On the subject of security, I am considering getting a English Mastiff and want some input.
The main reason is I live in a small town on the outskirts of London. This town is relatively affluent but have some lower income neighbourhoods, one of which is just beyond my garden fence, on the other side of a wooded empty site which is often the scene of late night goings-on involving needles and wrappers. There had been previous burglaries of neighbour’s houses a few houses down.
So I’ve been thinking of security and it seemed to me that getting a deterrent is better than any other weapon.
Trouble is I have a West Highland terrier at the moment. I have had various dogs before including a number of years with two. Perhaps I was inexperienced then and also one was not my dog to start with but came to us as an adult. We ended up with huge discipline issues as the dogs had more inter-action with each other than with humans, and my own previously well-trained Yorkie ended up as unruly as the new arrival. It wasn’t a huge problem cos they were both relatively small size dogs and were not aggressive or anything, just generally putting on attitudes if you know what I mean.
So now I am wary of having 2 dogs. I know that it is different if you get it as a pup and train it yourself. I am just very aware of the mastiff being much bigger and stronger whether a) my current westie will get intimidated (my suspicion is not but I still wanted to ask) and whether b) training a puppy is harder or easier if you already have a grown dog (answer to self - probably easier, but just checking)
Other questions for those of you who have mastiff’s (NS1, I think):
thanks
Mastiffs eat a huge amount. They are relatively gentle dogs given their size, however they need a LOT of training and will behave like puppies until they are about 18months-2years old. You’ll need a lot of patience. But once trained and a respectable age they are a real joy. The problem with big dogs is the damage they can do while they grow up!!
Thanks, woodstock.
At the moment this seems to be the least stressful of not too many options to improve security, short of moving house.
Thought about an Alsation? they are IMHO the best dogs in the world. And scary to anyone who might have bad things on their mind. But they are also bloody annoying for the first 2 years and take a lot of training
PS i had 2 german shepherds and a pekingese at the same time. The Peke ruled the roost :)
A relative of mine has a Mastiff, although I can’t be sure if it is pure or mixed; but I do know that she commands and requires ALOT of attention and has ALOT of energy. Do you have a big place? It might be hard to keep her/him indoors all the time… would you want her running outside and then in, etc.? (of course, dog could be immune to the virus, but still might carry it in on feet).
I think the key would be in being able to properly train it as a watchdog/guarddog.
BTW I’m not officially a dog person, have never had one myself… so FWIW.
I have always had 3 to 5 dogs living in our home, A mastiff is NOT a breed for a novice. Maybe you can get additional input on ways to feel safe. Will you consider bringing more people into your home? Or working with your neighborhood for a community watch/barricade side streets etc.
ricewiki, my house is a good enough size as far as English houses go, with a fair sized garden. Not big, but enough to run and play around in even for a large dog. Plus we live near a big ‘commons’ land if you know English jargon. I won’t be keeping them indoors all the time. At the moment my dog has the run of the kitchen and the family room and the garden, but I don’t let him into the more ‘proper’ parts of the house, mainly because I have to reduce dirt for allergy reasons. If I keep that discipliine, maybe that will reduce potential damage (especially to my precious books!!!)
1mother,
“A mastiff is NOT a breed for a novice.”
Can you tell me specific problems? I don’t know mastiff’s but I’m not a novice either. As I said, I’ve had various dogs before. Thanks.
think of a 2 year old the size of a grown man that wants to PLAY NOW!! and you have to try and say no…. ;)
Woodstock,
“The Peke ruled the roost :)”
I’m quite sure! Aren’t they sort of born thinking they are royalty or something?
Oh, in case someone is not sure, I’m not talking about BULL mastiff, but an ENGLISH mastiff.
I’d agree with Woodstock – at 02:27
My impressions of my relative’s mastiff are the same. I do not know, however, the difference between a bull and English mastiff. This one is probably a bull.
You are talking about getting an enormous dog! We recently said goodby to a St. Bernard mix. that shared our home for 13 years, Easy as she was, if you are accustomed to smaller pets, prepare yourself for new and constant challenges with a “pony” in the house. Plus you will need to be on-guard . A large dog can swipe food quickly and discreetly with a single swallow! Shoes, leather furniture , all are tasty snacks to tempt him until you lay down the law. It would be fun, rewarding and all you’d ever hope for IF you get a dog with the perfect personality ( 50–50) . Ask yourself if you would adopt your new family member anyway, and to me that’s how I would decide.
“You are talking about getting an enormous dog!”
That is the whole point, from a security/deterrent point of view. A big dog is a challenge, but it’s also a good deterrent, for the same reason, otherwise i wouldn’t be asking here.
I know about dogs swiping food off the table! That was our biggest problem with the 2 dog situation that I talked about! :-)
I have a soft spot for dogs though. They are such personalities! Not much of a cat person, no offense to Melanie :-)
But I do need specifics with regards to this breed so please respond if you’ve ever owned/trained one. Thanks.
1mother,
“Will you consider bringing more people into your home? Or working with your neighborhood for a community watch/barricade side streets etc.”
Missed that. I have in my household between 2 and 8 people at various times. Neighbourhood watch exist, but that’s only good for watching, not when there is no police or other chaotic scenarios, to be honest. Remember that we don’t have guns and stuff (except for criminals, sometimes) so there is no line of defense once they get into your property. Plus I really would rather NOT have intruders than have the ability to deal with them once they get in.
Don’t kill me, but i’d suggest to go to your local animal shelter (SPCA or others) & save a dog by adopting one (whatever breed). And if convenient & affordable go with your dog for at least elementary obedience classes. Even if yr main motive is security, taking in a dog is like taking in a family member, need to give lotsa love & TLC, & u’ll reap rewards far greater than security. Trust me, i know this. :)
mamypoko, Thanks for your input. As I said earlier, I am a reasonably experienced dog owner, and I love my dogs.
OK, for those who are still wondering, I LOVE MY DOGS and I AM ALREADY A DOG OWNER.
However, now I am asking a specific question….
AND I am doing what a responsible dog owner should do, ask a lot of questions and do a lot of research before deciding. I have already looked up websites and read 2 different books on mastiffs. I am just asking personal experiences if anyone has any, please.
You must prep for the dog too. Store food, vitamins and know-how etc. I know you know.
lugon, yes, that’s why I am asking whether if push comes to shove it will be really bad if he has to live on dried dog food or even scraps for a while. This is one of the key questions that I have. I can prepare and all like I am already doing for my current westie, but I need the bottom line, so to speak
anon_22,
It shouldn’t be any problem to have two dogs. Just start traing soon after you get it. Train the mastif by itself - away from the other dog. Easier that way.
My friends English mastif eats anything. It is more what you let the dog get used to, and what you let it get away with.
Never heard of an English mastif that ran after cars - fwiw.
You need to be firm with it from the start though. Put limits in place from the go, and it should be alright.
It is a fearsome dog for outsiders. My friends dog is super friendly to friends - but very protective against strangers.
European,
Thanks, thats really useful.
“You need to be firm with it from the start though. Put limits in place from the go, and it should be alright.”
Yeah, I’m pretty firm with dogs, its getting my kids to be firm that is the difficulty. :-)
Would your friend have any recommendations on how to find a breeder? Can you email me if you have specifics? anon_22 AT hotmail DOT co DOT uk.
Thanks again.
My friend lives in Norway :-)
I would go to the Kennel Club, and ask them for a reputable breeder. They usually have lists.
:-(
I was just so hopeful for about 3 minutes…
I am probably going to go to kennel club plus the 2 different mastiff associations. As far as I understand, there are not many breeders, and pups are very hard to find. I think.
I would have 2 things for you to consider
1) Dogs I have had, 5 mostly large dogs (labs, spaniels, shepards) didn’t get “protective” until well after 2 years. I remember reading that about labs before we got our first one and it sure explained the other 2 dogs prior as well. While they all eventually ended up “sounding” ferocious when someone would come to the door, I know none of them would’ve known what or how to properly attack if that’s what I would’ve wanted done. Of course I never trained them to do so and actively discouraged any aggression. But I would think that you’re at best looking at 2 years +extensive training the average dog owner doesn’t know how to do, in order to get them terratorial enough to actively protect and attack.
2) As was stated before they eat a BUNCH and are very active i have a friend with a Newfoundland which weighs between 150–160 lbs (my lab weighs in at 95) both have ample rural countryside to run and play, mine goes through a 50 lb bag of the dog chow in 3 weeks, her’s in about 2.
Thanks for being a responsible dog owner learning about the breed before purchasing it.
anon_22 - while I do not have a Mastiff, I do have 3 dogs and the smallest was brought in last, so I can offer some hopefully useful advice regarding your little dog vs a large dog. It has been our experience that dogs are such social creatures that they work everything out in the end. I think your westie would do just fine with a larger breed. Since my smallest dog is now grown and is about 50 lbs, she easily rules the roost with the other much larger dogs. But when she was a tiny puppy of around 8 lbs, it scared me to death when a 90+lb dog batted her around in play - but she did just fine. My guess, from watching many dogs through the years, is that your westie(who is already firmly established in the family) will rule the Mastiff completely and that they would become devoted friends. We had a 120 lb dog that completely deferred to a much, much smaller 40lb dog. Good luck with your decision and keep us posted - I would be much interested in what you decide. (I love big, goofy, drooly dogs - so I may be a bit prejudiced here!) WIT
Eduk8or,
Thanks. About the 2 year thing, I did think about that and am slightly in conflict only to the extent that if a pandemic breaks out soon, we might all be so busily occupied and not able to give as much attention to the dog as I would like. (But then I also just realized that the kids will be home and they can take over a lot. My kids are teenage and young adult already FYI.) Having said that, a dog is a long term thing, and I would not want to stop my life for fear of a pandemic that might not happen for many years. So I guess I am still undecided on this aspect.
Also, vets might not be working. That is also a big concern.
Yeah, the food situation is tricky. I am not too bothered if it can survive on dry food, cos I have a lot of storage space. But if there are specifics like what kind of vitamins, that would be useful to know.
I also read from the dog breeds books that mastiffs need less exercise than their size would suggest, that in fact you need to be careful when they are pups to not over-exercise them cos they have joint problems. Having said that, we do live right next to the countryside, and its just a matter of crossing one street to get to large open spaces so that shouldn’t be a problem even if we have to be careful with social distancing or there is no fuel.
Still working on this, so please keep all advice coming. Much appreciation etc.
WIT, thanks for your comforting post. That’s what I thought too but I wanted to make sure :-)
Mastiffs are very sweet and gentle (by intent, anyway). I’m a dog person. According to my reading, dogs are descended from the Iranian (NOT western timber) wolves. Iranian wolves were around 45 lbs., short-haired and prick-eared. Feral packs in India will “revert to type” within about 3 generations, no matter what the pack started out looking like. My point is that it seems to me the more closely you stick to this “type”, the healthier the dog. Giant breeds tend to develop hip dysplasia and die around 7 to 9 yrs. old. No matter what breed you go with, a second dog generally will bond more closely with the 1st than with you, though still recognizing your top status, females will generally dominate males, 1st dog will generally dominate 2nd until 2nd reaches puberty, when status becomes an issue. They don’t know what size they are. An intruder knowing dogs will also know making sweet talk will get him successfully through the door past the Mastiff (or Doberman). Terriers are less easily bamboozled but there are downsides to living with an acrobatic and often aerial dog. Do your homework, go to dogshows to meet breeders, learn breed-specific behaviors and train, train, train. Be aware: there are some unethical breeders out there. Some breeds require jobs (Dalmatians, Border Collies). Ask questions and get references and good luck! giant
anon,
wow, almost every sentence of your post is valuable. thank you.
The best sentence being “They don’t know what size they are.”
:-)
I think this is the one thread where I have used most smiley faces.
:-)
Anon-22 I fully appreciate a Mastiff, I have looked into getting them myself as I am “big-dog” kind of person. The things that kept me from getting one first and foremost was the cost of acquisition and ownership. A pup here in the Mid-west costs close to $1000 (US), feed costs and then the vet bills. As you pointed out one of the breeds chronic health problems are joint issues but usually not until “middle age” just earlier than the most large dogs.
As far as your kids training the dog, I’m not sure I recall how “one-personed” a Mastiff is, but our labs have been a one-person dog when it came to training. Our current lab has been through 7 4-H dog shows 6 with my son and one with my daughter. I basically did all the training and then they learned how to make him do all the stuff their way. In reality he is a reluctant participant for them and usually is a passive-aggressive by not completing the required steps to his ability and training (dogs are soooo funny in how they show they are mad!) however, he’ll fly through all the events for me, practically flawlessly.
I guess the point I’m triying to make is check into how Mastiffs respond training by multiple individuals, I’d still be concerned about how to best train for “attack dog”.. I know I would not have the proper equipment to do so in order to protect myself during the “training exercises” and would have no idea how to encourage that type of behavior in some situations and yet be the peaceful loving “family” dog in others. Maybe some canine-force police officer who has done this could be of service.
anon_22
You make sense most of the time but on this occasion, you should reconsider your ill conceived motives. A dog should not be ‘purchased’ as a protection device. You have no idea how it will react to intruders and dogs do not normally present a sufficient threat to deter any serious intruder (they often end up dead, stolen or badly beaten in this situation). In a pandemic situation, I can’t see how it would help you.
You have no experience with big dogs and if you buy a Mastiff puppy, it will in all likelihood be no more of a threat to an intruder than your small dog. Dogs reared to attack intruders can easily turn on their owners/children as has been proven time and again - you should be very careful.
“I guess the point I’m triying to make is check into how Mastiffs respond training by multiple individuals,”
Thanks, I guess I didn’t think of that . You are right.
“I’d still be concerned about how to best train for “attack dog”..”
But I don’t want an attack dog. I want a gentle giant that looks ferocious but is not.
OOPS! That was me. Please disregard dangling giant.
anon_22 - one more thing that you might look into - I have no idea if this holds true with Mastiffs or not, but, with big, goofy Labradors - the females are more protective than the males, especially if they are fixed and never had puppies - In our experience and IMHO anyway - something you might want to check out since protection is key. About the size and health problems, if you go with any full breed, check out the parents. For instance, we had a 120lb Lab that lived to be 14(died from liver cancer) and never had hip problems - but our 8 yr old Lab has terrible hip dysplasia already (so did her mother). She is on medication (expensive medication) and is doing great, but it is something to consider. Don’t let it be a deterrent(sp?) though, since there are problems with other breeds too - I have a Bassett Hound/Dalmatian mix that is going to prone to spinal/back problems later on in life.;-)WIT
anon,
I think you misunderstand. I don’t want an attack dog. As I said in my last post that got crossed with yours, I want a ‘gentle giant’ that looks fierce but will fit in well with our family.
I don’t think my motives are ill conceived. Plenty of people rear dogs for protection. And just because dogs are bred or even purchased for some specific reason doesn’t mean that they won’t be loved and well cared for. Go and talk to police dog-handlers.
If you have a problem with dogs being ‘purchased’ you should go visit a breeder and find out how much effort and commitment it takes to breed good dogs.
“You have no idea how it will react to intruders and dogs”
That’s true but some breeds are pretty consistent in temperament; that’s why I am picking carefully.
I went through the same process with my other dogs, matching their temperament and needs with our family situation.
I would consider adopting a older dog. Puppies are great- but large breed puppies need to be fed carefully. If they are overfed and grow too quickly they can do damage to their bones. I have adopted 3 adult german shepards. They were all over the age of 10. I did not have to go through the puppy stage, training, having to get them spayed or neutered. The dogs I adopted were already trained. They were very protective of my son and I. The only downside is that I only had 5 to 8 years with them, but I do not regret it at all. A website that I have found useful, and adopted a dog from is Petfinder.com. They have info on all breeds, have dogs up for adoption from all over, it is a very good website.
WIT,
yeah, that’s what I read too, that females are more protective. Plus they are lighter.
What does a Basset hound/Dalmatian mix look like, I wonder?
:-)
DebP, thanks. I’ve not heard other people saying grown dogs are easier, so its good to know at least a different opinion. But I will probably want to train it myself just to be on the safe side, because it is such a large breed and if it doesn’t respond to my discipline then I am in trouble!
anonymous at 7:45 - I have never “trained” a dog to attack intruders, however, after years of having large dogs and small children - my dogs were and are sweet, loving, gentle giants to my family BUT I believe they would fight to the death to protect any one of us. They have not been trained to do this, they have been loved, hugged, kissed, well fed, played with and talked to like they were my kids. Our vet told me years ago that dogs do not have to be trained to be protective, they are naturally protective of those they love.Anon_22 has never mentioned or alluded to training an attack dog, she simply wanted advice on a particular breed and advice concerning how it would affect her much smaller dog. While I would never leave any dog with a baby or young child without supervision, now that my children are much older, I certainly do consider 200 pounds of devoted, loving dogs to be the best protection my family has, save me and my shotgun! Dogs are animals and should be respected as such - but I think Anon_22 is well aware of that and you have missed her intent.
Anon_22 - Re: a Bassett Hound/Dalmatian - picture how funny looking that could look…….and then add some! The length and height and stubby little legs of a bassett, complete with sad eyes and fairly long ears, and the coloring and personality of a Dalmatian!! Very strange, very devoted to us, dislikes strangers, wears a pink tag around her neck that says “Mama’s Baby” and sleeps with her head on my husbands’ shoulder.
Anon_22, two things to consider:
….solar lighting doesn’t require 25 lbs of dogfood per week & might be less stressful.
….who will care for your dog if you are sick? Is a neighbor able & willing to take in such a big animal from a home with sickness? Will they at least throw dogfood into your fenced yard and provide water somehow so he’ll be able to survive until you get better?
I’ve found that the size of a dog’s protectiveness is found in his heart, not his stature. I agree with the post suggesting you go to the humane society & find a dog of moderate size that you ‘connect’ with — in the end, he’ll give his life protecting you as much as a huge dog would.
anon-22 I’m sorry to say that I agree with mamypoko – at 04:34. I’ve adopted ‘shelter’ dogs, young and old, and they’ve always adjusted to the dog ‘in house’. Years ago a man broke into my house, kicked in the storm door, and my Shepard/Wolf hybrid who was normally very protective (too much so) simply barked, didn’t attack. She may have been as startled as I was. (Fortunately, I’d seen the man coming across the yard and had called the sheriff who came immediately. The guy went to jail.) Anyway, one can’t depend on a dog for protection if that is your main focus, IMO. And I advise anyone to avoid hybrids. I’ve loved her deeply and she is so beautiful but it’s been 14 years of hyper hyper vigilence as she’s been extremly unpredictable around children. She even passed her puppy school early on. She did not come from the shelter but rather from a neighbor up the street.
Sorry, I know this isn’t the specific info that you need right now. It’s so great that you’re looking for feedback on this though!
Don’t expect a dog to protect the household. Their job is to alert the leader (you) to threats. They look to you for protection, not vice versa. My breed is the boxer, but all breeds have drawbacks and shortcomings. It’s big enough and fearsome-looking enough to give one pause. In reality, they bark and then lick a lot (don’t tell anyone). Dachsunds are great watchdogs and are very protective. You don’t want a dog that would be protective beyond seriously discouraging unwanted entry - it would be an unreliable dog - a 3yr. old with loaded shotgun. Please, please, please - spend a LOT of time researching this and pick a breed you can realistically live with, love and care for.
I have had several german shepherds through my life. They are very territorial, excellent guard dogs for the area surrounding your house. Often when you are outdoors they will place themselves somewhat at a distance from you where they can observe the surrounding terrain. And they put up a fearsome show if somebody starts to intrude into this area. They believe their purpose is to guard the place, (though not necessarily you, because you are the “alpha dog”). God forbid you get one where they feel cornered. So this is a dog that you place in a room where entry is most likely. An intruder will be shocked at the fury of a surprised and cornered german shepherd.
There are other scrappy looking breeds out there that are not so large but would scare people off - boxer, german pointer, german shepard, larger terriers (often confused with pitt bulls but are not). I think in the long run you should be getting a dog because that is what your family wants, not because of possible H2H. If you really truly want another dog, thren you are right that you have to pick and choose the dog acccording to traits and what will work best with your family.
Oh - another great LARGE dog (I’m talking put a saddle on it) is a Leonburger. There are much less common but are huge, good with families and very protective. They still drool a lot but don’t shed much, despite the bushy hair. Good friends had one that they got from a breeder in Belgium - they are easier to find in Europe vs the U.S.
my boyfriend has had mastiffs for several years now, in addition to a very small mutt his family took in when it was young.
sadly, unlike you, he did not do his homework well beforehand, and the dogs grew up with both insufficient and inaccurate training. the mother dog was an adult already and the son was almost one year when i met them for the first time. they suffered from very bad behavior, but in just a few weeks, they were responding well to positive reinforcement, so it did not seem like they were untrainable.
there was never a problem with the smaller dog; in fact, both mastiffs were afraid of the little rascal, and the male dog would even cower in the corner when the little one (sufficiently small to carry around) barked at him!
the mastiffs are big (literally and figuratively) softies. the son flopped on my lap the day i met him. these two in particular would prefer to sit by your side or under a tree in the yard all day long. unlike a golden retriever, a mastiff is probably not going to be following you around with a tennis ball. i tried many times to get the mastiffs to play ball, but they never seemed interested, so i doubt a mastiff would be looking for ways to sneak out to chase cars (do you have a fenced-in yard?).
one of the mother’s pups went to live in an apartment setting with a relative’s family. in that house, there was already a small dog present, and there was no problem there either, sizewise or place-in-the-pack-wise. their only issue was making sure the furniture hadn’t been consumed while the family was out of the house.
what i might consider most with getting a mastiff are its cost (to buy and thereafter; they eat a ton) and proper training (especially because of its size; also socialize it well). both the mastiffs i know had to have minor surgery for cherry eye, although i don’t know how common of a problem that is. they are not old enough yet to show any signs of hip dysplasia (ask the breeder about that..).
i just remembered that people in my boyfriend’s country feed their dogs raw chicken and bones for protein, yikes. glad bird flu has not reached south america yet..
Anon: I own a 200 pound male Mastiff. Yes, he does afford me some security due only to his size. But, PLEASE, do not buy a Mastiff for security reasons only. They are very big, lovable dogs but require an enormous amount of attention and love. It is truly unfair to buy such a dog purely to protect your family.
I have owned this dog for 6 years and have never, ever seen an aggressive act out of him. Again, his size is somewhat prohibitive, but I am not the least bit convinced that he would not be the first thing to run and hide under a bed should he be threatened or the family threatened.
You are better off having a recording of a big dog barking than taking on the responsibility of a large dog and having to feed and care for it during a pandemic.
However, if you are looking for a lovable family pet that is totally devoted to you, consider a Mastiff (just have a lot of slobber towels around).
Sidenote: My brother is a judge and he heard of a case where a woman bought a Doberman in that she had been attacked by a former boyfriend. Well, as luck would have it, the former boyfriend returned to attack her again. The woman started to scream and the Doberman attacked HER and caused significant facial injury. Just be careful when you buy a dog for attack reasons. You or one of your kids may be at the other end of it - they are animals and thought they can be trained, they don’t “think”, they “react”.
Anon: Sorry, forgot to put in other points specific to the breed (by the way, little difference between Bull and English Mastiff)
1. They run about 150 - 200 pounds; 2. They shed; 3. They drool; 4. They lay on your feet; 5. You do not need a big yard, you need a big bed; 6. They don’t eat as much as you would think; 7. They love people and kids and usually get along with other animals; 8. Fiercely loyal; 9. Do not live long (usually around 8–10 years); 10. Double or triple the costs of ALL vet bills due to their size; 11. Get arthritic so plan on “hoisting” their weight up into the car each time; 12. Are known to develop cancer; 13. Did I mention drool??? They can “shake” that stuff all over the walls and ceiling; 14. The most lovable, adorable, funny, royal, majestic, handsome animal I have ever owned.
Hi all, I’m back. Thanks for all your great input. I know that not everyone thinks like me, well that’s why we are here, right? :-)
Just to answer a couple of factual points, I do have a large family who will all be here if and when TSHTF, so there are plenty of spare caretakers if anything happens to me. Also, I already have solar lights.
Secondly, people have different approaches and preferences, so I appreciate your input, and often times we write here on this forum not just to address other people’s questions, but also just to put out a general opinion, and that’s fine too.
However, I do want to point out that I was looking for specific information about a particular breed of dog, not how I should protect myself, not whether adopting from the SPCA is a better option, not whether I should ‘purchase’ or own another dog, not whether some other breed is better (although that is useful, sort of, but seeing that I’ve looked at many, I guess it’s kinda limited), etc.
Thirdly, I have a feeling some of you are not dog owners. I won’t say who, and if you are a dog owner, then thank you for your input. If you are not, then thank you for your input also, but just understand that this is a very personal matter, and if you find yourself having opinions consider your opinion expressed and taken notice of.
Now, I can sit here and write a lot of BS about all the many other reasons why I want another dog, and I do have other reasons, but you know what? That is private. I don’t need to empty my heart and have other people examine all my motivations to justify getting another dog. I’m not talking about anything strange or illegal or unethical, for chrissakes.
I understand the problems, as some of you point out, and thank you for giving me specific information, there are quite a few useful ones so I won’t name them.
Now a few more specifics, my experience of dogs is that they are wonderful loyal creatures, my little westie is the fiercest protective thing you ever see, although he never attacks he gives a good noisy show. We often have little weazel type creatures coming in under the fence and he gets SO annoyed, he looks like he is PERSONALLY offended! And of course he is, bless him! :-)
So thank you all, and I AM still looking for someone who has actually owned a mastiff to give me some personal anecdotal experiences. That will be great!
So yeah, I still have to run this through some of the family.
Anon: You have now found someone that owns a Mastiff! I hope I have answered your questions, but feel free to e-mail me at jrussell@fei.org if you have any further questions.
I do feel I know alot about the breed because I just love my guy and have done a lot of research. Would welcome the opportunity to discuss.
Anon_22, I would think again about getting a mastiff. Especially if you have a highland terrier. Mastiff’s require alot of training and do not mentally mature until they are over 2 years of age. Sweet dogs, as long as you get a responsible breeder. If the breeder is not responsible, you are looking at a dog that has the potential to have massive problems. Behavioral and health.
We have giant dogs. Giant breed dogs can have “alpha” size issues and want to be in charge. Especially during their teenage doggie years. This means that either you or your husband will have to spend alot of time training and working with them to help them learn that you are in charge, not them. Because of their size, they will assume it is them. Children or teenagers in the family should not be in charge of training giant breed dogs. (my opinion only).
We also have a terrier. This terrier is constantly on alert. More so than the other dogs. Patrolling the windows and doors and can differentiate car sounds and is alerted to hawks and eagles flying overhead, as well as jets. She can hear my husband’s vehicle up to 2 miles away from home. She has a different bark for many different situations.
We have thought about home security issues related to dogs. Male dogs protect and survey their environment. Female dogs tend to protect *you*. Large dogs are slower to react than terrier types. I would rather have a dog that immediately alerts me that something is wrong. That way I could be prepared “to greet” intruders :-)
Most intruders, I think, want to enter your house unnoticed. A furiously barking dog helps to prevent that scenario. The really awful intruders are not going to care what size dog is there. So, I’d rather have a dog that is highly alert and can summarize situations rapidly than a giant dog that is slower to the alarm and doesn’t allow me or my husband enough time to get into . . .”protection mode”.
A mastiff . . .if you decide to go that route. . . I would plan on having a minimum of 40–50 pounds of dry food per month. And, one can of wet per day. I would keep the dry food in the original bags and store in metal trash cans with secure lids in a cool, dry place. Members of the Order Rodentia can easily gnaw holes through plastic storage containers. And, since I would imagine that pet food would be the lowest of low food priorities in a pandemic, one might stock up for the entire length of time you think a pandemic might last PLUS time for after a pandemic where pet food production might not be a priority. If . . .one might be imagining a worst case scenario.
Additional sidenote from WIT - I agree dogs are unpredictible because in my house, we have to be careful how we “play” - my teenaged daughter popped me with a towel and 2 of my dogs became very agressive towards her - 1 grabbed the towel from her and 1 bit her on the butt - not hard, but certainly a warning for her to stop. We think they know who feeds them! However, I still maintain that a large dog will be a deterent(sp?) for a lot of people - we have a hard time getting pizza delivered to our house - and I have yet to meet the sales person who has the gumption to stand on my front porch longer than a few seconds!
something i forgot to add in my other post was the issue of using the dog as a security measure for your family. if you are thinking specifically of protection during a pandemic and all the hell that could break loose, consider how effective a dog could be as a deterrent. for example, my boyfriend’s family lives in an area where people are regularly robbed at knife- and gunpoint for the little they have. the family’s property is surrounded by a tall cinderblock kind of wall (common there), and on three occasions, would-be thieves have tossed poison over the wall to neutralize the animals. once they were successful, and the little dog ate the poison and died. the same thing happened to their next door neighbors’ dog.
if there is widespread desperation to the point of house-plundering, i doubt a dog, no matter its size or bark, would be of much use.
Janet,
thank you. Yeah, I got that drool bit. I have a SUV but I think I will need a ramp to get him in the back cos it’s a little high, and even though it’s a big dog, its kinda clumsy, right?
“However, if you are looking for a lovable family pet that is totally devoted to you, consider a Mastiff (just have a lot of slobber towels around).”
“The most lovable, adorable, funny, royal, majestic, handsome animal I have ever owned.”
To be honest? After I started looking, the more I found out, the more I love this animal. I never knew before that a combination of bigness, clumsiness, gentleness, and loyalty is so appealing.
Now I do have a bed question? Where does yours sleep? Do you have a specifc spot for him and does he stick with it? I am guessing ‘not always’ but does that become a real bother for you? My westie at the moment is supposed to have his bedding in a corner of the kitchen, but of course he gets on the sofa whenever he thinks he can get away with it. But seeing that he is trained and allowed only in the rooms where it doesn’t matter a lot, often we just let him.
ange D, thanks for the food stuff, that’s a great idea, with the containers cos i should be doing that with what I have bought already!
WIT,
I haven’t spoken to any breeders yet but I know that they have different ideas about how early should a pup leave its mother. I’m thinking in terms of training, do you have any experience about early vs late?
I do think a large dog, or any dog, might give “pause” to a possible intruder. They don’t want to get bitten and end up needing medical attention in search of food. It may sway them into going into another’s home.
However, animal shelters are full of large dogs that were purchased for security reasons alone and then the owners decided it was too much work. This is not the case in ANON’s situation where it is obvious she/he is a loving dog owner and is curious about the Mastiff breed.
Their size is one of the benefits of a large dog. I feel very secure with my 200 pounder when I go for a walk or when a stranger comes to the door. I used to tell everyone that he was a “wuss” and all bark and no bite. I no longer say that. Let them think he is capable of harm.
If there are preppers out there that are considering getting a dog for the family for the usual reasons of love, companionship, etc., now might be a good time in that a dog’s bark may deter an intruder. I would just never suggest purchasing any animal strictly for security purposes. This is a recipe for disaster and is cruel to the animal.
Again, ANON, please know this is not directed at you and your quest for a Mastiff. I just happen to know of people who have bought a Mastiff for security and have been sadly disappointed in that then they figured out they had to actually TAKE CARE of the dog!!! If you do decide to get a wonderful Mastiff, consider the Mastiff Rescue Society. They have alot of adult dogs that are beautiful and trained (eliminating that puppy stage which is hard work). The dogs would be free, otherwise you are looking at about an $1,800 price tag, and you would be rescuing and loving a wonderful pet.
dimux,
“the mastiffs are big (literally and figuratively) softies.”
That’s what I keep reading everywhere, but it is still good to hear it. From yours and Janet’s posts, can I feel a little reassured that they are pretty consistent in temperament? As long as I check the pedigree, I guess. Right?
Mastiff Rescue society, is that American? I live in the UK.
Anon: Send me your e-mail address and I would be delighted to answer any and all questions about Mastiff’s.
My Mastiff sleeps on the floor (on a large dog bed) next to my side of the bed. When my husband gets out of bed in the morning, the Mastiff IMMEDIATELY takes his place and lays with his head on my shoulder. It is quite a site….keeps me warm in the winter. Did I mention that they snore!!! He is my baby - my sons often say I love him more than I love anything else! Not exactly true, but close.
It will be a sad, sad day when he dies (they don’t live long), but I would get another in a minute - despite the drool.
By the way, they get alot of attention when you are out and about. Everyone wants to stop and see the dog. Everyone wants to know where they sleep and what they eat. They are truly majestic.
anon_22 AT hotmail DOT co DOT uk
WIT,,
I am doing mental acrobatics trying to get a mental picture of your Bassett/Dalmatian!
and the pink tag!
hehehe
I had a mastiff, until he got out of the yard and an evil neighbor poisoned him with antifreeze. I adopted my mastiff from a shelter, at the age of 3 months, because someone had taken him in there. Their reason for abondoning him was, “He will be too big.”
They really are gentle giants but they are also protective and have a scary, deep bark. If you’re wanting one for protection during a possible pandemic, I would say to avoid getting one. They will eat you out of the house in no time. They require very large amounts of food. A large male german shepard will serve the same purpose, eat less, and probably live longer for you. They may also be easier to train. The average lifespan for a mastiff is only 8 years, sad to say, because of their enormous size.
If you have the time and patience to properly train a mastiff (you can’t have a mastiff that jumps on people when they come over, for example - yikes!), then consider one, but keep in mind that they eat A LOT.
and then there’s the water issue to consider. They must drink nearly a gallon a day. maybe not?
Anon_22 - Most of my past dogs were strays/abandoned and were nearly grown when we got them. But of the current 3 - we did get 2 as puppies. The largest, a huge Chocolate Lab, we got when she was 7 weeks old. Lab puppies are difficult at best to do anything with (ask Hillbilly Bill right about now - he has two of the little darlings and they are currently eating his basement!) and I believe the chocolates are worse because of the inbreeding it took to get the color. Training was almost impossible until she had her adult teeth - it was still difficult, but her teeth weren’t as sharp;-). The Bassett Hound/Dalmatian was very young - someone put her in our backyard (we have a 6 foot privacy fence so this was intentional) and the vet thought maybe 5–6 weeks. She was hard to potty train, but was by far the best puppy we ever had. Very obedient (except with house-breaking) and extremely easy to train. Now, a note - when the chocolate Lab was a puppy - I had very young children and she did not get anywhere near the amount of time devoted to her that the BH/D did. The BH/D was rocked like a baby for the first 4 months we had her (until she got too long to fit comfortably in my lap) and she has no idea she is actually a dog. I would check with the Mastiff experts on how easy a puppy vs an older dog is to train.
ANON-22: In my opinion, you should allow pups to stay with the dam until 8weeks of age. Yes, I know most people sell them at 6 wks. and they are getting weaned at 6 wks. BUT - at 6 wks they are really just getting mobile. An extra 2 wks with mom allows them to trot a few feet away from mom to explore but run back to mom if startled. You’d be amazed at what a difference in the overall mental health and temperament stability this makes - a huge self-confidence boost for the pup. Oh, and another thing - it’s a good idea to remember that a (chronically) frightened or nervous dog is a dangerous dog - to you as well as others. I’ve raised many dogs of the mastiff family and they are wonderful. Just to be safe, don’t allow it to play hand games (no mouthing) other than tug. This is a method of reinforcing the no teeth on people rule. Just a firm “NO” is sufficient, followed by “good dog” in your up voice. Next, demand to know your breeder and speak to others who have bought pups from him. Look at the breeder’s breeding stock - how old are they? If he is breeding them at under 3 yrs.of age, he can’t know what genetic deficiencies he may be reproducing. How old are his oldest? What have his dogs mostly died from and at what ages? Does he have his stock OFA x-ray certified prior to breeding? Has he ever produced litters with congenital mange? I could go on but I’m sure you get the picture. Remember, you will love ANY puppy, but in the long run it’s easier on you and most cetainly on the dog to love the healthiest pup you can find.
anon_22,
“can I feel a little reassured that they are pretty consistent in temperament? As long as I check the pedigree, I guess. Right?”
yes, i think you can. in the five months i lived with the two mastiffs, i met one of the mom’s other pups a couple of times, and she had their same temperament, and i spent an afternoon with a mastiff breeder who lived in the countryside and had a number of dogs, all the same too. sweeties. when i was doing some research about the breed when one of the dogs got sick, i found a sentence on the mastiff club of america’s website that i have never forgotten: “..they are very sensitive to the reactions of their people, most Mastiffs can be absolutely crushed by harsh words.”
janet, i had totally forgotten how they snore!
Anon_22 --- If you can find one, this is one Mastiff that I absolutely fell in love with after seeing a special on The Animal Planet one night a few months ago—they are amazing animals, and will give their life for you without flinching!!
WIT,
“The BH/D was rocked like a baby for the first 4 months we had her (until she got too long to fit comfortably in my lap) and she has no idea she is actually a dog.”
Can I say ‘I love you’ here without people getting the wrong meaning??? ;-)
2beans, I thought 8 weeks was early? I think I got that from one mastiff association website here that said 8–10 weeks or 8–12 weeks. I guess that time frame sounds ok, right?
Also, good to know that input about teeth. I probably would know when it comes to shove but still its good to be reminded upfront.
“Does he have his stock OFA x-ray certified prior to breeding? “
Can you explain this please?
OFA is a physical check done on the dog prior to adoption. It shows any signs of hip dysplasia <sp?> or bone infirmaties…
anon_22, I have some familiarity with training horses and dogs. I had an english mastiff years ago (and also a newfie in the same house…drool city). I currently own a rough collie (ie, Lassie). We have three disabled people in my home. Casey is just under a year old and we put in 5+ hours formal training every day as he learns how to be a well behaved member of the household and a working companion dog.
The questions you asked in your very first post revealed how you think about dogs, and makes me concerned about your ability to properly raise a giant breed. Mastiffs can be magnificent pets, but you cannot afford to make mistakes with a puppy. Giants can be hell to correct once they are imprinted with bad behaviors and physically powerful enough to resist remediation. The cost of a Mastiff puppy will pale in comparison to all the training YOU will need in order to welcome your dog into a home where the rules are clear and concise enough so he will know how to behave from the get-go.
a) my current westie will get intimidated (my suspicion is not but I still wanted to ask)
When you bring a puppy into your home, you are the “alpha” animal. YOU set the tone. YOU tolerate or refuse to accept every behavior your dogs exhibit. Your westie will probably be curious and cautious when you bring the new dog home, but if a situation develops where the westie is intimidated, it will be because you allow the new dog to exhibit behaviors that show it has higher rank than the westie, and you validate the westies fear of the new dog.
and whether b) training a puppy is harder or easier if you already have a grown dog (answer to self - probably easier, but just checking)
Your puppy will want to please the alpha in the household. He doesn’t have a clue what the rules are. He does not know english. He doesn’t know one sound means approval and another disapproval. He isn’t human and will not respond like a human. He’ll look for signals he understands, and follow those. Are you the alpha or is the westie? If he’s following the westie’s cues, why would what YOU want matter to him?
Every dog you bring into your home needs to be trained by you, and by every other member of your family. YOU are the alphas. Alpha’s do not roughhouse, they do not engage in tug of war, they do not tolerate disrespect by allowing another dog to jump on them, lick them, or bite them. If you think its fun to grab your dog’s toy and mock growl and shake it while they hold on tight, or let him grab it from you and run off, or cuddle and let him stand on your chest and lick your face, you are telling your dog HE is the alpha. If he later ignores your commands and barks or lunges at a neighbor, he is simply displaying more Alpha behavior.
Other questions for those of you who have mastiff’s (NS1, I think):
1. Is it difficult to get the right breed 2. Is it important to get the right breed
Breed matters, but not as much as the health and personality of the individual dog. In other words, I would absolutely choose a healthy, outgoing mutt over a shy, fearful purebred Mastiff any day.
3. How to deal with drooling
Clean it up. You can’t do a dang thing about drooling. If you don’t want to spend your life cleaning slobber off the ceiling then choose a breed with a tighter mouth.
4. Do they bring in stuff from garden - you know, that kind of stuf
Overriding all consideration of breed is the fact that a dog is a DOG. Some dogs bring in dead birds, some dig up your garden, some attack the neighbor’s kids, kill your cat, chew up your woodwork, bark, bite, poop in the living room, snot up your windows, rip your curtains, devour your wife’s $600 shoes, etc. Some dogs are sweet and lovable and have no bad habits at all. If anyone says “this breed NEVER does that” cross that person off as unknowledgable. Its up to you to let your dog know when a behavior is unacceptable and train them NOT to do things you don’t want them to do.
5. Do they wander out or chase cars - my sweet little yorkie got run over that way sniff
In nature, dogs will wander the countryside together hunting for dinner. So yeah, they don’t think anything of wandering out your front door and right across the road… and some dogs are goofy enough to think they can herd or capture a volkswagon. Train them not to do these things.
6. How well do they deal with existing dog
Dogs are pack animals. They naturally accept other dogs. But lacking clear and defined leadership the dogs will attempt to form their own pack order, and that is where problems can occur. Dogs will fight and, on rare occasions may even kill each other, in order to move up in the pack. Submissive dogs can be picked on, or starved. As Alpha, do not allow this behavior.
7. I know they are supposed to be gentle, but how consistent is that?
Historically, larger breeds were more gentle and eager to please their handlers - BUT, there are so many unscrupulous breeders who know there is a market for large aggressive animals, gentleness is no longer something you can count on. Judge a puppy by its personality. You want to pick the pup that runs up to you with his tail wagging, and when he hears a noise goes to investigate, not the shy one that runs and hides when the wind blows. People make the mistake of thinking the shy pup will grow up to be the perfect little housedog - but exactly the opposite happens. Adult dogs show fear by barking and biting.
8. What kind of food do you give them? I am thinking of pandemic prep and not being able to get fresh food. My current dog is on a combination of dried and packaged wet feed and fresh meat, but would they do well if I run out of food and have to give them only dried dog foo? I am not so worried about the little one but a mastiff can present a problem very quickly.
I love a man who feeds his dog a raw food diet. :) But let’s face it, in a pandemic WE may be eating plain white rice. I have two garbage cans filled with high grade dry dog food that has been frozen and then sealed in mylar . I’m hoping Casey will eat less because he’ll be much less active than he is now. More of a concern is storing enough water for a large dog. On a warm day they can easily consume a gallon a day.
Sorry. Meant to say done with X-Rays…
Dang “post” button ;-)
floubug,
Don’t worry, I’m definitely the alpha in this household. I just pretend to be nice to soften people up. :-)
flourbug,
Still on the alpha question, the problem that I had with the 2 dog situation before was because the second adult dog belonged to my niece who would visit almost every other day but she didn’t actually lived with us. So we ended up with a situation where we never really established who was in charge. So you are quite right in that respect.
flourbug - me too - and I told my precious baby that the entire time I rocked her to sleep - uh, between lullabies, that is;-)
I have 4 dogs- English Springer Spaniel, Husky mix (with what I have no idea but she looks mostly husky), a Shih Tzu and a black lab/husky mix…of course the smallest dog (the shitzu) rules and he’s extremely alpha….If ANYONE comes to the house the dogs go NUTS (extremely annoying). I am quite sure any intruder would think twice about coming in my house. As soon as he got to the front door he’d have 4 dogs all crowded in barking nonstop. Having 4 dogs is not always fun when it comes to mud and barking but they definitely provide security!
HeatherinVT
I am under the impression that all shitzu’s are like that.
HeatherinVT - right there with you! Only 3 puppies here - but they absolutely attack the front door if anyone dares to knock or ring - bad for the door, good for security. Scares the heck out of anyone who comes over….hmmmmm….maybe that’s why we don’t get much uninvited company???
Anyone who is interested in a Mastiff should watch the movie “Turner and Hooch” prior to buying the dog.
Hooch is of the french mastiff breed. It is really an hysterical movie and will give you a good idea of the slobber that one deals with. Hooch tends to tear up alot of things in the house - my Mastiff has never chewed up anything. Don’t know.
Mastiff’s are not bird dogs, so you don’t have to worry about them dragging in things from the garden. They are not usually “scent” driven.
They are a pack animal and consider the family “their pack”. Two males together is not a good idea. They may fight. They don’t use their teeth (very, very tiny teeth) but they will flail their large size about and can hurt each other or pin each other to the ground. Think of a tackle on a football field.
They want to be with you (very near you) every moment of the day. Not a bad dog for an apartment - many might think they would be because of their size. Their favorite things is a bed or a couch - every apartment has one of those. If you have one in the city, though, you need to buy a BIG pooper-scooper. Nothing is small about this dog.
Would argue that they don’t eat as much as you would think. Maybe my perception of what constitutes a lot of food is somewhat off - I feed mine once a day, dry, high-protein dog food, a large dog bowl full - probably about 6 cups. Lots of water.
Very easy to train. I used a throw-chain. They don’t like to be startled. If he did something wrong, I threw the chain near him. If he pulled me while out on the leash, I threw the chain in front of him. After about a week, I just needed to rattle the chain in my pocket. They want your approval all of the time and act up only when not properly trained.
Some have suggested a German Shepherd over a Mastiff. I have had both. The only thing with a German Shepherd is that I was never 100% convinced he would not bite. He was well trained, but I knew he was capable of inflicting great harm. I also could not get an umbrella insurance policy because I owned a shepherd. They will not cover Shepherds, Pitt Bulls, Rotweilers and Doberman’s because their bite is so horrific and does so much damage. A Mastiff does not bite - of course he could break your leg - but he won’t bite.
I agree with other posters that their bark is something to behold. It will stop you in your tracks. It sounds like they are barking through a megaphone. It actually vibrates. They only let out a couple of short barks (it is not constant and annoying), but it resembles thunder. My theory is to leave some piles of dog poop in the front yard….if an intruder sees a pile that looks like it was left by a horse, he may be smart enough to go pick on another house!!
When a stranger comes to or gets near the house, my Mastiff comes very close to me yet in front of me. Not sure what he is capable of doing, but for sure he would knock them down. I have seen him jump from side to side and start to bark - not sure if it is in play or a way of warning. Either way, the effect is usually that the person does not want to find out!
anon_22 – at 11:42 — we ended up with a situation where we never really established who was in charge.
Really? Dogs don’t hide what they are. Their body language broadcasts their personality and intent. It takes 30 seconds for them to establish a pecking order. You’re applying human behaviors to dogs. Its PEOPLE who vote on who is in charge. Not dogs. :)
Watching in Texas – at 11:43 - flourbug - me too - and I told my precious baby that the entire time I rocked her to sleep - uh, between lullabies, that is;-)
WIT, lol. Mine fakes a sore paw for attention - and to get out of doing anything he doesn’t want to do. Because he’s working with mentally impaired people, there are times he gets accidentally injured. We all comfort him, and check to be sure its nothing serious. Wellll… he figured out that holding up a paw would get love and kisses and a treat. So now he comes limping out to the kitchen, holding up his paw and moaning. I take a frozen meatball out of the freezer and Saints Be Praised, its a Miracle! As soon as I fling that thing he’s off and running, completely cured! He knows I know he’s faking, so its a big joke between us.
flourbug, I meant between myself and my niece, not between the dogs.
janet
“I feed mine once a day,”
I am surprised, cos I was reading about 3 meals a day! I thought 3 meals seemed excessive, but one meal is a surprise too.
Janet,
“The only thing with a German Shepherd is that I was never 100% convinced he would not bite”
Me too!
flourbug,
“Mine fakes a sore paw for attention - and to get out of doing anything he doesn’t want to do. Because he’s working with mentally impaired people, there are times he gets accidentally injured. We all comfort him, and check to be sure its nothing serious. Wellll… he figured out that holding up a paw would get love and kisses and a treat. So now he comes limping out to the kitchen, holding up his paw and moaning. I take a frozen meatball out of the freezer and Saints Be Praised, its a Miracle! As soon as I fling that thing he’s off and running, completely cured! He knows I know he’s faking, so its a big joke between us.”
lol…
Just chiming back in on a couple of issues here - can’t keep up in real time because I’m at work - . Anon-22 if 8 wks is early in your neighborhood, then good for your neighbors! My reference was that earlier than 8 wks is TOO early. Now to feeding. All puppies need 3 meals a day until at least 6mos. then mine have always done fine on 2. I have 2 medium boxers, 55lbs and 75 lbs. The larger the breed, the more susceptible to gastric torsion, a condition in which the gut twists and gangrene can develop in a blink. The larger the meal, the more risk of torsion, or “bloat” as it’s called. I wouldn’t feed any dog only once a day but you’ll have to make up your own mind. Also, I know London isn’t known for high temps but you should be aware that brachyocephalic,(flat-faced), dogs are not tolerant of temperature extremes. The reason I’ve been given is that they have as much pharyngeal tissue as breeds with normal muzzle length but it’s accordion-pleated, hanging from the palate, due to shorter storage space. Thus, if stressed to the point of panting, too much panting can cause this tissue to swell and can possibly lead to suffocation. Talk to your vet about cold weather. Of couse I am talking about an hour’s exercise in 98degree heat. But just so you know. My 2 beans (people call the whole-body wag of the boxer “kidney beaning”) sleep with their humans and are total family members. There are no sweeter dogs than those within the mastiff family.
Oh yes - knew I was forgetting something about adoptable age. When they stay with their littermates those extra 2 weeks, thru rough-housing with their siblings they learn, or more accurately are taught, bite inhibition.
anon_22 – at 12:19
flourbug, I meant between myself and my niece, not between the dogs.
Ah, I misunderstood. Just keep your head up high, stiffen your body, and push her against the nearest wall until she bows to your superiority. ;)
anon_22,
I’m also a dog lover and thinking about getting a golden retriever right now, one that the cats could train.
With regard to the mastiff, the one thing I’m reading here that convinces me that you are on the right track is the comments about the bark. That’s the thing you want, a scary-sounding bark. That way, the bad guys never get in the house.
STOP THE PRESS!!!! Nobody has mentioned the Noble Newfoundland!!!! This is the VERY best dog to have!!!! (Lord Byron thought so too!!!!) They are HUGE - my female is 150 lbs!! but they are not at all difficult!! They are naturally extremely patient with children (often used as companion dogs for challenged kids, cats and other dogs - they eat Iams or Eukanuba ‘large breed’ dry kibble in moderate amounts, i.e. not expensive to feed! Although they are delighted to go for a walk if you insist - they are extremely sedentary around the house! No damage except maybe some puppy chewing if you arent vigilant. They are easy to train - MUCH smarter than mastiffs!!! They have a very deep warning growl and serious no-nonsense bark if intruders approach - they would defend you with their lives! They are a great source of added warmth in winter - to curl up to a Newf is better than a duvet!! They are true ‘people dogs’ they need to be near their ‘pack’ of humans, not chained outside - the drool is not excessive except when they have just had a drink - or are very hot (or if they are hoping you will share your toast!!) - I just keep a paper towel handy to wipe the chin occasionally. Newfs were originally used as ‘whaling dogs’ on the whale fishing boats of Newfoundland - they are powerful swimmers and often used in ‘search & rescue’ by Coast Guard! Anon-22 - You NEED a Newf!!!
gharris, I sure did mention a newf.
I LOVE Newfies! I had one in upstate NY, and I would definitely have one now - except for the fact we have such intensely hot summers in Florida. I’m afraid the dog might die if we had a prolonged power failure. If I lived in a cooler climate I’d have a Newfie by my feet. They are all you say, and more.
My vote always will be for herding type dogs, preferably of mixed breed.Stronger genes and fewer temperament problems. That said however : if you go online now and start actively dearching you will find a Mastiff Rescue Society. These are people experinced with and devoted to the breed. They will help you find THE RIGHT individual dog for your house. And be prepared for an adult. A well trained adult will adapt to your house and you eliminate 99% of the puppy problems. Very often animals come to breed rescue societies through no fault of their own and no fault of their owners.(People die, homes burn down and people have to move, etc) With the rescue societies you can often ‘try out’ different individuals, you get lots of help from loving people, and you are not stuck and don’t have to decide all at once.
Oh, one more thing - http://www.petfinder.com/ You can search for purebreed dogs up for adoption. Isn’t Gilbert adorable?
Thanks gharris, kc, etc.
But but but I live in the UK :-(
Any help with UK sources?
to gharris: I have been trying to figure out what the ‘other half’ of our puppy is and now that I hear you I think hmmm maybe newfie. His mom was an Australian cattle dog but smallish. He is 12 months old, 125 lbs, sweet as honey, and looks a little like a hairy Rott with a bigger head. He has webbed toes and LOVES to hijack the bathtub.And very obedient- once he learns a command you never have to tell him twice.
ANON_22- Shih Tzu’s have that “napolean complex”! LOL! But they are fun little (but TOUGH) dogs. He has me wrapped around his finger (unfortunately he knows it too)!
WATCHING IN TEXAS - thankfully I had all 4 dogs at different stages- we didn’t get a new one until the last one was out of the puppy stage! I love each of our dogs very much but I would NEVER have 4 dogs in the house at once again! Just the amount of hair I have to sweep up every day in the winter is enough to change my mind about owning more than one at a time in the furture!! LOL! Most of the people that drop by already know our dogs so they aren’t afraid of them but the meter reader certainly gets nervous and at times will not get out of his vehicle because they all run towards it barking!! LOL! They have a viscious bark and two of them would definitely bite if they felt we were in danger!
Good luck to Anon 22, and thank you all. Nicest thread here. One day I will be trotting down the Giralda Farms, to look for a throwaway Labradoodle. But I will have to be ready to give up travel, so its a tossup. Good advice.
I hate to bring this up, and some might think it ridiculous, but one of our concerns is that if there is a pandemic, and if its really bad with significant food shortages with lots of hungry people looking for food, we will keep our well-fed animals (2 plump cats) out of sight and away from the front windows. Why? So the animals themselves dont look like a meal on the hoof to someone who hasnt eaten for a while and become the target. Not only would a healthy looking animal be appealing on its own, but someone might begin to wonder where it was getting its food to stay so healthy in the first place….
kc - yes webbed toes are a good clue!! what’s his tail like? big plume?? what colour? newfs usually all black - or the ‘Landseer type has a black head (black & white body!!)Our previous used to try to rescue me from the bathtub - soft grip on my elbow!! Gentle, but insistent!! They are just SO special!!! Another used to nap in empty bathtub - coolest place in the house!! Sorry flourbug - I see your earlier Newfy note now - blind in old age!!
Anon-22 There is a Newf breeder in Cambridge http://tinyurl.com/g3out - dont know anything abt her though - would be happy to arrange an adoption from good newf breeder in Canada if you want - they ship to UK!!
Mosaic – at 14:56
Mosaic has a good point. Does anyone else have any thoughts on this? Talk about keeping things safe… holy.
I have a friend with a mastiff. He’s sweet, drools a lot, and sheds much more than she expected from a shorthaired dog. He’s afraid of the lake and looks away from lapping waves. He’s older now and has arthritis and some growths on his back and has had to make a few emergency trips to the vet for something intestinal. He’s a great barker and everyone loves him.
anon 22: Anon 22
Old English Mastiff Club Rescue Mrs Irene Boner (Co-ordinator) Email: mastiff@irebon.freeserve.co.uk
There was another I found on google but didn’t include because it was only names with telephone numbers. Really, these folks are out there, they want to help, and most are very knowledgeable. They especially want a good match to make the dogs and people happy, so they will be honest about all the down sides of each dog.
Ricewiki!! Stop worrying!! When TSHTF you and your SO can come out to my farm - my newfy will protect you and if things get really bad beyond my preps - well. . . they are a big dog!!! :-))
Just a word about adopted older dogs - if they have been mistreated, like ours was, it can require more work, but in the end, it is worth it. Our middle dog, a Lab, had been beaten and starved - when we first got him - he’d crawl under the dining room table if I yelled for the kids that dinner was ready. And, any time anyone touched a magazine or a newspaper he cowered. It took us many months to get him to completely accept the fact that we were NOT going to beat him, ever. Then it took a little longer for him to get as cuddly as the other dogs have always been. Now, if a storm comes up and it thunders, he gets in bed with me and lays his head on my shoulder and shakes - he was always scared, he just didn’t know how to get unscared. But in the end, one of the best dogs I have ever had - very sweet and wants badly to please and extremely affectionate now - like he finally figured out how to make up for lost time. Just remember - it’s like adopting an older child with some bad stuff in their past - it’s different that being handed a newborn, but still worth it.
Lily - I agree - what a pleasant thread. A lovely diversion from some of the other things we are all dealing with.
We adopted a splendid German Shepherd that would not breed for the breeder. The first day she slurpped down an enormous pot of spaghetti and was mine for life. She dogged my footsteps. Then our very very alpha male, who thought he was Lord of 6.000 acres and probably had visited every interested female in that area, persuaded her that being a mother was really a good idea. The gorgeous animal changed in one week from a miserable dog to a very happy animal. Love them, and they will love back, generously. Occassionaly one sees a psycho dog, but they are far saner on the whole than humans.
kc, thank you. Will certainly chase them up!
WIT, I feel conflicted about adopting older dogs. I know they need a home and all that. On the other hand, if this is the first time we are taking on a much bigger breed, I just want to be extra sure that I can handle the situations.
Anyway, I’m getting my kids to read this thread and tell me what they think!
In any case, what I think I will do is to all research/homework, etc then put it aside, sleep on it for a couple more weeks before I make up my mind.
Hope you will all dream about cuddley Newfy dogs!! Nana the dog in J.M. Barrie’s Peter Pan was a Newf:- “Mrs. Darling loved to have everything just so, and Mr. Darling had a passion for being exactly like his neighbours; so, of course, they had a nurse. As they were poor, owing to the amount of milk the children drank, this nurse was a prim Newfoundland dog, called Nana, who had belonged to no one in particular until the Darlings engaged her.”
Melanie, my sister has a golden retriever. He’s a lovely golden (really!) colour and has the temperament of a saint. They have another terrier (like me!) and the little mite wraps him round her fingers. He loves to play and like WIT said when my sister’s twins were really small he was ever so indulgent and let them do all sorts of pranks on him, bless his heart. But he does have a loud bark, not nasty, just loud.
Jane: Tell your friend to try DermaCaps for the shedding. It made an incredible difference in my Mastiff. I put three a day in a teaspoon of peanut butter. Either the peanut butter or the DermaCaps have resulted in a shinier coat and much, much less shedding. I am convinved.
You can find on the Internet or on e-bay or get from your vet (though it will be more expensive). When I saw the difference it made in the dog’s coat, I stated to take my fish oil and vitamin E again. These are the mail ingredients in DermaCaps…if it makes that much of a noticeable difference on an animals skin, think what it can do for ours!!!!
gharris, I’ll sleep on the Newfy too..
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Honestly, how many smiley faces do I need on one thread??
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Janet, I just went and rented ‘Turner and Hooch’.
I think you’ll have second thoughts now.
anon_22 - Is there a way you can make like one gigantic smiley face?
Lily,
“I think you’ll have second thoughts now.”
??
About Hooch.
we’ll see…
You will notice that there are NO Hollywood flix abt naughty newfys - I just mention in passing!! :)) (double chins)
I saw rhw movie a long time ago. It isn’t I love Lassie. Hooch is a slobbering, destructive, if loveable disaster on four legs. Perhpas I misspeak, or don’t remember correctly. I was sort of appalled. My alpha male was a disaster on 4 legs, but my husband loved him, I think because he was/ Igor was pretty destructive, Hooch is worse. My next Male Shepherd was a Beta. Great, great animal. I chose them both as pups.I would never choose a Alpha dog again.
In Ogunwuit in Maine, rocky sharp rocks. Igor would sail along the rocks, his feet never seemed to touch the rocks. Our female would pick her way from rock to rock slowly, carefully. Igor took life at full tilt. was on where near as spectacular as the female, but his spirit was so intense so apparent that people noticed him first. I hate to say how often a stray female in heat (alsation) wandered near our house, and there would be Igor finishing, while a line of males waited. He was always first in anything he did. Of course I would snap on his lead, and stand there like a fool, while the farm workers drove past and sniggered while I pretended I wasn’t there holding onto a copulating pair. Lets see how many sofa cusions did he eat up, how many xmas trees did he knock over to devour gingerbread men. How many library books did he gobble up. How often did we go searching over the estate to where he was last seen. Was is T.S. Elliot in Cats, who wrote about McGiverty. I saw in three times with kids, but don’t recall. Your life is taken over in the full drama and glory of a very hard living animal.
Y’all should get a copy of the new book “Marley & Me” by John Grogan - Harper Collins Publishers - would be good to have on hand for SIP reading!! All about a very bad dog!! But of course he’s completely lovable!
Every pup from that pair was treasured by its owner One, saved a childs life.
Anon22-
Just have a moment today.
A Mastiff raised in your home with daily love and discipline will take your family as his/her pack and protect them as such, without any specialised training.
20 cups of dry food per day or so for a healthy male. Our boy is still a puppy at 2 years and eats a vegetarian diet of 10–16 pounds of home-cooked food per day. He eats snacks of raw fruits and vegetables all day, sometimes on the hour. His training revolved around carrots, bell peppers and bananas for treats / motivators.
He eats and drinks in the yard and has his face wiped with a large towel prior to entering the house. You will need to sweep and mop regularly (daily or so) and spot-clean the walls wherever you Mastiff roams. Our dog is well trained to not shake his head in the house, but he forgets if he’s alone sometimes, especially first thing in the morning before we awake. He never does it when we are with him.
There simply is not more precious a dog than a Mastiff; he lays on his side so that the babies in the neighborhood can jump and play on him. He thinks that getting his tail pulled is a game because we trained him that way.
Mastiffs will rarely bite, but will usually take a position between you and someone unfamiliar. If needed, the Mastiff will take an imposer to the ground with alacrity.
I’ll post more later.
You must devote time to the Mastiff each and every day in order to build a well-adjusted animal.
Given the common abuses of Mastiffs prior to rescue, I cannot recommend, in general, this type of arrangement. Most Mastiffs are very sensitive dogs and simply cannot be rehabilitated after the kind of abuse that humans lay on them.
I read about the filming of Turner and Hooch. The dog was shown sliced turkey to make him drool more than normal. Probably they rewarded him for being destructive too. OTOH, I knew someone who had to send her mixed Lab-Doberman to “military boot camp for dogs” because he ate the couch and the kitchen floor. Training is tricky. Good luck!
My shepherd is long gone, the only memory is great pictures of a fantastically handsome animal, and the dried slobber on the coramondel laquered screen, and breakfront. I never did wash it down. He would come in from out of doors in the rain and shake the rain from his very thick luxurient coat. but I think of it as slobber, and get mushy recalling dear Maxx. How much we love them, and how much they love us. I have a list on my fridge, How to be like a dog. We’de be much better humans if we could emulate their goodness and loyalty.
Ha, Marley was nothing compared to Igor.
Here are some tests you can perform on any dog or puppy you might consider getting. While not foolproof, they can give you a good idea of the dog’s personality and how suitable it may be for a particular task. You might also hire a professional dog trainer to evaluate any dog or puppy that you might be considering.
puppy/dog temperament test http://www.nrta.com/breedforfoundation/temptest.html
and another http://www.tiarapoodles.com/temperament.html
assessing shelter/rescue dogs http://www.paw-rescue.org/PAW/PETTIPS/DogTip_Temperament.php
more info on testing http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=A&A=2141
I’ve always had dogs I rescued from shelters. How do I pick one? Just go for the one that really captures my heart… somehow you just “know”. My current much-loved mutt is very much an Alpha dog, hard-headed and stubborn, and requires much “refresher” training. Not an aggressive bone in his body, though, although I have taught him to growl and bark when I tell him to “WATCH”. He LOOKS intimidating, but I’m not sure he would bite anyone, even if they were attacking me. If your dog has a high prey drive, they can usually be taught to be aggressive. Mine has a high prey drive, but we’ve chosen not to train him for aggressiveness. Talk to a GOOD trainer, they can really help you alot.
Also google “schutzhund training evaluation” for some great tips on evaluating and training your dog.
I recently acquired a tea-cup dauschund (wiener dog) from a local shelter. If you are after early warning for intruders this model will do fine. Extremely acute hearing and a piercing bark that really sets one on edge. Mine actually barks when nothing is there. That can be annoying and am working on that behaviour. As far as being able to take down an intruder, it can’t actually do that but can attach itself to an ankle and affect the stride, possibly throwing the person off-balance. Some people are actually afraid of small dogs just as some folks are afraid of mice. A bag of dog food also lasts a long time with these guys. Less mess to clean up also. No they can’t rip someones trachea out but will rocket up for a nuzzle every time you sit down. Great company and entertainment during the coming pestilence. Yeah, get a big dog too for the heavy lifting (and biting) if you must. But I’m stickin with my wiener.
A friend gave up her beautiful male rotweiler because he was so alpha. She was a no nonsense German lady who had had other rotweilers. He growled over his food. She ended up giving him to the police, who tried to train him, and couldn’t. He simply was too alpha.
NW, wiener dogs are known for barking. I knew one that barked non-stop. He was well trained and well loved… a darling little dog. Except for one thing. He barked 5x for every breath he took. It was like a tic. He wasn’t barking AT anything. He just walked around the house and yard, barkbarkbarkbark.
Anon: Don’t get turned off from Mastiff’s after watching the movie Turner and Hooch. Just wanted you to see it to see the dog’s size, strength, lovability, slobber. I love the movie!! However, in real life, I have never seen a Mastiff tear up something as they depict in the movie - that is just for Hollywood. But a lot of the movie is true….they can take you for a run if not well trained on the leash; they love you to death and don’t want to be locked up in a room - they want to be with you; they do slobber no matter what! They snore, they fart and can move furniture around a room with their brute strength. They are fiercely loyal and love their master no matter what. They can be intimidating. All of this is shown in the movie with a great deal of humor. It is one of my favorite shows.
Despite it all, you will never go back to another breed once you have a Mastiff. They are a jewel…as long as you know what you are in for!
be prepared for enormous bills that go far beyond the initial $2000 or so dollars of the price of a puppy. any vet care will be easily double or even triple that of an average sized dog. many people don’t realize this. also you cannot have a dog this large without training it and it takes a different psychology than other types of dogs because mastiffs are very stubborn and will challenge you and when a 200 pound dog challenges you, you need to be calm and assertive but not aggressive. You can’t “manhandle” a mastiff like you might with a smaller dog that is acting unruly. It takes a lot of obedience work in the first 2–3 years, an out-of-control mastiff will cause major problems for you and your neighbors. how do you feel about drool getting slung everywhere in your home, walls, ceilings, tables, etc. How do you feel about scooping giant dog turds? what about starting with a smaller mastiff, such as an american bulldog or staffordshire terrier? they’ll do your guard work and are better for beginner mastiff owners. Mastiffs are great dogs for those who are ready to take the responsibility, but its a much bigger responsibility in terms of money and time investment than your average sized dog.
anon_22, I own a Mastiff dog, which is actually an Argentine Mastiff, also known as an Argentine Dogo. He just turned two and is approaching 115#. (They continue to grow, until they are 3) We have, and had three male dogs in our household when we got him. His owner died (committed suicide when the dog was present) when he was slightly over one and we adopted him. I was thinking we would acquire a dog with a Pandora of psychological problems. When he arrived at our home, still rather a gangly guy, I had a clutch of freshly hatched chicks and several newborn calves. Despite his being still a “puppy” I was concerned that he would make quick work of our young livestock. (The Argentine Dogo is actually “outlawed” in G.B. and I believe Australia.) So I was concerned. It only took a couple of times of his trying to “pounce” on the chicks with a firm “no” that he got it. Not a single chick was harmed. It was the next day when they were walking with inches of his nose, and he accepted them. He (still an un-neutered male) tries to play with our calves, as they are more his size, and he accepts them as part of our pack. It did take quite a bit of “training” to acclimatize him to our livestock and how he was expected to react to them. Upon meeting my horse for the first time, he put his two feet on my gelding’s shoulders and sniffed his cheek. Absolutely, no aggressive behavior. (I also have a great horse.) But about a year after we got him, a man was on our property, who I was apprehensive about, and our dog became a threatening beast. I had him by the collar and he listened to all of my commands, never tried to pull out of my grasp, by presented himself in such a way, that the “unwanted” guest, quickly got back in his truck, utterly terrified. I could (and probably did) have kissed my dog. He has accepted all of my other dogs well, including another “whole” male (Jack Russell, who if you have ever known one, can be quite a pain in the butt), :) and two neutered males, an Australian cattle dog and a Chihuahua. When the J.R. tries to start a fight, my beautiful big dog, simply puts a dessert sized plate foot on the Jack Russell and holds him to the ground until he settles down. This dog’s head is much larger than the Chihuahua’s and could kill any of the other three at any moment, but is very happy in his pack and is more of a peacekeeper than rebellion. The day someone comes into my house as an unwanted visitor, however, I would not want to be that person. I have only seen what this dog might be capable of once, and it made a very valuable impression on me. I would trust this dog with a newborn, but not with an aggressive stranger. I feel lucky to have him. On the downside, he does eat about 6 cups of dog food a day and any raw meat, scraps, that I feed him. I feel that all mastiff type breeds are similar but I did have to use a shock collar during several periods of his training to “get his attention.” He will now come at over 3.0 acres at a run when called with a whistle, and aside from occasionally trying to play with the cows, (you know how they put their paws on the ground with their butts up in the air?) :) he has no aggressive tendencies toward our “pack”. He has accidentally hurt me twice, because he is big and can knock me off my feet, and I am not a petite little woman, I am 5″10 and weigh 130#. Both times this happened when we were playing, and I have learned that when he is coming at me at a dead run, to bend my knees in case he should make contact. :)I really would not recommend a breed this large for the extremely small child or the old as I would be afraid of broken bones. Of course, Lots and lots of dog food would be a prerequisite as well. I love mine to death and I believe it is mutual. :)I don’t doubt he would die for me. Cost may also be prohibitive as well, not to mention the usual waiting list for a dog of this stature.
Well, Anon_22, puh-lease put everyone out of their misery and get a Mastiff!!!! rofling!
Honest to God, you asked the question “should I get a mastiff?” on the fluwikie board and 50 million howling fluwikie pack members run baying to the door to answer your question! I think you even got Melanie to confess that she was going to get a golden retriever AND let her cats train it!
You should now be a dog expert on every major breed, temperament and food requirements. Your essay exam on Choosing Canines for Pandemics will be Monday at 8AM. Be there with your blue book and two sharpened pencils!
;-) PS Good luck finding your dog. I hope it is adorable.
P.S. The only time my dog “drools” is after he gets a drink of water. That’s what paper towels are for!
Anon22-
Please do not consider any type of guard dog, attack dog or schutzhund training with a Mastiff. They have a truly unique temperment that does not require such harsh training. I’ve seen Mastiffs ruined after an aggressive owner sought schutzhund training.
Anon_22 - I think aggressive intruders are more often put off by two dogs even if one is small. They may try taking on one so I think having two dogs would be great.
Melanie - Our cats did a great job training our golden retriever. Now it is a constant lovefest. Hope you get one.
This is a great thread; I have learned quite a bit, and I have been a dog owner all my life.
This topic just reminds us that when we have a pet, we share our life with them, and they with us—
Just an FYI—I have two dogs, a lab mix and a chocolate lab. The mix (setter, lab and pointer) is a devoted and loving guardian (12 years old). The chocolate lab is a big baby and chicken, but he can jump six feet in the air to catch his ball.
The best part? *They hate birds!!*
I am bumping this up because I just got finished reading the news threads, and well - I think I like reading this one more;-)
Guess we need more pet topics for everyone to get their share in. I’ll lift my leg on this thread too. In a NYC. apartment, I had a neighbor with two mastiffs. I can understand what you mean about the bark. It’s not to be called a bark though. These two mastiffs would hang their heads out the window and just “thunder” at every moving thing. The echo off the many brick high rises, had a supernatural sound, like the “Hounds of the Baskerville”. I can also understand wanting an impressive looking beast. After getting mugged after an ATM withdrawal, I wanted to go to the bank with a montrously huge dog chomping and frothing against a heavy spiked collar and chain.
Also true about Snowhound1 dog, knowing when someone is entering inappropriately. There are many stories of very friendly dogs that rise to the occasion, when someone enters wrongly - it’s dark, they didn’t ring the bell, the master is not there to greet them, etc. We were surprised by my mother’s Siamese cat that was a perfectly affectionate cat to new people. Once my brother came for a visit arriving at midnight. My mother left the door unlocked for him to come in. He walked into the dark house and received a nonstop go-for-the-throat attack, from this cat. He kept throwing it off his face and shoulders as he ran for a room and received bad bites. He bled a lot and had to get antibiotics and stitches. That cat was ready to fight to the finish. It went back to being a sweet pet though.
Looks like every fluwikian is a dog, cat, or exotic pet lover. The cat lovers came out first, now its us dog devotees.
Snowhound1 – at 00:24 - When the J.R. tries to start a fight, my beautiful big dog, simply puts a dessert sized plate foot on the Jack Russell and holds him to the ground until he settles down.
This reminds me of one of the funniest things I have seen in my life. I had a Mastiff and a Newfie, and an old grizzly calico grandma cat. A friend brought over a litter of Shih tzu’s so I could pick one out for my kids. The three little pups ran all over the house, yipping and scampering and chasing each other… and scooted under the gate to the kitchen where I had our pets waiting patiently to meet whoever we choose as the new member of the family. My heart was in my throat. The dogs were all good (there was a frail old cat in there with them, unmolested) but they had never seen puppies before, and Shih Tzu pups are TINY. We rushed after them.
There was a lineup… the Mastiff, the Newf, and the cat, all sitting very peacefully in a row. The cat had her arm extended right to the top of one puppie’s head. The pup was frozen on the spot, the only thing moving were his eyes, and they were as big as saucers. Every time he wiggled, the cat’s claws came out and sunk right into his skull. The Mastiff held one terrified puppy under his big paw. Plopped right on top, that puppy was going nowhere. The Newf just sat there like, “I dunno nothin man!” The Mastiff and the cat immediately released their prisoners as soon as they saw us, turned their noses up in the air and walked away. YOU deal with these pests. The Newf just sat there. “They did it. Not me. I’m innocent.” One puppy, unaccounted for. ACK! You guessed it… the Newf was SITTING on him! I swear that big bear just smiled as I pulled him off. We had three highly respectful puppies after that (and we kept the cat’s friend… who continued to bark at her and get smacked silly for the rest of her life).
Occassionaly a resident dog will not accept a new cat or dog. Igor simply did not like a charming Australian Sheep dog I picked up at a flea market. Talk about fleas, I spent days defleaing and washing this dog. The neighborhood children adored the Sheep dog, well Igor simply made it clear, this was not his attitude, so the new pup went to one of the adoring children. The Next time I went to the Pa fleamarket, someone was selling teacup sized Brittany Spanials. Next to a picturesque stone barn, a ray of sunlight lighting up the litter, just as if they were on stage front, the stars of the show. So for $25 dollars I brought Toby. Instant affection. Igor was quite an old boy at that time, still a Casanova, but getting on in years. When he died I introduced Maxx to Toby. Maxx was very large boned, a gentlemen. Toby was actually a human in a doggy suit, a genius. Intelligent, great sense of humor,until he saw any bird, or squirret and he reverted to doggy nature. Maxx deferred to Toby superior intellect, until Toby died from a defective batch of Rabies vaccine. It really is strange how dogs know instantly from day one, who rules. With the cats its the same. love, hate, tolerance, they feel deeply.
If I decide to get a mastiff, can I set up a donation thread for food? Or towels for wiping drool?
Just kidding :-)
Thank you, what a bunch of great posts!
Also, would it be too cheesy to say “I love y’all”.
<runs away to hide>
You must visit the US Southern states to be properly certified to say y’all.
When are you visiting?
I have already, so I am ‘properly certified’.
Scary…
One condition of you getting a Mastiff is that you MUST post a picture of him/her. I think we will all feel like proud grandparents or something! We now have a vested interest.
I think we all gravitated to this thread because we need to feel normal amidst all of this turmoil and fear. We have to remember that we will all get through this and that we all have more in common than not.
This flu will not destroy us. Life will trump death and puppies and babies and laughs and good friends will continue on.
I could show you 100 pix of my Newfie if you want??!!!! I know you were holding back asking!! :-))Cutest story here I think ws Flourbug’s - kinda reminds me of Horton hatching the egg??!- of course I AM prejudiced!!! Without reserve, a newf is the BEST all around dog - guard and greet, love and labour - kind with children and a threat to intruders, cuddly/fluffy but muscular and strong, patient, loyal, doesnt eat too much and doesnt bark unnecessarily and doesnt slobber any more than the rest of us!!! (esp in this thread!!)
If you love the breed, and I do, walking down the street with your new buddy will be a joy, although that horse of a dog is going to scare the crap out of other walkers. I used to have a friend with two Newfies and getting knocked down in the yard was part of the greeting drill, the mastiffs I’ve met are more reserved, but they are one person dogs and I hope you have a large water closet. It will follow you into it. They are not unlike greyhounds.
We have a two year old whippet and she is truly just like one of the kids. She doesn’t stay outside, she sleeps every night in somebody’s bed (most often mine) and I think she is smarter than my own kids sometimes too! And, yes, I never shut my door all the way because she likes to come in and visit while I’m in the water closet :) TMI, I know! I always thought that once the kids were old enough I would get my privacy back—not!
Early this morning I woke to my gorgeous fluffy orange cat screaming like he was dying. I didn’t know he got left out. I ran to the door, fearing I wouldn’t get to the other side of the house in time to save him. (we had a cat killed by a huge evil tom) My golden retriever looked up at me with question in her eyes and I yelled, “go, save Garfield.” She tore out faster than I’ve ever seen her go. Moments later, Garfield came running in shaking and whining. My dog Sammy took care of business and then came home to cuddle her little buddy. I think when the chips are down, our dogs will be a terrific protection for us.
anon ~
Someone had mentioned OFA testing, which is the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals…their website is www.offa.org .
It’s good that you are asking questions, and it’s awesome that so many people are freely offering their opinions and/or suggestions and experiences, as dog ownership is a very personal decision.
I’ve owned many dogs over the years, from a half wolf/half shepard, to a poodle, sheltie, pug, tea cup terrier, etc. I am now in the process of purchasing a couple of Anatolians. They are also a large breed dog, they are not ‘kennalized’ and have a ‘low prey’ instinct, which means they respond to a threat on the level the threat is presented. As you said about the mastiff, the more I read about the Anatolian, the more I fell in love with the breed and I’ve never been as excited about another breed like I am with this one. In preparation for a potential pandemic, I took into consideration my need for safety, along with my normal desires of what I would want in a dog. I have multiple firearms for a *Plan B* scenario but just felt very strongly about having a dog that others would think twice about, for my *Plan A* scenario.
Regardless, best of luck in your research and journey finding that mastiff that fits perfectly into your family.
Shad.
Anon22-
Did you get the photos?
gharris – at 21:52 - I could show you 100 pix of my Newfie if you want??!!!!
I’m not sorry I choose a Collie instead of a Newfie. I could never get a Newf to do all the things I ask my Collie to do… but you have me wanting a Newfie TOO! Have any heat tolerant pups available?
About a month ago a friend of mine found a 4 to 5 month old puppy sleeping under a truck. She put an ad in the paper, called the humane society and posted notices all over town. Not a word. My wife and I adopted him. We are blessed. He is a very handsome boxer/pitbull. Every morning, after his walk, he runs upstairs and gets in bed with my four year old son. He doesn’t wake him up. He quietly gets up on the bed and goes back to sleep. Every morning. We have pictures. Too bad we can’t upload pictures here.
NS1,
My God! The photos are amazing! Thank you!
Stop tempting me. I still have to run it through the rest of the family.
:-)
anon_22 – at 08:22 -NS1, My God! The photos are amazing! Thank you!
Okay, that’s just MEAN.
SHARE! We wanna see too!
NS1,
Do you want to email some of these other dog lovers with your photos?
See if Dem can post them. Feel free to share them via email.
The photos don’t begin to represent the love he brought into our home and lives.
We communicated with him all day everyday and he communicated with us with ease. Mastiffs are very intelligent, quietly intelligent and deeply sensitive.
I am concerned that the forum has been running slow whenever the threads got long, so it may not be a good idea to post photos, at least for now.
:-(
Fair enough… might be a good idea to start a new thread about dogs in general… and maybe an online photo album of Fluwikian’s pets, just so we can all show off our furbuddies.
Share your photos by email right now. When we have more robust hosting and a platform that isn’t quite so fragile, you’ll be able to post.
I chose to work from home today because the woman in the next office has a terrible cough and drove me crazy with her incessant coughing all week.
So, here I am with my Mastiff lying besides the computer and he is SNORING!!! It is more annoying than the coughing, so I am packing up my bags and heading to work!!!
I laughed when I read Melanie’s statement about needing a big bathroom. I have not gone into the bathroom without my Mastiff joining me in years. It is, at best, tricky. God forbid they get separated from you for a couple of minutes!!!
Janet, dogs just LOVE the cold bathroom floor. Casey wedges himself around the toilet and then rolls over so he’s sleeping on his back, with his mouth open. My husband accuses me of training him to be a urinal. (no, no… he wouldn’t!)
I don’t post much, but I spend hours reading here. I just wanted to say I have 5 dogs, a Maltese, a Shih Tzu, a Pekingese, a Pembroke Welsh Corgi and a Sheltie Mix…..the Maltese and Corgi were my only “purchased” dogs, the others were adopted and rescued and although it’s not right for everyone, you might consider adopting a dog in need.They are so grateful to have a home they show you extra love. I have 3 human children, but my dogs are also my kids and I am so glad you all are prepping for yours and taking their needs into consideration. I work at a veterinary clinic and I see many people who only see their animals as “dogs” and not really part of the family. I am so glad you all feel like I do.
Hi there, I’ve just been reading this wonderful post and I want to tell you that I have an English Mastiff. I got him when he was 3 years old and have had him for 4 years now. When I got him, he was thin and abused and has scars from being beaten. He was terrified of men. Let me tell you, despite all of his abuse, he is 100% love. He doesn’t have a problem with my other dog (chow/retreiver mix)or any dog(they love each other) for that matter, or any cat, and he loves guinea pigs and rabbits. The only problem he has occasionally is seperation anxiety, when I leave the house without him. He is a lap dog, although only his head fits on my lap (he’s about 170lbs) and he is my constant shadow, unless he’s stretched out on the couch or sleeping with my daughter. Mastiff’s have a tendency to always want to be touching their family, whether it is with their paw or head. I have never had a dog that loves me and my entire family like he does. He is not scared of men at all anymore. He doesn’t roam, he loves to lay in the sun and comes the minute I call him. With my mastiff, I have to be careful how to scold him because it is really obvious when I do that I have hurt his feelings. He can look extremely pathetic! Since he is an older dog, he and my other dog go through about 50lbs of dog food in 3 weeks, plus a few carefully selected hand-outs. He eagerly watches me eat and hopes for a hand-out, and blows spit bubbles if what I’m eating is really good. I’ve gotten used to it. He also snores and can have deadly flatulence.
In my opinion, as far as protection goes, once they have bonded with you and your family they will make sure that no one is a threat. People that don’t know my dog are petrified of him and people that do love him dearly. He is a very good warning system (his bark has scared many people), but he is an even better friend. If you decide to get and English Mastiff I think you will not only have someone to protect you as best he can (not attack, but restrain), but someone that will give you total love and commitment who will always be by your side.
TRDutch-
Does he lean against your legs when he’s standing beside you? Moses would always find a way to be in physical contact with us. When he would lay beside the couch, he would always put his head on our feet or our laps.
What a gentle friend a Mastiff is and a fearsome foe to any family threat.
Great news! I just found out about this Mastiff Association fun day which is happening TOMORROW. Yeah, its a 3 hour drive one way but I’m so looking forward to it.
BTW those of you who have seen the first (and original and the best) version of Pride and Prejudice, Lyme Park is ‘Pemberley’, and the lake in the photo? That’s where ‘Darcy’ climbed out after a swim dripping wet and… you know the rest :-)
So Yay!!!
Anon 22 will be coming home, either with a Mastiff or with the number of a breeder or rescue mission where she will. Lets be happy for her, even while envious of the great day she will experience at Pemberly. She already has her D’Arcy, so I guess she won’t be moving into Pemberly.
NS1- Hi! Yes when we come home he goes nuts and makes kind of a clicking noise with his mouth because he’s so excited and leans against us like he’s hugging us. You have to have a steady balance in order not to fall over. Moses sounds exactly like my dog Maximus. I have some hilarious photos of him, he’ll do just about anything for attention. In fact right now he’s laying by my chair trying to get me to hold paws with him. A couple other things I forgot to mention, things to watch out for. They have really hard tails and you need to watch them so that they don’t injure themselves while wagging (and they can hurt if they wag you or any items that may be in the vicinity). The other funny thing is that if you get a mastiff he may or may not do what Maximus does, if he needs to go out in the morning and I’m sleeping, he’ll walk up to the bed in front of my face (about an inch away) and bark really loud a couple times. The first time it happened it scared the crap out of me, but I got used to it! ANON_22: I hope you find a great friend for yourself tomorrow. I have a real soft spot for animals, but in particular for mastiffs after owning one, I think you’ll be pleased!!!
Soon we will all be suggesting names for Anon 22 new BABY. Lets all be good surrogate masters and not suggest anything, but I’m sure we won’t resist giving our good advice for bringing up the new Beastie.
My Mastiff has a way of standing right next to me every morning, too. He does not bark, he just stands there and breathes directly into my face until I wake up. My first sight every morning is looking straight up on of his nostrils. It always reminds me of waking up with a gorilla in your face - their huge black snout!!
This thread has gotten me all pepped up about getting another Mastiff. I think if TSHTF, there will be so many abandoned and orphaned dogs after all is said and done.
I am working on plans to adopt how ever many I can. Most people are frightened off from a Mastiff due to his size. I think my husband and I could squeeze in one more in the house, so that is my plan.
We all need to think about all of the orphans and orphaned animals after TSHTF. Maybe we could talk about what we can do about this? Can we all look around our houses and plan on making room for one more child or pet?
My pitbull/boxer/hound dog’s name is Angus. If you want pics email me. dajasheville@yahoo.com I just gave him a bath and put him to bed. What a great dog!!!!
Janet,
I can’t stop looking at the photos you sent me!!!
“Can we all look around our houses and plan on making room for one more child or pet?”
I know a whole load of families from Asia with kids in boarding schools in the UK. I tell them, get prepared, if this breaks out, don’t expect me to take care of your kid.
But then I know I will. I still have to say that now.
Anon,
Get a female.
I have a list of names, if you need them.
I had a water rescue trained Newf for 9 great years. Druwl ate holes in the lanolium floor, but was a small price to pay for unmitigated love. He was a safety dog, wouldn’t let anyone get near cliffs, docks, etc. Wouldn’t let my wife swin in our lake, she would make it to knee depth and he would swim in front of her, offer his tail to be towed back to shore. If she refused it, he would gently take her arm and pull her to shore. She was 98 lb, he was 150 lb. She went to shore. I got him to rescue me when I went whitewater canoeing. Disaster. As soon as he saw rapids ahead he would jump up and “rock the boat” until it tipped. He’d then watch me flonder down through the rapids, he’d meet me at the bottom with the paddle in his mouth. I raised several large male Shepherds for Seeing Eye dogs. One day we had the Seeing Eye club to my farm, with their twelve 10 month old Shepherds. The Newf kept order, not one dog “disagreement”, all he had to do is stare at two pups ready to go at it and the problem ended. Main problem I had with the Newf was he insisted on “saving” the skinny dippers that would slip into our pond at night. The police would laugh when people reported being attacked by a black bear in the pond, and then ask them what they were doing in my pond late at night. Several times we found piles of clothing folded neatly by the dock in the morning, no one there to claim them. He stopped 3 drunk couples from coming up to burn our barn for fun one night. I was with him, trying to slip above them as they lurched up the lane. My Newf decided I was being to slow, mounted a steep 8′ bank directly above the road (with a full moon almost directly behind him), and when they were directly below him he let lose with a war bellow that even scared me. All we heard were the sounds of 6 pairs of suddenly sober feet flying back down the lane. One of my Seeing Eye Shepherds stopped a large (`30) group of inebriated men from going after the same barn (something about that barn…). We heard them coming and hid along the path in the dark. 29 men passed us, 30th saw “something” in the dark and turned towards us. Luckily I had my left hand FIRMLY on the collar, his teeth missed the guys throat by inches. He sounded like he was ready to take on the whole crowd, one by one or all together. Between that snarl and a .45 that appeared in my right hand, the guys decided that maybe that barn didn’t need burned after all. I loved all my dogs, but for SIP I wish I had a Shepherd. Unfortionatly, now all I have is a English Lab trained to sniff out toxic mold (my sideline business) and three mixed breeds. All great dogs, but none up the the level of a good Shepherd.
The males grow until they are two and in some bloodlines they tend to continue until 2.5 years. They will be like puppies in character for most of that time.
You want a large dog to protect yourself, family, your westie and property.. gentle in nature unless there is someone threatening their charges? a dog that does not drool, eats about 1 pound of food a day.. some days less some more but on the average goes through a large bag of dog food a month? A dog that will lay his life down to save yours? Of course this dog will need soicalization and lots of it.. but over all when you say it is ok, the dog will go lay down.. keeping a watchful eye on the stranger. These dogs do exist on farms and are Livestock Guardian Dogs. http://lgd.org
JPT
OK, I got a puppy! We went to the show and were completely taken with one gorgeous 11 month old Brindle mastiff. He was winning prizes, and we were basically following him around and asking questions. Turns out the owner is a breeder and has pups who would be first cousins to that champ!
After a lot of email photos back and forth and questions and pedigree tree etc, we went yesterday to visit. We had already decided to get a female even though the males are far more magnificent. Anyhow, there was this little house with 3 huge mastiffs, and 3 puppies, and not one of them barked at us. As y’all (yes, I AM qualified to say that :-) have told me, they are friendly, fun, intuitive, gentle, etc. They really just wanted to make friends from the get-go, the biggies were, well, kinda pushing me over, but it was just amazing!
Anyhow, the pup is 8 weeks old, but I can’t take her home just yet cos I will be travelling, so it will be another 3 weeks.
In the meantime, name suggestions are welcome.
I am inclined towards Jazz, maybe Jessie in deference to the more traditional folks in the house aka my kids. lol
This is great news, Anon_22. Now you will hooked on Mastiff’s for life.
The brindle Mastiffs are gorgeous and going with a female, the dog should be a little smaller and lighter which is good for a first-time large dog owner.
I am really happy for you.
Would love to see pictures if you can e-mail.
Enjoy her to the max…..she will do the same for you!!! So glad to know that another wonderful puppy has a good home!
You might consider a two syllable name like “Jazzie” because you often say the dog’s name before giving a command “Jazzie, Sit!” and two syllables seem to work a little better (well, for me).
Also, Temple Grandin in “Animals in Translation” talks about important puppy imprinting time (I think it is 10 to 16 weeks) — that’s when it is important to take a pup LOTS of places so she learns “all toddlers are ok” (not just the household toddler) and “all cats are off limits” (not just the household kitty) etc. Lots of walkies for you next month! Grand news though. Best of luck and happiness.
anon_22, maybe combine the two- Jazzy.
I’m very happy you found the right dog for you and your family.
Ha- ha, that’s what I get for reading part of the thread and posting before refreshing! Olymom you beat me to it:-)
anon_22,
I warned you that they lean, even the pups.
My tabby just stays close to my feet and tries to trip me all the time.
I worked in the garden most of the day digging up, planting and transplanting plants. My Mastiff laid in the dirt, right beside me, wherever I was working. He is absolutely filthy right now (tomorrow have to “power wash” him!), but he is happy. He could have stayed in the nice, air-conditioned house all day, but they want to be with you, dirt and all!
Melanie,
“My tabby just stays close to my feet and tries to trip me all the time.”
I’m already used to it. Remember I already have one dog.
And it wasn’t so long ago when my kids used to do that.
In fact, I’m not sure that they don’t still do it, at least metaphorically.
:-)
Janet,
“tomorrow have to “power wash” him!”
I thought you are not supposed to wash them. Except rarely.
I’ve always heard dogs respond best to a two-syllable name ending in the “-ie” sound, like Jessie or Jazzie. Personally, the greatest big-dog name I’ve ever heard is “Groceries”.
I want one! I have read this whole thread and laughed out loud. We have two cats and I want a dog, but my husband is a cat person and won’t let me have one…I think I will have to choose! I had an Irish Setter when I was a child and Rita (named for Rita Hayworth) was the nicest, kindest, dog but really not very bright. I loved reading about the intelligence displayed in many of your dogs. The town I live in is full of interesting dogs…it is a walking town and everyone seems to parade their dogs around on their daily walks, man and beast really proud of each other. Sometimes I feel like I’m a kid with my nose pressed against a pastry shop window and my mother said I can’t have anything because it will ruin my dinner!
Ah, seacoast - dogs and cats can be in the same house!!!! My rather large dogs are afraid of disturbing the cat because they know the rule is they may not bite her, no matter how obnoxious she is to them. I once heard all three dogs ‘crying’ and went to investigate— the cat wouldn’t let them come down the hallway!
Anon_22:CONGRATS.What a bundle of love!
We usually had multiple cats and dogs, and various others around. No problem of any kind ever. They all got along just fine.
Oh, I forgot one thing. The breeder made me promise that if ever we change our mind or it doesn’t work out for whatever reason, they get to take the dog back. They don’t want their dog to go to kennels or rescue society.
Shows you what kind of people they are. :-)
Jessie has a nice soundto it. very mellow. Aour cats used to snuggle into the sides of the shepherds if they weren’t on my youngest sons lap. He was It for the cats. He went away to Washington, and dear ole dad pined. When he came back in the summer, the cat snubbed him for a full week , and then forgave him. None of the rest of us meants anything to dear ole dad. I don’t know if mastiffs are one person dogs, I would guess they don’t bond strongly with one particular person like shepherds.
seacoast,
I had a cat once. She was lovely but I never really took to cats as much as I do dogs. Cats tend to want to do their own thing, whereas dogs want to be part of whatever you are doing, and I like that.
I mean more family in general. Our shepherds always had one particular person they favored above all the rest. The brittany was friend to the whole wide world as spanials probably are bred to be.
Just watched a plump couple. Man on knee proposing marriage, Much hugging, kissing and head on shoulder crying. I’ll never pass that particular part of the mall without recalling it from here on in. Most time men have gotten on their knees to me is if I’m seated and their too tall to bend over. Very nice. So now your pet and that proposal are linked in my mind. So, be the one who she links with everything good in life. Perhaps someone should be the one to take her to the vet for shots, just not you. I’ve never operated like that with my animals but glanced at a book by Temple Granden, and she makes interesting points about animals in general. Worth reading. She is autistic and feels she can sence more of animals emotions than most of us. Oliver Sachs wrote about her. Very interesting to skim through. As far as names, I am not suggesting Petronella, but a name that you can signify your feeling with. Pet, means one thing, nella another, and petronella in a certain tone of voice quite another emotiion. Its the name of an English Woman whose husband ran the inifree Gardens. So I appropriated it for an unseen character in one of my ongoing works. Of course, Jess in one tone of voice, and Jessie in quite another would also work.
A small word about Shepherds. Our German Shepherd was the most sucky, submissive, lover of all things and dogs untill my son came about. It was quite funny to watch her rollover and expose her belly to any tiny little dog that came along. She is still very good with people, but I can’t take her to the off-leash park anymore with my son, she won’t let another dog near him. Her change in behavior happened quite quicky, and by suprise. Once day, she just attacked another dog twice her size, ( thank God neither was hurt..just a lot of noise…)and I just stood there,flabbergasted. I became that person in the dog park that claims her dog had never bit another dog before…and it was true. It really is suprising what dogs will do for their “pack”.
Temple Granden is autistic and a genius. She invented the positioning of the fences that twist and turn leading cattle to slaughter to keep them calm. I think she developed this procedure because she like to have something tight around herself exerting pressure and it calmed her down. I think that there is some kind of a device that actually does that to autistic people too. I believe that she is a professor at a college in Colorado and is involved with studies with animals.
Anon_22. You are correct in that you should not, or need not, wash a Mastiff often, but I tend to give him a good scrub down (high quality dog shampoo) once a year. I take him into the driveway on a very sunny day and rinse him down, give him a good sudsing, and then rinse again. Of course, I need to wear rain gear in order to do so!!!?? It is not a pretty sight.
I can’t say he loves it (Mastiff’s usually don’t like water), but he tolerates it. They smell like an old wet rug for a couple of days, but then they look and smell great.
By the way, don’t forget about DermaCaps for your new Mastiff. I don’t know if they give them to puppies, but once he is full grown, it makes all the difference in the world. I wish I had known about them years ago. I put up with the massive amount of shedding for years before I heard about DermaCaps. They are very expensive but boy do they work! You may be able to get them cheaper on the Internet - I am going to see if I can find them in that the ones I get from the vet are costing me an arm and a leg - my Mastiff needs to take 3 tablets a day, so he goes through a bottle very quicly.
Well worth it!
If I were in England and worried about a breakdown in law and order, I’d go to my nearby black market gun dealer and get a shotgun and a few boxes of buckshot. For that matter, one can improvise a decent shotgun using 3/4 “ pipe.
Dogs are an early warning system, and have to have backup. They’ll be eaten if nobody can protect them if things get bad. American Indians favored dogs, usually roasted, as a delicacy; I have no doubt that especially in England if things get bad this will be rediscovered.
Picking up the pup today. YAY!!!
lol! congratulations! Any names? Pan-Mastiff? Doggie-AI? AItch-Five-En-Zero? Moderator Mastiff? Demelanie? Bronco Billy Hilly Billy Nilly?
Please update us with dog’s weight gain on a daily basis. I understand they grow like weeds !.
Anon_22,
Post a picture when you get the pup home. Pats all around from your wiki family.
This thread had made me really,really want a dog.
But, as I work away from home 3–4 days at a time, it wouldn`t be fair. My spoiled cat doesn`t seem to mind. She has her crunchies, several litter boxes,and windows to observe the world from.But, she is glad to welcome me home.
I`ve had many large dogs through my life, they were the bestest babysitters. :-). Never had a Newfie, and as I think that a huge black dog here in the desert would be cruel, guess I`ll just enjoy them from afar. Congrats on your new family member, anom 22, may you have many years of pleasure. I`m jealous.
We had a Bullmastiff for 8 years. The key points that I remember are that the looks of the dog were scary but not the attitude. The UPS guy saw the face of our dog, pointed to the box and asked if that was us, and then said “no signature” and took off. We laughed because Sultan was a sweetheart. The dogs have a lumbering gait that is like a train wreck in slow motion. You don’t realize how fast they are moving until they are on you and it’s too late to get out of their way. Our Bullmastiff took us down several times because you just can’t stop that motion very quickly.
In our household, the ferrets, cat, and Cocker Spaniel were all more dominant in the house than Sultan. Even though the cat raked his face with its claws (Sultan was trying to get the cat to play but the cat was freaked out), the Cocker Spaniel was guarding the food bowl and bit Sultan’s lip clean through, and the ferrets would bite his toes, none of these caused Sultan to do anything but run to us for sympathy.
Sultan consumed a lot of food when he was growing (about 18 months) and then didn’t require much more food than a smaller dog. They do NOT require a big yard. The big dogs tend to be lethargic and more of a house dog. Sultan did like an occasional romp outside in a larger area.
Do you have a big vehicle to transport them? Hubby took the front seat out of his car when he was single. That gave Sultan lots of room to be comfortable when being taken places.
1. Is it difficult to get the right breed. We loved the Bullmastiff. 2. Is it important to get the right breed. Don’t know this one. 3. How to deal with drooling Always carry a towell. 4. Do they bring in stuff from garden Sultan ate poop. It was disgusting. 5. Do they wander out or chase cars. Why would you let them outside without being on a leash? :( 6. How well do they deal with existing dog Sultan did fine but he got pushed around by EVERYONE in the house, including the 1.5 pound ferrets. 7. I know they are supposed to be gentle, but how consistent is that? Sultan was exceptionally gentle. 8. What kind of food do you give them? We fed Sultan the best kibble we could find back then - Eukanuba. When hubby was single, he didn’t do this and Sultan developed a terrible skin problem. I came into the picture and made changes and his coat improved a lot. Be aware, though, that if the food doesn’t agree with them, Mastiff gas is STINKY! Sultan cleared the room more than once until we found food that met all his needs. Ask your vet for recommendations.
From Janet, with my comments: 1. They run about 150 - 200 pounds; [Sultan was 165 with a 30 inch neckline] 2. They shed; [Bullmastiffs are short haired so no problem] 3. They drool; [I disagree. They SLOBBER! LOTS!] 4. They lay on your feet; [and sit on your lap if given the opportunity] 5. You do not need a big yard, you need a big bed; [True!] 6. They don’t eat as much as you would think; {True!] 7. They love people and kids and usually get along with other animals; [Very much true!] 8. Fiercely loyal; [Not Sultan. He loved everyone and would go with whomever provdied the most attention] 9. Do not live long (usually around 8–10 years); [Very true. Sultan died of cancer at 8.5] 10. Double or triple the costs of ALL vet bills due to their size; [Cancer pills were up to $8.00 a piece in 1990 due to Sultan’s enormous size.] 11. Get arthritic so plan on “hoisting” their weight up into the car each time; [Or easily injured due to their size] 12. Are known to develop cancer; [Yes. We spent about $5000 from 1990–92 on Sultan] 13. Did I mention drool??? They can “shake” that stuff all over the walls and ceiling; [It’s a MESS!] 14. The most lovable, adorable, funny, royal, majestic, handsome animal I have ever owned. [Hubby still wants another one]
Congrats on your new family member!
thanks! I just got home. The little mite! (well she’s not little, I can just about carry her, which was what I had to do to get her in the house! but her ATTITUDE makes me think of her as the little mite). Anyway the little mite is so scared of our westie, who is the friendliest dog you ever find but will get EXCITED big time!! We brought her home in a cage, and boy was I glad I got a cage! Even though I banished the westie to the garden, she just sat under the kitchen table and would not come out till I finally figured I better bring in the cage. Now she is sitting in her ‘secure area’ watching my westie running around. I heard you guys’ stories but boy have I ever seen a more timid puppy! But it’s not like she’s shaking scared, just being very prudent. I’m going to let her take her time.
Her name is Jessie, or Jess, or Jazz, however anyone wants to call her.
I have to find my camera. It should be somewhere in the house, if only I can find it.
<anon wanders off on a crusade under a couple weeks’ worth of unopened mail, laundry that has yet to find their way back to cupboards, that is, the ones that didn’t get worn again straight from the washing machine, computer cables, files, books, to-do lists, lists of lists… “now when was the last time I used the camera and what for?”…>
Anon_22---Would you like this thread split of into Part II? It’s getting pretty long, and we need to see yer puppy!!!! :-)
BBB thanks yes. I would have done it but I need FOOD!!!
Okey dokey!! ;-) Anon_22 fumbles around in her refrigerator, yelling “Feed me…FEED ME!!!”
Anon_22′s puppy adventure continued here.
We are the very proud owners of an English Mastiff, he belonged to my son and he was transfered with his company and couldn’t take the dog with them. He is now 5 years old and is still playing daily. His favorite toy…A TEN pound Bowling Ball. No joke. He pushes it around with his nose and directs it with his legs. We had to put a 20 foot log along one part of our property becuse he would send the bowling ball in so fast it was going right into the briar patch. He’s not crazy about getting all the stickers out of his ears. So now we will hear these loud thuds of a bowling ball crashing into the log at top speed. He was considered the runt of the litter now at 140 he is still very impressive and a mass of muscle. He is hard like a body builder. He has taught our other dog a 130 lb Rotwieler how to play with his ball too. It has taken her six months but she can now move it as much as five feet at a time. If a dogs can cuss, she does. We would hear her growling from the other end of the property at that ball, fustrated at the lack of movement. After all these months she looks great, she had blown both her knees (like a football player does) several years ago and had to have both of them operated on (very expensive but worth every penny). She is now in better shape than before the operation. No more fat, her legs show muscle where they looked hollowed before. It’s like working out with weights for a dog. The other day the mastiff, Harry, really took us all by surprise when he picked up the bowling ball in his mouth and carried it up to the house. That dog is amazing. I will never consider getting any other type again. This guy shows so much love even to the cat, loves children, and you just can’t beat those mastiff hugs. Who would have ever thought there would be a dog that would hug people back.