Gracco Posted March 2, 2012 Share Posted March 2, 2012 Hi everybody, My wife & I have just moved home to Brisbane from Dublin. I am really keen to get a mastiff as a family pet but my wife is not so sure. She is a bit worried about the size & the cost of a puppy. When we were in Ireland we fostered loads of dogs for the local rescue before the kids came along (3 & 7 months) so I am pretty familiar with different breeds and bigger dogs. The Rotties were my favourite dogs & I plan to eventually get a female when the kids are a little older. In the mean time, can anyone suggest a way for my wife to get to know how great mastiffs are? It is not like every second house has one & I don't know any mastiff owners. Thanks, Andrew Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nekhbet Posted March 2, 2012 Share Posted March 2, 2012 which mastiff breed are you looking at? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gracco Posted March 2, 2012 Author Share Posted March 2, 2012 which mastiff breed are you looking at? Sorry, the English Mastiff is what I am after. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crisovar Posted March 2, 2012 Share Posted March 2, 2012 (edited) The Mastiff is fairly uncommon sadly however there are some Queensland Breeders listed here Dogzonline Mastiff Breeders You may find someone nearby who has some dogs for your wife to meet. The dog show grounds at Durack hosts many large shows throughout the year and you may be lucky enough to come across some there. ETA You will find that the label mastiff is very loosely applied to anything large and boofy, so confining your search to places that only allow ANKC reg Breeders will narrow the field for you. Dogs Qld also have Breeder listings. Edited March 2, 2012 by Crisovar Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gracco Posted March 2, 2012 Author Share Posted March 2, 2012 The Mastiff is fairly uncommon sadly however there are some Queensland Breeders listed here Dogzonline Mastiff Breeders You may find someone nearby who has some dogs for your wife to meet. The dog show grounds at Durack hosts many large shows throughout the year and you may be lucky enough to come across some there. ETA You will find that the label mastiff is very loosely applied to anything large and boofy, so confining your search to places that only allow ANKC reg Breeders will narrow the field for you. Dogs Qld also have Breeder listings. That is great info, thanks for that. I will follow that up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clyde Posted March 2, 2012 Share Posted March 2, 2012 Hi everybody, My wife & I have just moved home to Brisbane from Dublin. I am really keen to get a mastiff as a family pet but my wife is not so sure. She is a bit worried about the size & the cost of a puppy. When we were in Ireland we fostered loads of dogs for the local rescue before the kids came along (3 & 7 months) so I am pretty familiar with different breeds and bigger dogs. Hi Andrew and welcome I would contact the breeders listed on the link provided above and ask if you and your wife can go and meet some dogs. I am sure once your wife actually meets a true Mastiff cost and size will be a non issue :D There is a Mastiff thread in Breed Sub Forums with some great photos of puppies, but it's not very active as they are quite a rare breed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LOLAFOLATA Posted March 2, 2012 Share Posted March 2, 2012 Hi everybody, My wife & I have just moved home to Brisbane from Dublin. I am really keen to get a mastiff as a family pet but my wife is not so sure. She is a bit worried about the size & the cost of a puppy. When we were in Ireland we fostered loads of dogs for the local rescue before the kids came along (3 & 7 months) so I am pretty familiar with different breeds and bigger dogs. The Rotties were my favourite dogs & I plan to eventually get a female when the kids are a little older. In the mean time, can anyone suggest a way for my wife to get to know how great mastiffs are? It is not like every second house has one & I don't know any mastiff owners. Thanks, Andrew which mastiff breed are you looking at? Sorry, the English Mastiff is what I am after. Hi Andrew, Welcome. I was originally looking at Great Danes but after doing a pet dog selection test, the Mastiff ended up on the top of the list to suit our family and life style. Still love the Danes, but after plenty of futher research and photo surfing, I was hooked. They seem to be great with kids on a whole too. There's a great Youtube video of an infant with his mastiff. ***Word of warning & advice from one who's been burned, and very recently.*** It was difficult to justify to my family the $2.5 - $3.5K purchase price of a registered puppy. I found a BYB 16wk old on Trading Post for only $1000. The owners of the parents were very nice people and their dogs appeared to be well cared for, sound & content. I was assured they were both pure Mastiffs (they looked the part) but they had not been able to get their papers from the breeder. I have no real guarantee that she is pure. Alarm bells should have rung when my daughter and I couldn't approach the puppy at all without bribing with roast chicken - she was terrified of us. We brought her home Anyway, to cut to the chase. Over the coming months, Daisy-Mae will most likely cost me way more than the $2500 I saved. Ongoing behaviourist fees for her fear issues due to poor socialisation. Possible large medical bills loom as she may be already showing signs of HD and growth plates in legs closing prematurely. I have a real "reggie reject" albeit, that we've become fond of, and will do the very best we can for her. Find a reputable registered breeder whose dogs are hip/elbow scored, that socialise their puppies well from a very young age and that will offer you ongoing support after you take puppy home. I don't believe the feed costs are exhorbitant for an adult. Lola (avatar) is 50kg Dane/mastiffx and quite porky on only 2 1/2 cups Black Hawk a day with some chicken mince & chicken wing treat. Daisy-Mae's going thru it at the rate of knots while she's growing - currently on 4 1/4 cups BH with mince & treat. It's the basic vet costs that knock the wallet around. Not much change out of $400 :rolleyes: for annual vacc & heartworm injections. Not to mention quarterly worm tablets based on weight. I usually spend about $70-80 on these from vet for 3 bigguns. Surgery costs - not even going there!!! Hope I haven't put you, or your wife, off entirely. :rolleyes: If you go ahead, I'm sure, with the right match you'll be sold. I'm researching breeders and dogs again already for my next one in a few years when my oldies have gone over the bridge. Doing it right second time around. :) If you're not set on a puppy, there was an adolescent purebred male in the mature dogs for sale (re-home) in Qld you may be interested at looking into. All the best with your search and join the Mastiff thread even if you don't end up getting one. Trying to breathe life back into it just for lots more info, hints & tips and wonderful pictures. Shay Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Topoftheheap Posted March 2, 2012 Share Posted March 2, 2012 Hi everybody, My wife & I have just moved home to Brisbane from Dublin. I am really keen to get a mastiff as a family pet but my wife is not so sure. She is a bit worried about the size & the cost of a puppy. When we were in Ireland we fostered loads of dogs for the local rescue before the kids came along (3 & 7 months) so I am pretty familiar with different breeds and bigger dogs. The Rotties were my favourite dogs & I plan to eventually get a female when the kids are a little older. In the mean time, can anyone suggest a way for my wife to get to know how great mastiffs are? It is not like every second house has one & I don't know any mastiff owners. Thanks, Andrew which mastiff breed are you looking at? Sorry, the English Mastiff is what I am after. Hi Andrew, Welcome. I was originally looking at Great Danes but after doing a pet dog selection test, the Mastiff ended up on the top of the list to suit our family and life style. Still love the Danes, but after plenty of futher research and photo surfing, I was hooked. They seem to be great with kids on a whole too. There's a great Youtube video of an infant with his mastiff. ***Word of warning & advice from one who's been burned, and very recently.*** It was difficult to justify to my family the $2.5 - $3.5K purchase price of a registered puppy. I found a BYB 16wk old on Trading Post for only $1000. The owners of the parents were very nice people and their dogs appeared to be well cared for, sound & content. I was assured they were both pure Mastiffs (they looked the part) but they had not been able to get their papers from the breeder. I have no real guarantee that she is pure. Alarm bells should have rung when my daughter and I couldn't approach the puppy at all without bribing with roast chicken - she was terrified of us. We brought her home Anyway, to cut to the chase. Over the coming months, Daisy-Mae will most likely cost me way more than the $2500 I saved. Ongoing behaviourist fees for her fear issues due to poor socialisation. Possible large medical bills loom as she may be already showing signs of HD and growth plates in legs closing prematurely. I have a real "reggie reject" albeit, that we've become fond of, and will do the very best we can for her. Find a reputable registered breeder whose dogs are hip/elbow scored, that socialise their puppies well from a very young age and that will offer you ongoing support after you take puppy home. I don't believe the feed costs are exhorbitant for an adult. Lola (avatar) is 50kg Dane/mastiffx and quite porky on only 2 1/2 cups Black Hawk a day with some chicken mince & chicken wing treat. Daisy-Mae's going thru it at the rate of knots while she's growing - currently on 4 1/4 cups BH with mince & treat. It's the basic vet costs that knock the wallet around. Not much change out of $400 :rolleyes: for annual vacc & heartworm injections. Not to mention quarterly worm tablets based on weight. I usually spend about $70-80 on these from vet for 3 bigguns. Surgery costs - not even going there!!! Hope I haven't put you, or your wife, off entirely. :rolleyes: If you go ahead, I'm sure, with the right match you'll be sold. I'm researching breeders and dogs again already for my next one in a few years when my oldies have gone over the bridge. Doing it right second time around. :) If you're not set on a puppy, there was an adolescent purebred male in the mature dogs for sale (re-home) in Qld you may be interested at looking into. All the best with your search and join the Mastiff thread even if you don't end up getting one. Trying to breathe life back into it just for lots more info, hints & tips and wonderful pictures. Shay Another great reason to find a REPUTABLE registered breeder!!!!! Im sorry for the disappointment you must of felt when discovering the problem - and im glad you are sharing your story so that others can see the risks that come with buying from anyone else, and that although you expend more in the first place, it can save you financially and emotionally in the long run. Do you mind if i cross post your story to facebook? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LOLAFOLATA Posted March 2, 2012 Share Posted March 2, 2012 Hi everybody, My wife & I have just moved home to Brisbane from Dublin. I am really keen to get a mastiff as a family pet but my wife is not so sure. She is a bit worried about the size & the cost of a puppy. When we were in Ireland we fostered loads of dogs for the local rescue before the kids came along (3 & 7 months) so I am pretty familiar with different breeds and bigger dogs. The Rotties were my favourite dogs & I plan to eventually get a female when the kids are a little older. In the mean time, can anyone suggest a way for my wife to get to know how great mastiffs are? It is not like every second house has one & I don't know any mastiff owners. Thanks, Andrew which mastiff breed are you looking at? Sorry, the English Mastiff is what I am after. Hi Andrew, Welcome. I was originally looking at Great Danes but after doing a pet dog selection test, the Mastiff ended up on the top of the list to suit our family and life style. Still love the Danes, but after plenty of futher research and photo surfing, I was hooked. They seem to be great with kids on a whole too. There's a great Youtube video of an infant with his mastiff. ***Word of warning & advice from one who's been burned, and very recently.*** It was difficult to justify to my family the $2.5 - $3.5K purchase price of a registered puppy. I found a BYB 16wk old on Trading Post for only $1000. The owners of the parents were very nice people and their dogs appeared to be well cared for, sound & content. I was assured they were both pure Mastiffs (they looked the part) but they had not been able to get their papers from the breeder. I have no real guarantee that she is pure. Alarm bells should have rung when my daughter and I couldn't approach the puppy at all without bribing with roast chicken - she was terrified of us. We brought her home Anyway, to cut to the chase. Over the coming months, Daisy-Mae will most likely cost me way more than the $2500 I saved. Ongoing behaviourist fees for her fear issues due to poor socialisation. Possible large medical bills loom as she may be already showing signs of HD and growth plates in legs closing prematurely. I have a real "reggie reject" albeit, that we've become fond of, and will do the very best we can for her. Find a reputable registered breeder whose dogs are hip/elbow scored, that socialise their puppies well from a very young age and that will offer you ongoing support after you take puppy home. I don't believe the feed costs are exhorbitant for an adult. Lola (avatar) is 50kg Dane/mastiffx and quite porky on only 2 1/2 cups Black Hawk a day with some chicken mince & chicken wing treat. Daisy-Mae's going thru it at the rate of knots while she's growing - currently on 4 1/4 cups BH with mince & treat. It's the basic vet costs that knock the wallet around. Not much change out of $400 :rolleyes: for annual vacc & heartworm injections. Not to mention quarterly worm tablets based on weight. I usually spend about $70-80 on these from vet for 3 bigguns. Surgery costs - not even going there!!! Hope I haven't put you, or your wife, off entirely. :rolleyes: If you go ahead, I'm sure, with the right match you'll be sold. I'm researching breeders and dogs again already for my next one in a few years when my oldies have gone over the bridge. Doing it right second time around. :) If you're not set on a puppy, there was an adolescent purebred male in the mature dogs for sale (re-home) in Qld you may be interested at looking into. All the best with your search and join the Mastiff thread even if you don't end up getting one. Trying to breathe life back into it just for lots more info, hints & tips and wonderful pictures. Shay Another great reason to find a REPUTABLE registered breeder!!!!! Im sorry for the disappointment you must of felt when discovering the problem - and im glad you are sharing your story so that others can see the risks that come with buying from anyone else, and that although you expend more in the first place, it can save you financially and emotionally in the long run. Do you mind if i cross post your story to facebook? No, not at all. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LOLAFOLATA Posted March 2, 2012 Share Posted March 2, 2012 Andrew, Also, check out the breeds 101 Mastiff thread. There's some good info there as well. Cheers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kustali Posted March 2, 2012 Share Posted March 2, 2012 A good quality Mastiff puppy, very hard to come by! Do lots of research on the breed and be armed with your questions to ask the breeder. You do need to find a reputable breeder who has good quality dogs and puppies. Lolafolata's story is oh so familiar with this breed because there are so many cowboys breeding so called 'Mastiffs'. Very sad really, because there is nothing better than a well bred Mastiff with a solid temperament, they are gentle giants and that is what you want :) Do stick to the sites that advertise for registered breeders, Dogzonline is a good one. Grangeview and Nashtiff are good breeders, you will have to wait for a puppy though it will be worth it, contact them to see if you can arrange to see the dogs. Otherwise i will PM you some breeders that have puppies or have something coming up. Hannah Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mish13 Posted March 2, 2012 Share Posted March 2, 2012 As I write this it is pouring so hopefully the show will go ahead. Today the 4th of March is Gundogs and heavy breeds show at Durack, so you would have a good chance of seeing some Mastiffs there. The show starts at 4pm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oakway Posted March 2, 2012 Share Posted March 2, 2012 As I write this it is pouring so hopefully the show will go ahead. Today the 4th of March is Gundogs and heavy breeds show at Durack, so you would have a good chance of seeing some Mastiffs there. The show starts at 4pm Gundog and Heavy Breeds is on at the Durack Showgrounds King Avenue Durack TODAY 3rd March and it does start at 4.00pm. :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gracco Posted March 3, 2012 Author Share Posted March 3, 2012 Thanks everyone for the warm welcome & generous replies. I will follow up on the info provided. I am finding researching the English Mastiff to be very interesting & the more I learn about them, the more I want one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kustali Posted March 3, 2012 Share Posted March 3, 2012 There are hardly any Mastiffs being shown at the moment, one of my brindle boys might be out though at Durack and her fawn girl and also my friends young brindle boy, but other than that there doesn't seem to be alot. You will probably see more Bullmastiffs than Mastiffs out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mita Posted March 3, 2012 Share Posted March 3, 2012 (edited) There's Bluebelle, a sweet 3 yr old girl for adoption from RSPCA Dakabin (northern outskirts of Brisbane). http://www.petrescue.com.au/view/146765 You can find other large dogs for adoption from various Rescues in Qld by searching on that same Pet Rescue site. Just enter Dog, Either Sex, Large & Q'ld in the search box. There's quite a few pages with profiles of the large dogs. Bluebelle's just one of them. Edited March 3, 2012 by mita Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crisovar Posted March 3, 2012 Share Posted March 3, 2012 Except she has about as much Mastiff in her as I have in my little toe :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mita Posted March 3, 2012 Share Posted March 3, 2012 Except she has about as much Mastiff in her as I have in my little toe :D C'mon, ramp up your imagination, get creative....a lot. :) :) Looks like the RSPCA at Dakabin did. :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crisovar Posted March 3, 2012 Share Posted March 3, 2012 I must admit that the mislabeling of breeds is a bit of a bugbear of mine, I do think that most people would not know what a Mastiff was if they met one yet pretty quickly label anything large as one. :laugh: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mita Posted March 3, 2012 Share Posted March 3, 2012 I must admit that the mislabeling of breeds is a bit of a bugbear of mine, I do think that most people would not know what a Mastiff was if they met one yet pretty quickly label anything large as one. :laugh: Fair point. We were just talking about that the other day in relation to microchipping & dog registration forms. Dogs, especially mixed breeds, can get all sorts of creative labels. And 'mastiff' is popular for any dog that's really large & not recognizably anything else. Of course, I was using Bluebelle, in a not very subtle way, to point to rescue dogs. But, I got busted. :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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