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20 Weeks Old Now!!

futureowner

futureowner

Well-Known Member
Hey all, I guess we have been a little MIA lately, got alot going on at home but since I think it's great that people do the measurements on their babies while they are growing, I figured I might as well put an update on here :)
Took Colossus to PetSmart today and he is weighing in at a whopping 71.3Lbs!!! I certainly didn't think he weighed that much but I guess I wasn't too suprised!!
Here's a pic for ya :
008.jpg
Colossus laying so weird :
007.jpg
 
northernmastiff

northernmastiff

Well-Known Member
Wow, he is huge and he is looking great. Do you find that his hair is showing signs of getting shorter? I have to say he looks very cuddly. :)
 
futureowner

futureowner

Well-Known Member
Northernmastiff, I would have to say yes and no, lol, his hair on his body has definitely thinned out but the hair around his ears, well that stuff needs to be shaved, haha. I was thinking of shaving him and seeing how that looked but the people at PetSmart seem to think that he won't be able to show even if I do that!?!
I really don't know what to do, any suggestions??
 
futureowner

futureowner

Well-Known Member
I was thinking that too, there is a dog show in a couple weeks up here but he won't be old enough so I will have to find some in Denver in a couple months and see if he can loose that fur, hehehe :)
 
northernmastiff

northernmastiff

Well-Known Member
I wouldn't shave him as you could make him even fluffier if you do. I was just asking because his legs look a lot shorter than the hair used to look. I would wait as he could have the short coat by a year. I think he looks so soft though.
 
ruthcatrin

ruthcatrin

Well-Known Member
Apollo didn't loose all of his puppy coat till he was OVER a year, but thats actually not that unusual for a TM. I'd definetly not start to worry TO much though for a few months.
 
futureowner

futureowner

Well-Known Member
Is it best to show when they are 6 months though?? Or does it really matter what age they start at?
His ears crack me up because it's like the bottom half is really short and the top half is long :) He is definitely soft and loosing puppy fur :)
 
ruthcatrin

ruthcatrin

Well-Known Member
You'll want to get him used to the concept. Stacking, handling, the crowds. But SHOWING? I don't see why. Theres always this huge push to have a champion by age two, and then they breed them a bunch of times....the dogs barely mature by that age, things can still change SO MUCH.

Unless you have this huge burning desire to have a hugely titled champion stud theres no point in rushing him.
 
BlackShadowCaneCorso

BlackShadowCaneCorso

Super Moderator
Staff member
ruthcatrin said:
You'll want to get him used to the concept. Stacking, handling, the crowds. But SHOWING? I don't see why. Theres always this huge push to have a champion by age two, and then they breed them a bunch of times....the dogs barely mature by that age, things can still change SO MUCH.

Unless you have this huge burning desire to have a hugely titled champion stud theres no point in rushing him.
Click to expand...

I agree! There are a lot of places that have fun matches that are like mock shows that can help you get him used to how things are run before you hit the actual ring. One of the problems with most conformation shows is the dogs can get a championship at 6 mths and then perhaps not turn out but they are still considered Champions which can be something people rely on when they want to breed the dog later. :( I wish the shows allowed for a junior championship until 18 mths but then people would have to compete again to get a championship when the dog is mature. Sorry topic for another time.
 
ruthcatrin

ruthcatrin

Well-Known Member
Check and see if you have a local obedience club, mine holds "handling classes" that are as much instruction for the owner as for the dog. Plus its a good way to intro him to the concept of dogs all over, and lots of noise. Alot of shows will allow spectators to bring dogs, bring him to shows, to watch, and get used to the noise. That sorta thing.

Mary, SO TOTALLY agree lol. I told Apollo's breeder that we'd show causually. As soon as it stops being fun, for all of us, I won't be doing it any more. I WOULD like to see if we can get some points on him, especially since I've already got more than one breeder asking about his breeding potential, but he'll be 2 in December, and will have had exactly one show under his belt by that time.
 
northernmastiff

northernmastiff

Well-Known Member
It might be me but I never start a dog before 8 months of age. I find before then, they really are just too immature to do well in the ring and it just sucks the money out of your wallet. I have even waited until a dog is a year to start in the show ring but we go to handling classes, which gives the dog a great opportunity to experience show. With the stack, I have the dog practice a natural stack every time he gets a treat. So you give your watch command, have the dog stack as a puppy, adjust as needed and so on. I had a lab who never had to have her foot moved in the show ring, she just knew exactly how to stand and it meant minimal work from me. Oh, two things before you go into the ring...have multiple people handle the dog, check his teeth, etc. The more people do it, the better for your dog at judging time. Also, have mutiple people work him in the ring. I made that mistake with the first dog I trained for show and she would not be handled by anyone but me. Actually, I had no plan to enter the ring myself and had a handler who was going to show her. She spent more time whining and looking for me that the second time in the ring, I had no choice but to go in and do it. Even if you are planning on going into the ring yourself, make sure he is used to being shown by other people since things can happen where you won't be in the ring with him.
 
Jadotha

Jadotha

Well-Known Member
I agree with Northernmastiff,

When I was showing my wolfhounds, I found that it was very difficult for a six month old puppy to compete effectively with 8 or 9 mth olds, as they develop so much during that time-frame. So we generally started between 8 and 10 mths. In the meantime we did handling classes and 'fun' shows. We are planning to start Boris at about 8 mos, as well.
 
futureowner

futureowner

Well-Known Member
bigbee126 said:
Is it a EM or a EM mix? Or non of the above?
Click to expand...

He is a purebred EM that has the fluffy gene :)

---------- Post added at 03:14 PM ---------- Previous post was at 03:11 PM ----------
ruthcatrin said:
You'll want to get him used to the concept. Stacking, handling, the crowds. But SHOWING? I don't see why. Theres always this huge push to have a champion by age two, and then they breed them a bunch of times....the dogs barely mature by that age, things can still change SO MUCH.

Unless you have this huge burning desire to have a hugely titled champion stud theres no point in rushing him.
Click to expand...

I agree with you and I don't want him to be bred at all, I know he's cute and fluffy but I don't see the point in breeding him for "fun" and if I was going to ever breed for show quality, he would not be stud of my choice having the fluffy gene!! The last fun show they had here, he was too young, maybe I will take him to the next one but we are going to do classes soon!!
 
futureowner

futureowner

Well-Known Member
ruthcatrin said:
You'll want to get him used to the concept. Stacking, handling, the crowds. But SHOWING? I don't see why. Theres always this huge push to have a champion by age two, and then they breed them a bunch of times....the dogs barely mature by that age, things can still change SO MUCH.

Unless you have this huge burning desire to have a hugely titled champion stud theres no point in rushing him.
Click to expand...

I agree with you and I don't want him to be bred at all, I know he's cute and fluffy but I don't see the point in breeding him for "fun" and if I was going to ever breed for show quality, he would not be stud of my choice having the fluffy gene!! The last fun show they had here, he was too young, maybe I will take him to the next one but we are going to do classes soon!!

---------- Post added at 03:17 PM ---------- Previous post was at 03:14 PM ----------

Thank you everyone for your kind words about my boy and the information/suggestions. I have his breeder telling me one thing and I know she just wants him to be the biggest thing since wonder bread but I was honestly thinking of just having him as a house companion and when he gets older train him to be a therapy dog :)

I can't believe he weighs this much already!! Man do they grow fast!!
 
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