|
|
       
|
He is your friend, your partner, your defender, your dog. You are his life, his love, his leader. He will be yours, faithful and true, to the last beat of his heart. You owe it to him to be worthy of such devotion. - Unknown
About Mastiffs There are already so many excellent sites of information on the breed available through the internet that I will be brief here. (This site is currently under construction). If you are not sure if the breed is for you there are a few basic things you must know before you decide. Please check out the links and sources I have provided from some of the excellent information available through the efforts of others.
Living with a Mastiff This is a gigantic dog! Pretty much the biggest breed of all. Many people confuse the Mastiff with the Bullmastiff, which is much smaller. A Bullmastiff is about the size of a Rottweiler, while a Mastiff can easily be 100 pounds heavier! Mastiffs are incredibly loyal and sensitive. They are naturally protective, but not aggressive. They are house dogs! They are not backyard or kennel dogs, and they do not do well in temperature extremes. Cold climates need heat, and hot climates need A/C. Mastiffs are generally quiet and well behaved in the house and usually get along well with other pets. The majority will stick close to home and prefer to watch their humans at work or play, rather than roam the neighborhood.
A Mastiff does not require acres to run on. In fact, those people who claim a big dog should not live in the city are those people who depend on a large yard to make up for the personal love and attention they can’t be bothered to give. Just as it is for yourself, regular, light exercise is good for your Mastiff. As can be expected with such a large dog, food and veterinary expenses may be higher than for a smaller dog, and you will require a suitable vehicle for transport. The open back of a pick up truck will not do. Mastiffs drool, some more than others. The drool happens mostly if the dog is eating or drinking, or it is especially hot. Some Mastiffs snore, and some are flatulent. In his book, The Mastiff, author John M. Becknell describes the Mastiff in a nutshell: CHARACTERISTICS OF THE MASTIFF
If you think the Mastiff is right for you, this site will tell you a little bit about my Mastiffs. (Mastiffs of Resolute)
Mastiff Images should be required reading by any aspiring breeder purely for the collection of photographs of TRUELY TYPEY Mastiffs of all ages, engaged in all activities. So many breeders today think they have the "true Old English type" but if their dogs do not possess the proportions, bone and substance of many of those pictured in Mastiff Images (say, pages 64,65), they are kidding themselves. I wish ALL MY dogs looked that way. I will not show an unsound dog. A consistent combination of soundness AND type is my goal. I am close, but not there yet. As a breeder it is paramount that you criticize your own stock relentlessly. OK - I'm off my soapbox.
Genetics; The nuts and bolts: I feel these three books should be required reading. The simple Mendellian genetics introduced in the average dog breeding book is not enough.
Structure & Movement: All of these titles have their place and should be required reading but since they venture into a field of continuing discovery they occasionally contradict one another. The most important thing to learn is that you must never stop learning. In fact, the more you learn, the more you can learn.
I wanted to include this last title because it is the best publication I have found that teaches you "how" to see; How to find quality in an animal. Breeding as an Art: All the books listed so far represent the tools you need to "run" your breeding program. The following books challenge you to "confirm" your goals and plans as a Breeder.
The Joy of Breeding... I have to say is mostly standard and elementary but it does contain a good section on Breeding Systems and Pedigrees. Training titles: There are 100's of training methods out there. Many, I'm sorry to say, will leave you with a very untrained dog. Good Owners, Great Dogs is the best all-around book on dog obedience that I have ever read. Not only is the content superb, but the layout is enticing and lavishly illustrated. This book goes beyond basic obedience - it teaches the reader how to LIVE with a dog.
For a more complete list of books and videos that I can recommend you may send an SASE to me. I suppose my top picks for a well - rounded scholar in canine essentials from the perspective of a Breeder are:
Most of these titles are available through Dogwise. Must See Mastiff Links These are "must see" links (already noted on my links page). Warning, you could spend all day.
|
