Before you buy your puppy
Anyone looking for a Mastiff has to make a number of decisions first. The most important may be whether or not your household even needs a pet! A living creature, whether it be goldfish or Mastiffs, needs attention and care from its owner and that owner must have time to devote to those needs.
We hope to help you understand the needs and requirements for the potential Mastiff owner, as well as provide information and links to help you choose the right breeder to help ensure a good fit between your new puppy and you!
Before you buy any pet, and especially a puppy, ask yourself:
Why do I want this puppy?
A puppy is not a status symbol, an educational tool to teach children the facts of life or a stuffed animal that can be tossed aside on those days the family is too busy.
How much time do I have for this puppy?
Puppies need lots of training to make them responsible household members. Compare them to the two year old child who doesn't know good manners, needs potty training, can't prepare his own food and may not sleep through the night. Puppies should not be left alone for long hours and then be expected to learn all these things in a timely fashion. If you work all day and cannot devote the needed time to a puppy, look for that goldfish – and then be sure you remember to feed him.
How old are my children?
If you have a child younger than four, you already have your hands full! It is difficult to potty train a puppy and a child at the same time. Besides, little kids adore stuffed animals and the puppy looks the same to them. So if they poke his eyes and pull his tail, they cannot perceive his pain. However he WILL feel pain and may retaliate by biting. This is not aggressive behavior, it is his defense mechanism to say "I did not like what you did".
Is my yard fenced?
Even a Mastiff can move surprisingly quickly when he sees a ball in the street, another animal to play with or when he is being chased by a child. It is heartbreaking for a family to lose a pet to a speeding car. A yard does not have to be completely fenced so long as there is an area large enough for a fully grown Mastiff to run, play and do it's business. If you have a secure deck (meaning with a gate and no escape holes), this may work for the short-term.
Having a safe area for your puppy is essential to successful house training. It must be close and the puppy must be promptly brought to the area as soon as he awakens and/or as soon as you return home from running errands. Having an area nearby is definitely a human need on those rainy days when you prefer to put the pup outside while you remain inside and dry!
Tying or chaining a dog outside is inhumane and unsafe.
Am I committed to lifelong care?
Having a pet is a commitment to care for their entire life. For a Mastiff, this can mean as long as 10-12 years!
This means through sickness, family moves, old age and any infirmities that may come with age. A living creature cannot just be tossed aside when it is inconvenient to provide the care. Veterinary treatment can increase in cost due to the size of your dog and the annual exam also has cost to it. If you are looking for a pet for your child, who will provide pet care when your child grows up and leaves for college? Who will maintain the coat and feed him? Who will soothe aches and take him to the vet on a regular schedule?
We hope to help you understand the needs and requirements for the potential Mastiff owner, as well as provide information and links to help you choose the right breeder to help ensure a good fit between your new puppy and you!
Before you buy any pet, and especially a puppy, ask yourself:
Why do I want this puppy?
A puppy is not a status symbol, an educational tool to teach children the facts of life or a stuffed animal that can be tossed aside on those days the family is too busy.
How much time do I have for this puppy?
Puppies need lots of training to make them responsible household members. Compare them to the two year old child who doesn't know good manners, needs potty training, can't prepare his own food and may not sleep through the night. Puppies should not be left alone for long hours and then be expected to learn all these things in a timely fashion. If you work all day and cannot devote the needed time to a puppy, look for that goldfish – and then be sure you remember to feed him.
How old are my children?
If you have a child younger than four, you already have your hands full! It is difficult to potty train a puppy and a child at the same time. Besides, little kids adore stuffed animals and the puppy looks the same to them. So if they poke his eyes and pull his tail, they cannot perceive his pain. However he WILL feel pain and may retaliate by biting. This is not aggressive behavior, it is his defense mechanism to say "I did not like what you did".
Is my yard fenced?
Even a Mastiff can move surprisingly quickly when he sees a ball in the street, another animal to play with or when he is being chased by a child. It is heartbreaking for a family to lose a pet to a speeding car. A yard does not have to be completely fenced so long as there is an area large enough for a fully grown Mastiff to run, play and do it's business. If you have a secure deck (meaning with a gate and no escape holes), this may work for the short-term.
Having a safe area for your puppy is essential to successful house training. It must be close and the puppy must be promptly brought to the area as soon as he awakens and/or as soon as you return home from running errands. Having an area nearby is definitely a human need on those rainy days when you prefer to put the pup outside while you remain inside and dry!
Tying or chaining a dog outside is inhumane and unsafe.
Am I committed to lifelong care?
Having a pet is a commitment to care for their entire life. For a Mastiff, this can mean as long as 10-12 years!
This means through sickness, family moves, old age and any infirmities that may come with age. A living creature cannot just be tossed aside when it is inconvenient to provide the care. Veterinary treatment can increase in cost due to the size of your dog and the annual exam also has cost to it. If you are looking for a pet for your child, who will provide pet care when your child grows up and leaves for college? Who will maintain the coat and feed him? Who will soothe aches and take him to the vet on a regular schedule?
If you have any questions or concerns as you embark on the journey to find your perfect puppy, please feel free to contact us.
We are here to help whether your puppy comes from us or not!
We are here to help whether your puppy comes from us or not!