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I'm new here...breeder referrals please

lovebubbly713

Well-Known Member
Hi! I'm new to the forum and would love it if I could get some names of reputable breeders in TX. We have been in touch with one but I'm not sure they're the best choice. I hope someone can help me. Please! ~tracey
 

lovebubbly713

Well-Known Member
We have discussed adopting a rescue but have decided against it for now. It seems many mastiff owners can't stop with one so we may consider it in the future. This will be our first family dog and we would like to raise him from a puppy. And I'm looking forward to puppy breath!

I see you're from the Dallas area, very knowledgeable on various mastiff breeds and are very active on this forum. I have been researching like crazy yet know sure who to trust or go through for an EM. Any help from you (or anyone else) would be so greatly appreciated. Thanks!
 

musicdeb

Well-Known Member
Totally understandable that you want a puppy first time with a mastiff. :)

PM Sadies Mom and raechiemay, they both have an EM that they got from breeders. They may be able to refer you to a reputable breeder. You can tell them that I referred you to them.

I've never purchased a dog from a breeder, I've either rescued or adopted puppies in bad situations.
 

ruthcatrin

Well-Known Member
If you have a breeder you're looking at feel free to post a link and we'll all look. I think sometimes we're overly criticl, but it helps ou see the negetives and learn, whih isn't a bad thing!
 

lovebubbly713

Well-Known Member

ruthcatrin

Well-Known Member
Bluebonnet: the website doesn't tell me much, but based on it, I've seen worse and better. I can only find one dog with their kennel name in the OFA database, and not all their adults are health tested (hips could be done Pennhip, but everything else is OFA). I'd need more info to make more of a judgement

Cimbri: I can't find any dogs with their kennel name in the OFA database, and it appears none of their adults have been tested either (see above comment about hips via Pennhip). According to their website the grandparents were tested for the DNA stuff (which I"ll accept), and that OFA certs for hips/elbows are forthcoming (which I won't, why are they breeding dogs without the certs?? Sounds like an excuse to soothe puppy buyer concerns). I'll also add that a 1yr health guarantee is practically useless since some OFA certs can't be done officially till after 2yrs of age and unless something drastic happens you're not likely to try sooner. They also don't appear to actually DO anything with their dogs. I don't especially care if they don't show conformation (it has its downsides, though it also has its upsides), but DO SOMETHING with the dogs to prove they're worthwhile to send on their genes, great parents and grandparents aren't enough sorry.

I'm not big on EMs, so you'll have to get an EM person to actually evaluate the dogs themselves.
 

lovebubbly713

Well-Known Member
Thank you! Cimbri has a litter due this month and I saw one of their pups last year (so stinking cute, but what puppies aren't?) and we were going to buy one. Fortunately, my brain works overtime and I can't stop researching/reading and I know in my heart it's not a good decision. Thanks for confirming. We just have puppy fever so bad!!
 

ruthcatrin

Well-Known Member
I gotta add, anytime a breeder says OFA certs are pending ask how long its been since the xrays or bloodwork or what have you was sent in. Apollo's hip and elbow certs took barely two weeks, and 4 weeks is pushing the edge for furthest based on what people have told me.
 

lovebubbly713

Well-Known Member
I gotta add, anytime a breeder says OFA certs are pending ask how long its been since the xrays or bloodwork or what have you was sent in. Apollo's hip and elbow certs took barely two weeks, and 4 weeks is pushing the edge for furthest based on what people have told me.

That was definitely a red flag to me. I would inquire but I don't think its worth it's the time. I'll just keep looking and asking.
 

WalnutCrest

Well-Known Member
Be patient.

Network and ask good questions.

The more you can do both of these things the more pleased you will probably end up being with the pup you end up getting.