Mastiff Club of America

[EverythingEnglishMastiff]

I've been looking at getting into showing my mastiffs, clubs available in my area, event's, etc. I've been trying to find a place to go to get CGC tested. I'm having a hard time. On the Mastiff Club of America (MCOA) website, it says to become a member you have to be sponsored by Two(2) current MCOA Members of at least (3) years, in good standing, and not related to each other. The problem is I looked at their members list and I'm showing not a single registered member in New Mexico(the state i live in). There's only one event this year in NM until spring and it's a sporting event. I'm not exactly sure how to proceed. I'm sort of feeling like maybe I need to do the work to get certified for CGC testing, maybe start my own Mastiff Club, even trying to find classes to attend in my area is a bit difficult. Is there anyone here that is an MCOA member? Is anyone here certified to do cgc testing or anything like that? Does anyone have experience with anything related to what I'm trying to do? Thanks in advance for advice, help, or even just moral support as I'm beginning to get a little frustrated with the entire situation lol.

 

[Iymala]

For CGC testing look at your dog training/obedience schools. They normally have one or two trainers that are CGC evaluators. The CGC is an AKC title and has nothing to do with the MCOA.The MCOA is the breed club that represent mastiffs in the AKC. The national breed clubs are the ones who put on the national specialty dog shows. The national club also has some bearing on the accepted standards of he breeds they represent and when new breeds are accepted by the AKC it is their breed club that does all the work for that recognition.You can look for local Kennel clubs in your area. They normally have conformation classes and meetings and what not. They are easier to join but you still need to show up and meet people before you apply for membership. The MCOA is a club you join AFTER you have spent a few years showing and possibly even breeding. You need to make contacts and network to really make it work for you. The show world is notoriously political, hugely expensive, and can be full of heart break.Remember to earn a title (champion) you need to get 15 points (with 2 major wins). Majors are determined by the amount of entries into your breed class. Most people have to travel to get their majors done. Expect a lot of traveling, admission fees, hotel costs and fees, handler fees if you do not handle yourself (they normally do a better and faster job in titling your dog), and gas. It is normally many thousand dollars by the time people finish their dogs to champion.Counting Points - American Kennel Club

 

[Iymala]

Best way to find CGC evaluators is call around to your local training facilities.

 

[EverythingEnglishMastiff]

There is only one CGC evaluator in my state according to the AKC website. There is only two training facilities in the closest city and one of them teaches dominance theory and uses aversives including and not limited to "popping leashes" and prong collars. I'm not even sure about the other's training methods. Looking at their "obedience" classes... They are all for nosework? wtf... They also only do CGC testing bi-annually. There are a few "kennel clubs" but I'm not even sure what that means. There's nothing as far as local mastiff clubs. All of the kennel clubs' websites suck IMO. Where do I start? Maybe I'm asking the wrong questions? Should I just sign up for some "Obedience- Intro to Nosework" and talk to people? How do I get my foot in the door? Where do I start?

 

[Iymala]

With the clubs you are putting the cart before the horse. The dog show world is old school in a way. You get a mentor, someone who has been showing and breeding for years and they introduce you to the world. Normally this happens when you buy a show quality puppy from them with the agreement it will be shown. It is very much closed club. Now you can obviously do it all yourself but you are at a severe disadvantage. It shouldn't matter who's name is on the pup or who is handling it, but to many judges they have a bias, even if unintentionally. That's why many dogs trying for their grand championship take out expensive ads in dog magazines. Your local kennel clubs often put on all breed shows and are a good first step into the show world and getting your.points from minor shows.

Sent from my SCH-I605 using Tapatalk

 

[Bob Felts]

Paws and play, our local dog daycare / obedience / boarding facility does CGC testing after each obedience class. Check and see if you have something like them in your area.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-N910A using Tapatalk

 

[TWW]

Not sure how close you are but 2016 the MCOA National Specialty week long show will be held in Texas, the 2015 show was held in Wilmington, Oh about 40mins from my house, so went 4 of the 7 days. Mastiff Club Of America - MCOA will give the exact dates and locations. To see any regional stuff, http://www.mastiff.org/regionalmastiffclubs.htm Jodi LaBombard is the contact for people wanting to become a member at Brimstonemastiffs@yahoo.com and maybe able to help with contacts in your area.