so i made a decision

[northernmastiff]

And yea, to me a mastiff isn't a MASTIFF if he doesn't have proper bone and a BUCKET HEAD..

There is proper bone and then there is too much bone. A lot of mastiff breeders are breeding too much bone and too many wrinkles. If you read breed standard, a mastiff is still supposed to be athletic while being massive. Also, there shouldn't be a lot of wrinkles. Some breeders are overdoing it...because there is a set look that is winning in the show ring. Many times, show breeders can ruin a breed, labrador retrievers are one of them, because they breed for excess. Mastiffs with heavy bone have shorter lifespans, the breeders that are shortening the muzzles on their stock so you are half way between an EM and a BM is shortening the lifespan because they are creating brachycephalic problems that weren't seen in the breed before. I do love a large dog with an excellent head and the right amount of wrinkles but I can't stand the overdone mastiffs.

 

[sissie20]

wow i didnt know that northern i guess you are right to much can cause a shorter life span and that i dont want

 

[northernmastiff]

If you have time, read the breed standard to see what a dog should look like. It will start to give you a very clear picture. I should clarify that I didn't mean all show breeders ruin a breed. Many breed to standard and are trying to create that perfect dog according to standard but there are always that occasional breeder who takes it a bit too far. And then there are breeders who don't seem to have any idea what the breed standard is or even how to read it.

 

[cwayaustx]

I definately agree with the overdone, excessive wrinkles and shortened muzzles not being standard and causing health issues but there are far more small, skinny, nowhere near standard mastiffs being bred(most of these are BYB's or puppy mills). It does appear that you are going in the right direction with the breeders you are looking at.

---------- Post added at 06:19 PM ---------- Previous post was at 06:18 PM ----------

And yes, MAKE time to learn the breed standard.

 

[cwayaustx]

And yes, MAKE time to learn the breed standard.

 

[northernmastiff]

I definately agree with the overdone, excessive wrinkles and shortened muzzles not being standard and causing health issues but there are far more small, skinny, nowhere near standard mastiffs being bred(most of these are BYB's or puppy mills). It does appear that you are going in the right direction with the breeders you are looking at.

---------- Post added at 06:19 PM ---------- Previous post was at 06:18 PM ----------

And yes, MAKE time to learn the breed standard.

Agree with you on the skinny mastiffs as well. It is hard to find the middle ground some times. There are tons of mastiffs around me that look like Great Danes. I like GD's, don't get me wrong but not when it is really a Mastiff. There is a horrible breeder near me who breeds both GD's and Mastiffs (actually, she breeds a large number of the mastiff breeds --DDB, Neo, EM, GD, CC and she also breeds Bloodhounds and I think St. Bernards). Anyway, her GD's have Greyhound heads and the Mastiffs look like Great Danes. I keep trying to get her shut down but haven't been able to.

 

[voidecho]

I've checked out the Rockport page a few times. I'm not a huge fan of the look of their fawns, but I really love how their brindle stud (Lord Tyson) looks. Beautiful dog. However, they don't do testing and what threw me off a bit was when you look through their health gaurantee there is a bucket list of common issues that they don't guarantee against because they believe they're caused by diet and improper care, not genetics.

I've checked out Beowolf's site before too. Didn't seem like someone I'd like to deal with. First, it sounds like they try to require you to agree to feed a specific food of their choice. It's four star rated, so it's not bad, but I don't want someone telling me what I have to feed my dog for the rest of it's life. Also, I'd be curious on her opinion on when to spay or neuter. She says she's a huge advocate and I'm concerned she'd require it be done too early. I could be wrong, but that's the feeling I get from readin their site.

 

[joshuagough]

Sissie if you make it through Alabama, I would suggest going by to see Chris Parker @ Moutain Top Mastiffs. You won't find a better family more knownledgable about EM's.

He produces some HUGE pups that are top notch in health & temperment: http://www.mountaintopmastiffs.com

Good luck!