Planning to Buy French Mastiff - Need last time suggestions

[coreyc]

Are you having him shipped to you? I would go meet the breeder and see the parent's if you can leave the middle man out of it that deal does not sound right. I would research the breed more then find a good breeder you can sit down and talk to about his/her dogs .

 

[musicdeb]

I would also suggest meeting the breeder and ask the necessary questions. Personally, I believe you can find great dogs @ BYBs. Titan was bought from BYB in Germany per past owner and he paid $700

 

[KimT]

She looks ok, My dogs get muddy but that poor girl does not look happy lol being held like that.Skin looks ok,doesnt look like she as gunky eyes. I would want to see more pictures of her standing and a video of her walking. Just my opinion

View attachment 30034 How is this puppy

 

[mcc]

I asked if I can see parents. He said I can only send photos.

 

[DDBsR4Me]

I think I would run far away - and fast!

I know you said this is your first dog, but how much experience do you actually have with dogs?? I don't really know that a DDB is the right breed for someone with little to no dog experience.

 

[coreyc]

Is the puppy being shipped to you or can pick it up ? If you are close enough to pick it up and can not see the parents I would not get this one sounds to me like the middle man may be getting it from a puppy mill I would look else where

 

[mcc]

Yes this is my first dog. Yes I am getting it locally, will pick it up. I will try to have a word again with the person I am purchasing it from, whether I can see parents or not. If he refuses , I will cancel the deal. Will update.

 

[Primehns]

No, the dog has no health checks, and your paying $500? That too being in a different country can add up in your in the middle east, the middleman will sell you anything as long as they get paid. Go see the parent's yourself, if they are healthy and up to standard, pick a puppy, and go. Don't go through a middleman.

 

[DennasMom]

Being able to meet the parents of the puppy also helps a lot with knowing what to expert for temperament. Gentle, social, calm, stable doggie parents are a big help in producing gentle, social, calm puppies. If the parents are... uh... unstable (i.e. "will attack strangers, so no you can't meet them"), I'd run away from that deal, too. Mastiffs may not like strangers, but they shouldn't attack... if the momma dog is still protective of the puppies, they should still be able to let you see her interact with her own people (from the other side of a window or fence), so you can get an idea of her personality.

Not sure about the middleman, either... other than it can take a lot of time to find a good breeder and a great puppy, so his network of breeders may have some value there. Maybe offer him a 'finders fee', but tell him you need to talk to the breeder direct and be able to see where they spent their first 8 weeks of life.

 

[lizzy_troy]

Not sure about the middleman, either... other than it can take a lot of time to find a good breeder and a great puppy, so his network of breeders may have some value there. Maybe offer him a 'finders fee', but tell him you need to talk to the breeder direct and be able to see where they spent their first 8 weeks of life.

This is a good idea. Here in the US (didn't catch where the op is), "middle men" are usually brokers that sell sub-par puppy mill dogs. But, if you do like Dennasmom said, it might work out.

I paid $500 for my DDB, but it was a unique situation. I had been following the breeder for more than two years. Recently, they had a family emergency and needed homes for the rest of their current litter fast. Pups from this breeder cost more than $1500, but I was able to get Mayzee for cheap. I didn't get any registration papers, which is fine for us cause she's just a family pet, but I did see the parents and check up on their history and "papers."

Like I said, my situation is unique, but I encourage people to save up and be ready to spend $1000-$2000 for any kind of mastiff pup from a reputable breeder, no middle man needed. I don't know the politics of puppy buying where the op is, but I would suggest a trip to the breeder with the parents on site would be a high priority.

 

[KamiKaze]

Instead of just looking for a puppy based off a a puppy picture.. why not try to find a good breeder FIRST. You want to FIRST HAND see the temperament, and condition of the parents. Temperament is so VERY important. You want to see if they have had their breeding dogs tested, hips, thyroid, etc.
Anyone can list there dogs at a high price, doesn't mean that they are a good breeder/ have good dogs. You don't want to get a 'lemon'.
Not sure if I missed it or not, but, Do you have any experience with the breed?

 

[DDBsR4Me]

^^Agreed.

No this is his/her first dog EVER!! I don't feel this is a wise choice for someone with no dog experience.