Finding Mastiff Puppies for Sale

Yep, there's no doubt about it, you're hooked. You think that the mastiff is just the greatest dog that ever lived (and quite frankly, we're not about to argue with you!).

Now, you want to find a purebred mastiff puppy that you can take care of and love for your very own. How do you start this process, though?

The first thing you might think of is search locally. That's certainly a good place to start. Just don't let distance be your deciding factor in finding your new best friend. It's definitely worth traveling a little farther to bring home the perfect dog for you home.

Before you start scouring the ads of your local newpaper, visit a dog show or two. More than likely you'll find someone who can lead you to a quality breeder if they're not one themselves.

Go ahead, take your time. These "dog folks" love to talk "mastiff." They'll be happy to show their passion. And they'll be more than happy to steer you in the proper direction of a reputable breeder.

If you find someone so passionate about mastiffs, you can be sure that they're going to want to share their passion with you. They love dogs, mastiffs in particular, and they show them as well. Therefore, they're not going to give lip service to any substandard breeder who would not only breed inferior dogs but would also participate in animal cruelty practices such as puppy mills.

You'll definitely be able to count on some candid feedback on the good and bad breeders they've run into to.

After a show or two, you should have several business cards from different breeders. Start calling them and get a conversation going. Talking to a breeder doesn't commit you to anything.

What should you be looking for during this conversation? Get a feel for the breeder's "ethics" and determine whether or not he or she is truly committed to the mastiff as a breed. You don't even have to be sure that you know what answers you want, or of the questions you're going to want to ask. Trust your intuition to tell you what's right.

If a breeder is too worried about the proper monetary value of a dog, perhaps his focus isn't quite right.

However, if your prospective breeder wants to brag about the dog' is bloodline, or how cute the puppies are, this might just be an indication that you have a high-quality breeder in your site.

You'll also have a sense of his reputation, by the way he allays your fears or doubts about your new venture.

Feel free to call as many breeders as it takes. You don't want to make this decision lightly. Once you've found someone you feel comfortable working with, go ahead and set the appointment to view his litter.

Be prepared to answer questions of your own, though. A good breeder is going to ask you as many questions as you plan to ask the breeder. Don't be offended by this. This means that the breeder's conscientious and loves mastiffs. A good breeder wants his/her puppies to go to a good home, so s/he'll be just as thorough as you are.

So here are some tips on how how you want to steer the conversation.

Of course you'll want to ask how long he's been a breeder. Ask why he owns them. Are his mastiffs show dogs or house pets? Don't be afraid to ask about the health issues associated with the breed. Every breed has some distinguishing health concerns. It's always best to know what the issues are before adopting.

Ask the breeder what he or she considers the mastiff's most important single characteristic. This will tell you a lot about the breeder's thinking and reputation.

Don't be offended by the number of questions the breeder asks you - or even by the nature of some them. He's asking because he just cares that much for his mastiffs - and that's always a good sign.

As you narrow down your choices of possible breeders, don't just choose one. Make a list of several breeders you're interested in and then prioritize that list by preference. You might have to wait, too, until other prospective owners have made their adoption selections as well.

Remember that with this type of puppy choosing, it's "first come, first serve." Once you find the breeder and mother dog you want, you will probably be put on a waiting list until the puppies come.

While this could be irritating, especially since you want your new puppy NOW, view this as a good thing. This is definitely a signal that you've chosen a quality breeder. If you believe that the wait involved is excessive - and only you can decide that - you can always decide to adopt from your second choice of mastiff breeders.

Once you get the call that the puppies are ready to be looked at, the excitement builds. By the time you have a first look at your new baby, he or she is going to be 8 to 10 weeks old. This is a good age, because at this age, puppies will display their personalities quite readily. You'll also be able to see how the puppies will interact with you and your family so that you can make your choice from this bit of information, too.

You definitely want to take your entire family to the viewing - especially the kids. This is how you will truly know if this mastiff puppy is right for your home.

Your puppy will ultimately reflect what you want a mastiff to be for you. If you want to show at dog shows or be a breeder yourself, then you want a dog that meets all perfect mastiff breed requirements.

And if you want a dog who's going to be a loved and loyal family pet, physical criteria is less important. You're just looking for the most lovable puppy there is.

The decisions been made and you've found the puppy right for you. Now you just have to settle on a price and take him home. If by chance the puppy is not quite old enough to go home with you now, don't be too disappointed. You simply have more time to prepare for his arrival.

Once he or she arrives, the only thing left to do is to have a good life with your new puppy.

Want to learn the secrets of raising happy and healthy mastiff puppies? Come get your free mastiff puppy ecourse today before you make the common errors I did.