Learn the secrets of how to properly care for your Mastiff, and how to have a healthy and happy dog!

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Mastiff care can be tricky if you're not familiar with the breed, but they are absolutely great dogs. Find out all you need to know here!

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In my FREE Minicourse, You'll Learn:

* The secret to choosing the right mastiff for your family
* How to help your mastiff feel "right at home"
* How to make the most of playtime with your mastiff
* Valuable tips on keeping your mastiff healthy
* How to be prepared in the event of a "mastiff emergency"
* Much, much more!

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Are You Doing Everything You Can to Give Your Mastiff a Fulfilling Life?

On the website, YourMastiffAndYou.com, you will find a website devoted to mastiff care and training. Mastiff's are great dogs and wonderful family companions. They are loyal, lovable, and naturally protective.

On this site, you will get a greater understanding of what mastiff's are all about, common mastiff behaviors, and how to train your dog to follow rules and even do some tricks. Whether you consider yourself an expert or a novice, there are always things to learn about your mastiff.

Looking for a challenge? Or just something fun to fill your down-time? Try this Dog Puzzle, but beware! It's two-sided and not as easy as it seems.!

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Despite how large Mastiff dogs are, they are primarily indoor pets. As indoor pets they will need training, just as all puppies do.

It's important then to teach your dog good manners. This training should include teaching your puppy not to jump up on people or bark excessively. Large dogs often frighten people, but a well trained dog can be appreciated by all. Training Mastiffs is fairly easy because they are observant and eager to please their owners. The crate method works well when house training your Mastiff.

Learn How To Care For Your Mastiff Here

Remember, puppies can't control their bladders for much longer than that. Besides, your puppy needs attention and exercise. If you use a crate, please use it wisely.

Mastiff dogs do best when fed at the same time in the same place everyday. Ceramic dishes can also be used. Feed your Mastiff puppy small meals a few times a day rather than one large meal a day. Also, avoid switching foods frequently as this can cause intestinal upset. Ask your breeder about the food your puppy has been eating. Even if you do not plan on continuing using that particular dog food, buy a bag anyway and slowly mix it with whatever dog food you choose to that you do not upset your puppy's digestive system. After your dog has eaten, he should rest. Heavy exercise and excessive water intake after eating can cause gastric torsion, which can be fatal.

Learn How To Care For Your Mastiff Here

Be sure to take your new Mastiff puppy to the vet for a thorough examination. Mastiff dogs are fairly easy to teach, train, and care for. They enjoy pleasing their owners. They are loyal pets who feel the responsibility to protect their family.

The Mastiff breed has a breed standard for judging dogs in dog show competition, just as all dog breeds do that are recognized by the AKC. Some of the traits by which a breed is recognized are physical, and some are personality characteristics.

What is a breed standard?

A breed standard is a written description of the physical characteristics of the ideal dog in the breed you are discussing. It is sort of like a definition of each dog breed. It is listings of the dog's different characteristics that would distinguish it from another breed. Each breed has it's own standard, and you can tell from the breed standard what is different in a mastiff as compared to a Rottweiler, or a Sheep dog, or any other dog.

Each breed has a standard that it is judged against in a dog show. Though no dog will be perfect in all respects, the dog that come the closest to the perfect standard will usually win that competition. Breeders are familiar with the standards for their own breed, and will choose which dogs to breed in order to bring out, or improve on certain physical characteristics.

A breed standard is not set in stone. It may change over time to bring out new colors or in order to clarify the existing standard. But changes in any breed standard have to first be voted on by that breed's parent club, then approved by their membership. Then those changes are forwarded on to the AKC's board of directors for their approval. You can obtain a copy of the current Mastiff breed standard by writing to the American Kennel club and requesting a copy of the Official Standard of the Mastiff pamphlet. (There may be a small charge.)

Judging in dog show competitions will look for dogs that don't vary too much, in structure or type, from the Mastiff breed standard. For some people, meeting the standard may not be that important, especially if they are looking for a family dog, but there are reasons to consider a well-bred pure Mastiff dog even if the dog will not be shown.

Over the years it takes to develop a breed standard, undesirable physical characteristics have been bred out, and what you have as a result, are the best aspects and traits of the breed. Their bone structure is solid, their coloring beautiful, and they are less susceptible to disease and joint trouble. They also can have the best temperament traits, and are generally good natured, gentle and docile, but protective of their families.

Also, a good Mastiff puppy breeder will know which trait variations are still within the breed standard, in case you want to show your dog, or breed them, sometime in the future. Overall, a dog that meets the Mastiff breed standard is one that will be the kind of dog you will enjoy having in your family.

Mastiff Breeders can be located in several ways. You can look in your local Yellow Pages or newspaper to find breeders of Mastiff dogs. You would be surprised at how many Mastiff breeders have websites. The last suggestion to locate a Mastiff breeder is at dog shows. Good Mastiff breeders take pride in their pups and are often owners themselves.

When breeding Mastiffs, breeders try to achieve the Mastiff standard. What is a breed standard? Each breed has its own standard. For those dogs entering dog shows, judges look for the dog that most closely meets the breed standard. Mastiffs are large, symmetrical dogs with a well-knit frame. Males stand a minimum of 30 inches at the shoulder while females are a slightly smaller build, but still stand at a minimum of 27 ½ inches at the shoulders.
The color of the eyes should be a dark brown, the darker the better. Light eyes are undesirable. The skull is broad and somewhat flat between the ears. The muzzle also is dark in color, the blacker the better. The nose is broad with spread flat nostrils and black. The Mastiffs canine teeth should be healthy and wide apart. The neck of the Mastiff is powerful, muscular, and of medium length. Mastiffs' shoulders are powerful and muscular, with no tendency to looseness. Black nails are preferred. The hindquarters are wide, broad, and muscular with rear legs that are set wide apart and parallel when seen from the rear.

Mastiff breeders when trying to achieve the breed standard look for coats that are straight, course, and short. The gait of the Mastiff should show power and strength. All good Mastiff breeders try to achieve the breed standard. Perhaps, you might get interested in breeding Mastiff puppies yourself.