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Breeding

blozanojr

Member
Hello,

I have a couple of questions. One, I have an about to be 1 year old female Mastiff who is actually in her first heat cycle. I am interested in breeding her, however not at this moment. I have an opportunity to receive a 7 month old male, so my second question is, what is the consensus in getting a Mastiff that you didn't completely raise. My friend mentioned that he had purchased two like that and that they had anxiety type issues and had issues of fleeing or attempting to, as of trying to search for previous owner. I was originally just going to purchase a pup as I did my female.

Thoughts?
 

Duetsche_Doggen

Well-Known Member
7 Months is still young for these guys they don't mature fully until around 24 months or later depending on the line.

Why do you want to breed your female? It's nothing to take likely for both dog and owner.
 

blozanojr

Member
Don't plan to breed at this time maybe a year or two away. My purpose is to improve the breed, initially I just wanted a male pup for companionship for her.
 

Duetsche_Doggen

Well-Known Member
You can still take the male mastiff for companionsihp. If your serious about improving the breed keep checking for other suitable males to your female.
 

Smart_Family

Dog Food Guru
And at a year old, it's hard to say if the female is a good choice for breeding as well. She shouldn't be bred until at least two, which you seem to know, but as good of a dog as she may be she's still young. I'd wait out this next year and see how she develops before making any decisions. Honestly I've heard more than once, that one of the signs of a backyard breeder is that they own both the female and the male. That doesn't mean that every breeder who owns both parents is a backyard breeder but it can be one of the signs. Do you know any other breeders that can mentor you and maybe show you the ropes with their dogs? It can be very expensive and there's not always a big return once the pups are gone.
 

Duetsche_Doggen

Well-Known Member
Did you mean fight?

There are numerous variables that could result in a fight, it depends on the dog and training. Many people adopt dogs far older and the do exceptionally well, it just takes some time for them adjust.
 

AKBull

Super Moderator
Staff member
My first Bull came to me at around 6 to 7 months old, she was an addition to my English. She laid down some ground rules in the begining, but they both grew up together great. She was also seriously dog aggresive.
Anything can happen though and it'd be beneficial to have them meet before anything is set in stone.
 

Duetsche_Doggen

Well-Known Member
And at a year old, it's hard to say if the female is a good choice for breeding as well. She shouldn't be bred until at least two, which you seem to know, but as good of a dog as she may be she's still young. I'd wait out this next year and see how she develops before making any decisions. Honestly I've heard more than once, that one of the signs of a backyard breeder is that they own both the female and the male. That doesn't mean that every breeder who owns both parents is a backyard breeder but it can be one of the signs. Do you know any other breeders that can mentor you and maybe show you the ropes with their dogs? It can be very expensive and there's not always a big return once the pups are gone.

I remember some breeders tried to create a list of "responsible" breeding if you didn't conform to these standards you were a BYB. Politics.......
 

blozanojr

Member
Thanks, no I meant flight as if trying to escape. A friend of mine mentioned that he had that problem with a couple that he purchased.
 

Smart_Family

Dog Food Guru
I remember some breeders tried to create a list of "responsible" breeding if you didn't conform to these standards you were a BYB. Politics.......
There are quite a few lists that do say what makes a backyard breeder and what doesn't and they are regarded as truth by pretty much everyone I know. As far as owning both parents, it's usually seen as a) they are trying to take the cheaper route, since getting a stud or semen can cost a good amount of money and b) if they truly want to better the breed they will try different males who have been proven studs and who come from different lines, areas, etc. If you have two dogs that you keep breeding, the puppies are most likely going to come out the same every time and while they might be great puppies, the likelihood of really bettering the breed this way isn't very high.

---------- Post added at 01:00 PM ---------- Previous post was at 12:59 PM ----------

Thanks, no I meant flight as if trying to escape. A friend of mine mentioned that he had that problem with a couple that he purchased.
Training and having ways to contain them will prevent this in most cases. If people only had mastiffs that they themselves had raised, not too many of us would have mastiffs haha.
 

Smart_Family

Dog Food Guru
Thanks, no I meant flight as if trying to escape. A friend of mine mentioned that he had that problem with a couple that he purchased.
Training and having ways to contain them will prevent this in most cases. If people only had mastiffs that they themselves had raised, not too many of us would have mastiffs haha.