New mastiff owner and have a few questions

[bigred]

Just picked up our 4 month old, apricot color, male English mastiff yesterday and have had some questions floating in my head. This is our first EM, and as much research as i have done I still have a few questions about this particular pup that may or may not be ordinary for the breed. Thanks in advance for ALL of your help, I'm sure I'll have more questions and comments in the coming days!

"Red" is around 26lbs @ the age of 4 months. Although I am not overly concerned about his weight as compared to his overall health, this seems to be a bit low when comparing him to many other pups at this age (at least from what I've seen on the internet). But I'm guessing he'll probably reach his Sire's weight and height in the next two years which is around 185lbs (sire is 2yrs old) and a very healthy looking EM. Dam is about 160lbs. Both are very pretty dogs.

Question 1: Am I safe to assume he'll grow to be about the same size as his father and mother, even though his weight is fairly low in comparison to his age as of now?

We've had "Red" for a little over a day now and all he does is sleep and eat. He'll plop right down on the dog pad and sleep for a good hour. When we try to get him up to go outside to use the bathroom he will just lay there. We'll gently try to get him up to go outside and he just plops back to the ground and wants to sleep. We started using treats to get him outside and then reward him once he has done his duty. Afterwards he immediately wants to come back inside and go to sleep

Question 2: Will this behavior continue for a while (into adulthood) or is it just his puppy stage and adjusting to the new environment? Of course we want to be able to train him to get up on his own when called or motivated, we really don't want to have to break our backs trying to get a full grown mastiff off the floor to potty later on down the road.

I've got a few more questions, but we'll let that be for now, I'll wait a few days and see how he adjusts to our home and his new family. Thanks guys!

 

[Ryan Davis]

26 lbs is awfully small for a 4 month male EM. Have you had him to the vet to rule out any illness or parasites. With the poor weight gain and trouble staying awake not that mastiffs dont sleep alot he should want to get up to use the restroom. I would be a bit concerned. If the vet gives him a clean bill of health I would just ensure he was on a quality dog food lots of suggestions on the board if you look. As far as reaching his daddy's weight each pup is an individaul he may, he may exceed it, he may fall well short. The main thing is to make sure he is healthy. If you haven't already I would at least have him looked at by the vet.

 

[bigred]

We will be taking him to the vet this coming weekend to get checked over. The breeder took him and the siblings off of puppy chow at 8weeks old and put them on regular dog food. We are now feeding him Purina One Large Breed Puppy formula, 8 cups a day spread over 4 separate meals. The breeder also let us know that his liter developed some sort of intestinal illness (forgot the name of it) where the pups had loose stool for a while, but is now over it after being taken to the vet.

Other than getting a slight pot belly after eating "red" seems to have a good stature. He has been pretty easy to crate train over the last couple of days we have had him. He sleeps well at night with no accidents, and knows where he needs to potty, for the exception that he just doesn't want to walk outside on his own, we've had to pick him up and carry him to his spot.

Here are some pics of "Red":

 

[Cody]

Personally I would get him off Purina and onto a better quality food with a low protein and fat %. I prefer all stages food like Taste of the Wild. Purina's main ingredient is corn, a filler with no real nutritional value. On a better quality food you will have to feed less, less poop to clean up as more of the food will be used by your pup.
Seems small for 4 months, but it is good you are happy with your puppy.

 

[Jackie Bryan]

25lbs does seem small!!

My male english mastiff pup will be 6 months on the Feb 8th! At 5months my puppy was 80lbs! I feed him puppy food but am thinking of weaning him off it as he isnt enjoying the small bits!

 

[Mongo]

Im not sure if its just the pictures or me... but his head seems really big while his legs seem fairly skinny. Usually mastiffs, great danes and other giant breeds have very large bones. His feet also look pretty small. Are you sure he is pure bred? I agree with Cody, TOTW is a great dog food to feed giant breeds

 

[moose]

Something is deff not right, I remember our boy mopar was 22 pounds at 6 weeks and our new boy rigger who was small was almost 20 pounds at 9 weeks. The average for four months is around 60lbs for a male. Have you asked the breeder what are the other pups weighing in at? I also agree switching to better food. eagle pack, fromm, totw

 

[Clark Kent]

I doubt he will reach 180 lbs based on the picture I just bought my second Mastiff puppy and he is around 40 lbs at 12 wks. Like Mongo said his feet and legs are very small and most often those are the ways to kinda predict if your dog is going to be large or small. Although there is really only one English Mastiff breed some breeders produce a more American style which he seems to be based on his lack of wrinkles and they usually are smaller. I also would switch his food Orijen is what I have mine on he loves it.

 

[bigred]

Red is AKC registered. We saw both his mom and dad and his littermates. There were only 2 in the litter that were bigger than him. Must just be the picture because he is very proportionate. As his new human mother, all I care is that he is healthy and hopefully we will make it to the vet this week to confirm that. The intestinal illness my husband was referring to above was coccidia. I don't know if that may have slowed his growth.

 

[BlackShadowCaneCorso]

He is very cute! Good luck with him!

 

[Mongo]

Not trying to argue or anything.... but papers dont mean everything. And definitely do not mean this breeding should have taken place... maybe a bad breeding pair? Breeding is supposed to better the breed so finding a breeding pair that compliment each other takes time and work. And he does not look like a normal English Mastiff puppy to me.

Anyways you already have him so just love him... As long as he is healthy then there is nothing to worry about.

 

[bigred]

Thanks a lot for comments guys. Red is doing great on his 3rd day here, playing much more and going outside when needed with no accidents. A little bit of his personality is starting to show as well! Here are a couple of pictures of the mother and father we saw on premise. Father is 2 yrs/180lbs & mother is 6yrs/150lbs.

Father:

Mother:

 

[Ryan Davis]

Could be wrong but Im not buying this at all 3 things are possible 1 the dog is sick causing the weight problems 2 those aren't the parents yes they may have been on site but its possible thats not daddy equating to a dog that's not purebred 3 for some unknow reason the breeder lied as to when the dog was born and it actually younger than what they said. Just my opinion here but by the picture that looks like a 7 or 8 week old pup more than a four month old. I have a litter right now and Have 3 males in the litter at 19lbs at just 6 weeks. No doubt they will weigh at least 26lbs by 8 weeks. If your happy with the pup thats all that really matters but depending on what you spent on him I would be asking that breeder some serious questions.

Also look at the pic of Red take note of his front legs they look thin and although it appears the picture of Red is shot at a closer distance than the picture of my pup notice how much thicker my pups front legs look compared to Red.

Dont get me wrong I think "Red" is a beautiful animal but you came here seeking answers and Im trying to be truthful and honest with you.
This is a 6 week old pup at 19lbs

 

[Mongo]

The sire is a good looking dog... hopeful this was the last breeding for the female :/

 

[Mongo]

I agree with Ryan. (I forgot the reason this thread was up) I currently have a mastiff cross who is 18.6 lbs at 9 weeks old

He looks no more than 11 weeks old from those pictures

 

[moose]

Could be wrong but Im not buying this at all 3 things are possible 1 the dog is sick causing the weight problems 2 those aren't the parents yes they may have been on site but its possible thats not daddy equating to a dog that's not purebred 3 for some unknow reason the breeder lied as to when the dog was born and it actually younger than what they said. Just my opinion here but by the picture that looks like a 7 or 8 week old pup more than a four month old. I have a litter right now and Have 3 males in the litter at 19lbs at just 6 weeks. No doubt they will weigh at least 26lbs by 8 weeks. If your happy with the pup thats all that really matters but depending on what you spent on him I would be asking that breeder some serious questions.

Also look at the pic of Red take note of his front legs they look thin and although it appears the picture of Red is shot at a closer distance than the picture of my pup notice how much thicker my pups front legs look compared to Red.

Dont get me wrong I think "Red" is a beautiful animal but you came here seeking answers and Im trying to be truthful and honest with you.
View attachment 422This is a 6 week old pup at 19lbs

I fully agree with you, something is really not right at all

 

[ElJayBee]

Yeah, I'm going to have to agree with most here. Something is just not right. Either he has something medically wrong like a liver shunt (which can cause them to be really small and overly sleepy), you or the breeder is wrong about the age, that male is NOT the sire of that litter and some other male got to the dam with or without the breeder's knowledge, or you have just simply been lied to. He has VERY small bone for a mastiff puppy, and him being such a small weight for his supposed age has me concerned that something is definitely off. I'm already concerned about the knowledge and intentions of your breeder due to the fact that they are feeding Puppy Chow, which is as bad as Ole' Roy, which makes me think they are in the breeding business for the money, not the betterment of the breed (especially after looking at the dam).

Now, don't get me wrong, I'm not attacking you or trying to be negative. I am just concerned for you and your puppy and am responding because you asked and I want to help. But IMO, something is either wrong with your puppy or you got ripped off by your breeder. Coccidia can stunt growth a small bit, but not THAT much. I would be asking your breeder some serious questions if I were you.

He just looks more like a 6-8 week old puppy instead of a 16 week old puppy.... and even still, his bone is so much finer than i would expect for an EM... I dunno. But I do wish you the best of luck and hope he turns out to be a wonderful pet for you and your family. he certainly is cute, no matter what. i would ask your vet about maybe some bloodwork and the possibility of a liver shunt because it's something that will definitely need to be fixed ASAP for his health and safety.

 

[Mongo]

Yeah, I'm going to have to agree with most here. Something is just not right. Either he has something medically wrong like a liver shunt (which can cause them to be really small and overly sleepy), you or the breeder is wrong about the age, that male is NOT the sire of that litter and some other male got to the dam with or without the breeder's knowledge, or you have just simply been lied to. He has VERY small bone for a mastiff puppy, and him being such a small weight for his supposed age has me concerned that something is definitely off. I'm already concerned about the knowledge and intentions of your breeder due to the fact that they are feeding Puppy Chow, which is as bad as Ole' Roy, which makes me think they are in the breeding business for the money, not the betterment of the breed (especially after looking at the dam).

Now, don't get me wrong, I'm not attacking you or trying to be negative. I am just concerned for you and your puppy and am responding because you asked and I want to help. But IMO, something is either wrong with your puppy or you got ripped off by your breeder. Coccidia can stunt growth a small bit, but not THAT much. I would be asking your breeder some serious questions if I were you.

He just looks more like a 6-8 week old puppy instead of a 16 week old puppy.... and even still, his bone is so much finer than i would expect for an EM... I dunno. But I do wish you the best of luck and hope he turns out to be a wonderful pet for you and your family. he certainly is cute, no matter what. i would ask your vet about maybe some bloodwork and the possibility of a liver shunt because it's something that will definitely need to be fixed ASAP for his health and safety.

Great post!

 

[morrigan05]

i am not sure about the males. i have female english mastiff who is an apricot. at 4 months old, she was even 33lbs. she is like 12lbs under weight for the breed but now she is 5 1/2 months and she is picking up the weight more quickly. then again, my spouse has a 4 month old female english mastiff. she is 30lbs and the vet said she is severely under weight. his advice to us was give her 24 hour access to food at all times.

 

[ccmum22boyz]

I believe it is Mom and Pop breeders. I bought a mastiff from a lady for $500.00 and now I know 500 will not get you a well bred dog.$1500- $2000 can get you a very large good example of the breed.The lady had the dam on sight but not the sire. The dame was small but I took her anyway. She is a year old and only weighs 85#.She is beautiful but not a good example of the breed. Her tail is more like a lab than an EM and she has a dominant temperament. My son wanted a dog that looked like a real EM so This time we went to a breeder of show dogs and she had both dogs on sight they were HUGE and the temperment was so sweet. I want sweet because at 235 this boy could hurt someone real bad with a bad temperament. And I don't want that. Don't make quick decisions and don't buy unless the parents are what you would want in a dog. It may be AKC but if you breed two bad examples of AKC that is what you get in a puppy.Not to say that small is not wonderful and they don't deserve love but if you are buying an EM you want size or you would get a lab.Now my boy is 7 months and 155#. They both are best freinds and I love them both.