Triple C English Mastiffs : Sophie

Wednesday, October 9, 2013

Sophie

Looking like a Queen

Chilling Out

Playing with younger 1/2 sister Miss Kay

This is our younger female Sophie at 7 months. She is destined to be a mastiff momma for us one day but for now she is growing and enjoying being the baby of our family.

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Please feel welcome to text or call Susan at 918-344-0791 to visit about the upcoming puppies.

Puppies come with health guarantee, AKC registration paperwork and microchip in place - so you can register them with the AKC microchip database. Our puppies are raised and socialized to be loving family pets and come with limited AKC registration. For those wanting full registration we are happy to work with approved homes on select puppies.

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Life with an English Mastiff

“What the Lion is to the Cat the Mastiff is to the Dog” Cynographia Britannica, 1800

Mastiffs are wonderful companions – the key word here is companion. They are not dogs to be left outside alone. Unless you intend to provide them with lots of human company
and properly socialize, and train them you should pick a different breed. Likewise if your house is too small for a 150-230 lb. dog, then a Mastiff is probably not the dog for you.

Mastiffs want to be with their family ALL the time so be sure
you want a big dog following you from room to room and keeping you company 24-7-365. That said they are quiet and dignified. They are gentle giants who love their family, get along well with children and other pets and understand their appearance and size are intimidating. Living with one of these loving, slobbery, gentle giants can be a joyful experience for you and your family providing basic training and careful discipline are part of the mastiff’s early development. They are very sensitive dogs so consistently kind training using,
at most, a stern voice is normally all you need for discipline. Mastiffs respond well to love and praise. It should
be noted that behavioral problems can occur when a Mastiff is not a member of the family but is relegated to the backyard with only occasional human contact.

Mastiffs love their family and home and will protect both but they do so in their own way. Relying upon their imposing size and appearance, they quietly go about the business of protecting their family from intruders and strange people with little need for threats or aggressive behavior. They will bark to put strangers on notice, but once you accept someone as a welcomed guest, they typically will too. Their mere presence and bark will scare most folks away. Let’s be clear though…..mastiffs are NOT guard dogs in the typical sense.

Mastiffs are large dogs with a massive head; they come in a limited range of colors, but always with a black mask. They are the largest of the dog breeds and can range in size from 26 inches to 36 inches at the shoulder, typically weighing anywhere from 120 pounds to 225+ pounds. Mastiffs slobber usually after they eat or drink but they can do so anytime. You should be prepared to wipe up slobber from walls, furniture, ceilings, etc. When they shake their heads – the slobber flies. They are temperature sensitive in the same way you are. So if it’s too cold or hot for you to be outside comfortably, it is for your mastiff too. Consequently be prepared for your mastiff to spend time indoors or in a climate controlled place on your property. Mastiffs like to lounge about the house so be careful where you let them sleep as puppies as that’s where they will sleep as adults. If you don’t want a 170lb dog in the bed – don’t teach the puppy its okay! Be ready for snoring too. Since they love your company you should be ready for watching TV, reading, sleeping etc. near your new buddy. Minimal invitation will be required for you to have a dog in your lap, in the bed, under your feet, in the recliner with you etc. So make sure you designate places for them to be close that you can live with too.

Mastiffs are wonderful dogs with children. They are very gentle and quite tolerant of all a manner of games, and forms of affection – there plenty of are YouTube videos illustrating their wonderful nature with kids. This means you have an obligation to train both children and puppy to observe rules for playing and getting along to ensure everyone is happy and that their games don’t unintentionally tip over furniture or otherwise tear up jack.

Everyday expenses are a bit more for a mastiff than a smaller dog. They eat a bit more as you might expect, once they are over their major growing stage, they will eat between 6-8 cups of high quality food per day. Due to their size mastiffs will cost more money for preventive health care and vet visits as well. Medicines and wormers based upon weight will, of course, require larger doses.

Exercising and activity for a mastiff can ideally be a couple of mile-long walks each day. Other activities are well suited too. Hiking and swimming are good, and a large fenced back yard is a must. Jogging is not a good idea for mastiffs because it can be difficult on their joints.

Grooming for a mastiff is easy. Teach your puppy to walk into the shower with you if you have a shower that will allow it. It’s an easy way to bathe a big dog! Trimming their nails is important to – be sure to start them early so they are accustomed to having a pedicure without putting up a fuss.