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Hello From a (Very) Newbie to Mastiffs!

BattleDax

Well-Known Member
Hey everyone!

I'm psyched to get to join! I tried before, and today I happened to take a look at your forum and saw a couple new posts so I jumped in while the jumpin's good!

I have never had a Mastiff before! Hence the "Very Newbie." I have had Dobermans for about 25 years. I once said I would always have a Dobe the rest of my life, but I am exploring options nowadays.

Why am I considering a Mastiff? My life nowadays is not ideal for an extremely vocal, very high energy, very whiny dog. Yes, I understand all dogs require sufficient physical and mental stimulation! So don't worry.

I have been researching and having fun looking into breeds for a few years now. On the top of my list currently are: Cane Corso, Bullmastiff, American Bulldog, Boerboel.

I'm an open book and welcome any questions. I hope this is a friendly place for civil exchange of information and camaraderie.

Any suggestions for this family man in search of the best breed for my family?

I want deterrent factor, and ideally, a dog that has the nerve and courage to actually protect (at least not be welcoming to an invader, or retreat in fear).

I am accustomed to a very excellent watch dog that would probably back it up.
 

glen

Super Moderator
Staff member
Welcome to the forum, and the wonderful world of mastiffs.
I have ccs love the breed I had rottweilers previous
My eldest cc is a very dominant dog, with his training he was more challenging he did it because he had to he does not get on with other dogs he doesn't know, with family hes amazing with strangers hes ok if we are , as a guard dog unfortunately it's been tested he will protect all 3 will
My middle Gandalf is high energy he wants to please, ignores other dogs when out but aloof with strangers, he won't bite if we are with him he just wants to be left alone, unless he chooses he wants to be petted. He will guard and protect us with his life.hes a big boy
My youngest golllom is a goofball very easy to train
We trained every single day I still do at the ages of 7 6 and 5 on walks and at home, I make them freeze when there a distance away etc
You've had dobermans I think you'd be more than capable with a cc
There not background dogs.
If you've got any question I'll try to help.
 

Boxergirl

Well-Known Member
Welcome to the forum, BattleDax. It's good to see someone doing research to find the right fit for their family and lifestyle. It sounds like you know that just because you love a breed doesn't mean it's the right one for you. So tell us about your family. Kids and if so, ages? Do you like to do certain things? What do you want this dog to be able to do with you? Are those the only breeds that appeal to you, or are there others?
 

BattleDax

Well-Known Member
Hey, thanks for the replies! Thanks @glen for the detailed info. on how your Corsos are, and how they act! It's nice to hear that they each are protective.

Well, my family: I'm a 50 year old father of a 1 year old daughter! :cool: Our other child is 9 years old. So it's my wife, the two girls and me. Our 9 yr. old is very responsible and knows how to act with dogs.

What do I want to be able to do with my dog?

Hiking
Running (a max of about 2 - 3 miles, a rest, then 2 - 3 miles home) (most often, less than that)
Bring him to public places like farmers' markets, restaurant patios, etc.
Ideally, at least some beginning protection training / evaluation (I want him to have the natural genetic makeup to be unafraid of an unfriendly stranger baiting him with a tug)
Train him to execute at least the basics in obedience, hopefully with some crisp willingness
Retrieving
Swimming
Take him on occasional road trips and be able to leave him crated in a hotel room or rental house for a few hours at a time. (We have had to deal with separation anxiety)
Have him be of stable, reliable temperament and be absolutely safe around my wife and especially my children

Maybe I'm asking too much with some of those wishes. I guess I'd have a hard time picturing a big thick Bullmastiff retrieving a stick out of a lake for me – ha.
 

glen

Super Moderator
Staff member
Hiking....I'm in UK biggest hill is a mole hill where I live
Running....my boys are walked about 3 miles a day they run ahead I walk, they would be carrying me back if I ran
I can take them anywhere, the one place I don't do is dog parks,
Road trips, yes we do camping, my family camp on lakes to fish, we always keep safe so no one just appears they are a guarding mastiff.
Retrieving, I'd love you to meet Gandalf, he will go all day doesn't matter what it is he will fetch all day. He Carrie's his Kong sleeps with it.
What you put in at the beginning depends on the end goal, training is a definite, when out there trained on an off lead, here,freeze,down leave it,release. That goes for the home also.
Guarding, this as come natural, iv trained what not to do, I'm a woman that lives in a rural area, break ins have been all around me, yes iv had an incident where it was tried, my boys alerted me I let them out, my boys won, that's where the stand down training is needed,
With children they are nanny dogs, as long as both children and dogs are trained to respect each other from the start. You've all got to be a part of his training.
There a big powerful breed.
 

BattleDax

Well-Known Member
I'd love to see pics of your CCs, @glen ! And, maybe I should find a thread on CCs and do some of the conversing I'd like to do on the breed there; but I have noticed that there are some CCs that look more athletic and streamlined, and there are some that look bulkier, with perhaps more profuse skin and jowel and they look – as one CC breeder's website terms it – more "Rustic." I am picturing your CCs, glen, as the more athletic, streamlined type. I could be wrong though, of course.

I know there is the notion of Boxer (and I've seen it written, Dane) mixed into CCs at some point and I wonder if these are the lines that are more athletic and streamlined looking. ?
 

Boxergirl

Well-Known Member
My first thought from your original post was Bullmastiff. Don't think for one minute that they can't do the things you want to do. Good genetics and keeping them lean and strong is the way to go. Marke has posted pictures of the Bullmastiffs he's had and they're some of the most gorgeous and athletic dogs around. Photobucket has stopped hosting on sites, but I think you can still see through the watermarks.

http://www.mastiff-forum.com/index....-generally-quiet-lazy-dogs.26154/#post-386739

Whatever breed you choose, please make sure to go with a responsible breeder. I don't know where you're located, but the Corso breed is being bred indiscriminately in my area. I haven't looked at Bullmastiff breeders for a while, but they aren't as popular as the CC is. Popularity is often a nightmare for a breed.
 

glen

Super Moderator
Staff member
I will get recent pics of my boys, Gandalf is very athletic looking, hes the taller of the 3, his energy level is very high,
 

BattleDax

Well-Known Member
My first thought from your original post was Bullmastiff. Don't think for one minute that they can't do the things you want to do. Good genetics and keeping them lean and strong is the way to go. Marke has posted pictures of the Bullmastiffs he's had and they're some of the most gorgeous and athletic dogs around. Photobucket has stopped hosting on sites, but I think you can still see through the watermarks.

http://www.mastiff-forum.com/index....-generally-quiet-lazy-dogs.26154/#post-386739

Whatever breed you choose, please make sure to go with a responsible breeder. I don't know where you're located, but the Corso breed is being bred indiscriminately in my area. I haven't looked at Bullmastiff breeders for a while, but they aren't as popular as the CC is. Popularity is often a nightmare for a breed.
Those are great pics, and beautiful Bullmastiffs! I happen to have seen that thread in the past as I perused this forum seeking knowledge and wisdom.
 

BattleDax

Well-Known Member
Are those the only breeds that appeal to you, or are there others?
Those that I listed above are the top breeds on my list, unless I'm currently forgetting any, and I don't think I am.

There are many breeds I admire. There are many disqualifying factors. No offense to anyone, but drool is a big negative for me. Yes, I know Bullmastiffs are known for it.

I've gone through brief periods (in some cases, very brief) of interest in:

Dogos, Greater Swiss Mntn. Dogs, Ridgebacks, Danes, American Mastiffs, St. Bernards what else?

I've also considered importing a hopefully nice big impressive Euro Doberman (my last two Dobes have been from working lines, and they tend to be smaller and not very impressive or imposing looking – and of course they are a pain to live with!)

Some breeds, I just don't know about their trustworthiness with my children. Yes, I know from good breeding and with good training they all should be fine, yada yada.

I know very little about Presas, Filas, Tosas (and some of those would be hard to find a breeder and I honestly don't like their appearance).

Breeds with long hair don't get far on my consideration list. I hate the cleanup.

So anyway, yeah. Those are some of my extensive thoughts.