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If you have submitted a questionnaire in the past 3 weeks & haven't heard from me yet, please send me a quick email with your name & contact information - it hasn't shown up on anyone's forms, and I can't contact you without it!!
Our Mastiffs come from, or were bred to other Mastiffs owned by long-time breeders who health test their dogs, base their programs on theologies that complement our own and also believe in a more natural approach to rearing them. All of our dogs will have their health testing completed, a CanCH, CGN and an Obedience title before we consider putting them into our breeding program; and anyone we breed to will be health tested and have proven their temperaments (either through CGN/TT or offspring) at the very least. When we first started in Mastiffs, we were of the firm belief that the only breedable Mastiff was a top winning dog. While we still believe that showing and championing a dog is important - it shows that the breeder/owner is aware of how their dog matches up to the competition, is more aware of their own dog's strengths & weaknesses and has recieved independent opinions of that dog's suitability (or "typiness") through the judging process - we have come to the conclusion that there is a lot more at stake!! Who cares how many Best of Breed, or Best in Show ribbons sit on the wall of a dog with an unstable temperament, or one who produces heart, eye or hip problems? The dog who's puppies are dying before the age of 5 from cancer, probably isn't the healthiest dog to breed with! Even allergies seem to have a genetic component - and really - what's most important? A healthy family companion who lives well into its teens, or a dog from famous top lines who lives just long enough to break everyone's heart when it passes? When we choose a puppy for ourselves, we base our picks on the following criteria and urge you strongly to do the same! Temperament - Mastiffs are meant to be regal, courageous, docile and good natured! Is an aggressive, scared, or shy Mastiff really on the top of your "perfect dog list"? Structure - Large, massive, symmetrical, and well-knit frame without a tendency towards "looseness" in movement. A dysplastic, arthritic or chronically lame dog is unfair to everyone involved, especially the dog. No one should be breeding dogs with hip or elbow dysplasia! Health - Mastiffs are prone to a number of different health issues, many of which can be virtually eliminated by careful breeding & health testing. Do you really want to have to feed your dog thyroid or anti-seizure meds for his whole life? What about chronic allergies? What about heart or vision problems, or cystinuria (bladder stones)? Type - Do the parents fit the Breed Standard for the country they come from? What about the Canadian Kennel Club/Canadian Mastiff Club standards? Do they look like Mastiffs, or Great Danes? Lineage - We look for lines that complement our own and bring in what we feel may need to be improved on, or be missing. Colour - While there is nothing wrong with wanting a puppy of a certain colour, please do remember that colour is only skin deep - what lays beneath it determines how healthy, sound and sane your dog will be, and ultimately the quality of life your dog will share with you and your family! Please click on our dog's pictures to learn more about them!
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