

 

[BarbC]

My girlfriend had a brindle and a black and tan. Beautiful dogs and very powerful.

One thing you must watch is that when the vet administers the puppy vaccines, have him space them out over time. Her brindle ended up crippled and had to be put down at 10 months due to the vaccine cocktail reaction. This can happen is large, fast-growing breeds.

Get a hip dysplasia screening on the parents too. This is a large and heavy dog.

The parents look beautiful and correct. The puppies should be gorgeous!

 

[red14]

Thinking pretty seriously about getting an English Mastiff.
Any members here own one or know someone who does ?
Have talked to a breeder and researched the breed, here's a pic of Mom:

and Dad:

Great dogs. Hope you like slobber. They eat like a horse, and need exercise. I'm not sure you want one in the house. They do have a great temperment, and quite lovable. Just research the breed. Mom and Dad are very handsome specimens.

 

[sipowicz]

Buy American!

 

[BarbC]

Hope you like slobber.

You can always tell the mastiff handlers at the show rings because they're the ones with the drool rags.

 

[oldfella]

Buy American!

... a tea-cup Chiwawa comes to mind.

Pete

 

[JD 500]

Parents are both AKC Champs. In fact it's funny, I went to a local show a couple weeks ago at the suggestion of one of the breeders I had been talking to where I met the owner / breeder of these dogs. After I met her, she went into the ring with two of her dogs, including the Mom pictured above and proceeded to win 3 or 4 ribbons. Kinda neat.

Both Parents have health testing and good/excellent ratings for :

Hips
Elbows
Patella
Thyroid
Cardiac
Eyes

and a couple other tests too.

Supposedly, they don't need a lot of exercise, a walk in the AM and another in the PM, but yes they do drool after eating, drinking, etc... (See Turner and Hooch with Tom Hanks).

Grew up with a Chinese Shar Pei in the house when I was a kid, and got used to the drool there, but the Shar Pei couldn't fling it to the ceiling.

Somebody say puppies ?

 

[BarbC]

You know what you're getting into and you still want one!

You'll be a great owner!

Best of luck with your new puppy!

(PS - sign up for puppy kindergarten classes!)

 

[red14]

You know what you're getting into and you still want one!
You'll be a great owner!
Best of luck with your new puppy!
QUOTE]



Sounds like you've covered all the bases. Post pictures when pup is 3, 6, 9 months.

 

[JD 500]

Red14

Just to clarify, those puppies are from a previous litter.
I'm currently on a wait list, waiting for the mom to go into heat.

The wait is getting tough. Had to put my last pup down Nov 08. Has taken this long to be able to even consider another, and then having to wait...

I'll definitely post pics though. I know there are a bunch of dog lovers on this site.

And SIP.; Breeder is "Liberty Mountain Mastiffs" Mom's name is Freedom. That count ?

 

[Steave]

I've had Mastiff's since 1990; we currently have two; they are wonderful, wonderful dogs! Although I'm not that pleased with our older dog who ate a stick this AM and just threw it up on the floor.

As has been pointed out, they do slobber, but primarily after eating and drinking, ours are house dogs, but they do all eating and drinking, other than snacks, outside. Once you have decided on an OEM, I would research the breeder, my primary concern has always been health and temperment, it's a good sign that your breeder does testing. The only other downside to the breed is their relatively short lifespan, generally 8-10 years, but that is true with any large breed dog. I don't think that eat all that much for animals their size, our dogs both have birthdays in April, our older dog turned three and the younger one turned one last April, about 210 lbs and 150 lbs respectively, anyway, they seem to go through about 80 lbs of food/month. They are really just big, big babies, but can be very protective if they feel their turf or master threatened......and when they get wound up it is an impressive site!

This pic was taken last year around Christmas

 

[normanvin]

I currently have Saints. I am thinking of a Mastiff for the next one. Not sure if it will be a Bull or English Mastiff.

 

[godlessgael]

IThey are really just big, big babies, but can be very protective if they feel their turf or master threatened......and when they get wound up it is an impressive site!

/QUOTE]

I was drinking one night with a friend that had one about 5 years ago. He lived out in the boonies. The dog was rolling around being the general clown that we loved. We heard a crash up front where the cars were parked and knew someone was breaking into our cars. I swear that dog grew 5x it's original size. We never got to see what the result of English Mastiff vs. Robber would be as the guy ran off when we flicked the front lights on, but I am pretty sure it would have ended quickly for the bad guy. They are a good dog to have on your side.

 

[sipowicz]

Red14

I'm currently on a wait list, waiting for the mom to go into heat.

I hear ya....I waited all weekend...even after two dinners out, nothing!

 

[JD 500]

I've had Mastiff's since 1990; we currently have two; they are wonderful, wonderful dogs! Although I'm not that pleased with our older dog who ate a stick this AM and just threw it up on the floor.

As has been pointed out, they do slobber, but primarily after eating and drinking, ours are house dogs, but they do all eating and drinking, other than snacks, outside. Once you have decided on an OEM, I would research the breeder, my primary concern has always been health and temperment, it's a good sign that your breeder does testing. The only other downside to the breed is their relatively short lifespan, generally 8-10 years, but that is true with any large breed dog. I don't think that eat all that much for animals their size, our dogs both have birthdays in April, our older dog turned three and the younger one turned one last April, about 210 lbs and 150 lbs respectively, anyway, they seem to go through about 80 lbs of food/month. They are really just big, big babies, but can be very protective if they feel their turf or master threatened......and when they get wound up it is an impressive site!

This pic was taken last year around Christmas

GREAT looking dogs Steave !!

Is it a safe assumption that you had other breeds before the OEM's ?

And if so, were there any particular things/surprises with the OEM's that you didn't expect, even after owning other dogs ?

I've had:
2 Golden retrievers ( 1 was most recent dog )
Shar Pei ( Mom's dog)
Wolfhound/Samoyed mix
OE Sheepdog (Dad's dog)

Thanks much!!

 

[red14]

I hear ya....I waited all weekend...even after two dinners out, nothing!

I've been waiting years. Madeleine Albright looks good. Nancy Pelosi is hot! I think my dog, Ethel, is flirting with me.




.

 

[Steave]

GREAT looking dogs Steave !!

Is it a safe assumption that you had other breeds before the OEM's ?

And if so, were there any particular things/surprises with the OEM's that you didn't expect, even after owning other dogs ?

Not really. Growing up we had a Border Collie, an Irish Setter and an assortment of mutts that showed up and became our dogs. Our last dog dies when I was in college and Mom decided she wanted to get a large dog of some sort, she started thinking about this when I was home one summer. We looked at Saints, Danes, etc, but we both really liked the Mastiff and she ended up getting a female OEM, that was 1987. I fell in love with the breed right then and there and so did my parents. I got my first on in 1990 and they had them until a few years ago, their last one, a big male lived past thirteen years, but they didn't get another one snice they travel so much now that Dad retired.

I've told several people before that I may have another breed sometime, but I'll always have at least one Mastiff. Funny thing, my second Mastiff was a rescue, I got her when she was six; my girlfriend at the time, now my wife, thought I was insane wanting to have two of these monsters. Now she is crazy about them and has said she wouldn't mind having a third. I think two is plenty!

 

[JD 500]

Thanks Steave !

 

[G-Mac]

Go to the local animal shelter and adopt a mutt.

They're the best.

 

[Steave]

Thanks Steave !

You bet! Something else to consider is a rescue. The one Mastiff I rescued was one of the sweetest dogs I have ever been around, she gave us almost five great years before we had to put her down. We haven't done a rescue since, and in a way I really feel kinda guilty as there are hundreds of wonderful Mastiff's out there that need a good home. I guess I'm a bit selfish, they are just as cute as they can be when you get them at eight weeks and they weigh under twenty pounds.

There are several great websites dedicated to the breed along with a yahoo group that is fairly active. Do a lot of research on potential breeders before making a decision.

Oh, one other thing, every mastiff I've ever had REALLY likes getting in bed. I'm sure as I type this at least one if not both of our dogs are curled up in my spot in bed. Moving a 200 lbs. sleeping Mastiff is easier said than done!