BUYING A MASTIFF PUPPY

So, you have done your homework, you have researched the breed, you have honestly evaluated your lifestyle and you have decided the mastiff is the breed for you. Congratulations! The mastiff is loving, loyal and sensitive. He wants nothing more than to be with his family and deserves nothing less than someone who really appreciates what he has to offer!

Now, what? The next step is to talk to breeders. You should not only educate yourself on the breed, you should also educate yourself on what you expect from a breeder. You should learn why you want to buy from a reputable breeder, one who really cares about the breed and who is looking ahead at the future generations of mastiffs.

At what age is a breeder offering the puppy for placement? A reputable and knowledgeable breeder will not release a puppy before eight weeks old. Be suspicious of someone who is offering younger ones.

What food does the breeder feed the puppies and other adult dogs, if any? Has the puppy had any of its puppy shots? Has it been wormed? If the puppies have not had routine veterinary care or if the breeder is feeding a cheap dog food, I would be wary.

When you call the breeder you will have many questions about their puppies. You should listen to what they are saying, but you should also be aware of what they are not saying or asking. Does that breeder want to know anything about you? Do they ask you questions to try to learn if you are familiar with the mastiff breed? In other words, do they really care who is taking their puppy home, or are they just looking to sell it? A good breeder will want to make sure their puppy is going to the right home and that it will be loved and properly cared for.

You may get advice from people that you should ask to see both parents of the puppies. In this day and age I do not think that is so important. Just because someone has a male and female, does not mean those two dogs should be bred-together or at all. Here again, you want your puppy to come from someone who is interested in the betterment of the mastiff breed, not just producing a litter of puppies.

Make sure the parents have been tested. (I personally will not go into what those tests are, but there are certain standardized tests that are widely accepted. There are other writers on this site who will do that, I am sure.) Do not accept someone's word for it, and do not accept vagueness like, "Well, I've never had any problems with my dog." These tests do not guarantee that there will not be any health problems in the future, but you owe it to yourself and your family that your new puppy will be as genetically sound as possible.

You want a puppy that has been socialized. Is the litter kept in the house, where it can become accustomed to household noises and people coming and going? You can accomplish this with the puppy in his new home, but it is nice if it was started for you.

Now, before I make anyone angry, let me say that what is expressed here is my opinion only. One of these items alone may not be bad, in and of its self. I would bypass a breeder that has not provided the first veterinary care, but the quality of food issue is subjective and controversial.

There are many wonderful people out there who care about the mastiff breed and who care about the quality of future generations of mastiffs. Unfortunately, there are also some that are not so wonderful. Please, save yourself a lot of heartache and chose your new puppy carefully, and hopefully that puppy will give you many years of love and loyalty and you will give him the same.

Let me just say in closing that my husband and I are not breeders. Our mastiffs are our companions and our babies. We welcomed our first mastiff into our lives in 1989 and we have never regretted it for a single minute! She is not with us now, and I offer this article in loving memory of her. She has a place in our hearts that can never be filled!

Contact "Barbara"

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