Life With the Mastiff


© T. Darlene Cheek

You've seen pictures of Mastiffs, but have you been up close and personal with one? The pictures just don't do justice to their true size! Living with the Mastiff changes your entire world as you know it. If you think I'm exaggerating, read on!

You'll bring this adorable bundle of puppy lovin' into your home, and for a few days he'll sleep on your lap. You'll take him outside to potty, and he'll pudge along as cute as can be. Life is a wonderful, happy, loving place to be with your new baby... and then he begins to grow... and grow... and grow (I could continue on with that).

You'll begin to notice a few things about your Mastiff as he begins to stay awake more often. First, he'll have to be wherever you are, and if he isn't, he'll cry. I know you're saying, all puppies cry the first few days, but Mastiffs really need to be with you. It's just their nature! They are extremely loyal and loving, and they want to be a part of your family, not just a pet. As a matter of fact, they insist on it!

As they get older, they will want to go with you wherever you go, and they certainly won't fit into a compact car! With Draco, we couldn't even say any word that rhymed with ride, or he'd run to the door and start whining and spinning in circles. Anything that got in his way was immediately knocked out of the way.

Mastiffs don't mean to just knock things out of the way, but with their sheer size, they just can't help it. If you have small children, they'll get knocked down. If you have a coffee table, their tail will clear it right off for you. Drinks will be spilled, carpets will be stained, and their tail can even leave bruises on your legs from a simple happy wag.

A good Mastiff parent will have studied well ahead of time and made the proper adjustments to their home. Mastiffs don't do well with small children, not because they don't love them, but because they love them too much! My Mastiffs have adored my nieces and nephews, and there have been instances when my full-grown Mastiffs have jumped into a 3-year old's lap.

Mastiffs don't do well in small spaces for the obvious reasons. Even though they're the laziest creatures on the earth, they can get a little rowdy when they want to play. Remember, Mastiffs will continue to mature for a good five years or so, so their playful nature lingers on.

       

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Here's the follow-up discussion on this article: View all related messages

2.   Sep 16, 2004 8:24 PM
In response to message posted by JButler:

Hi there, Joy! I'm surprised that German Shepherds drool! See, learn something n ...


-- posted by TDarCheek


1.   Sep 16, 2004 7:40 PM
The only Mastiffs I've been been around up close were at dog shows but I know all about the drool with my German Shepherd and those "lethal tails" from my mother-in-law's Great Dane. :)

I'd like ...


-- posted by JButler





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