What you should know BEFORE you buy a Mastiff...

Mastiffs are BIG dogs!!! 
A 200+ lb dog is much more impressive in person than in pictures. I will not sell puppies to anyone who has never "experienced" a Mastiff in real-life. You are always welcome to meet my kids or if you live out of state, I can refer you to a breeder in your area. This is imperative. I always find it amazing when the biggest excuse I hear from people looking to place adults is "I didn't know he/she would get so BIG!". Mastiffs can be messy dogs. As a rule, my dogs do not sit around and drool however, my dogs are inside my house and after drinking they can be MESSY. On a warm day, or even with minimal exercise; the drooling can be greatly affected. Mastiffs have lethal tails. Your home must be "tail-proofed". An adult Mastiff can clear a coffee table with one wag of "I'm happy you're home"! Your Mastiff MUST be SOCIALIZED, including obedience or at the very least "manners" trained. A 200 lb dog that pulls on a leash is a nightmare, a 200 lb crotch sniffing, jumping, uncontrolled dog is vile and an unsocialized, shy fear-biting Mastiff is a definite threat to someone's safety. The biggest thing you should know... is that Mastiffs are addictive, like potato chips... you can't have just ONE!!!

Genetic/Health problems:
Strictly because of their size, Mastiffs are prone to Hip Dysplasia. If you take that into consideration with some poor breeding practices, your chances of ending up with a dysplastic dog are greatly enhanced. I believe dogs used for breeding purposes should be evaluated by OFA (hips and elbows) prior to breeding to eliminate the probability of genetic bone/joint problems. A reputable breeder will have these certificates on hand and should have NO problem sharing photocopies with you. A Mastiff is a "loose-faced" breed. This can lend itself to eye problems such as entropion/ectropion (where the lids can roll inward or outward respectively). Although the latter problem is usually cosmetic, the first can cause permanent eye damage that may eventually lead to blindness. Both problems can be surgically corrected. PRA (progressive retinal atrophy) is also a problem that Mastiffs can experience. With this disease, your Mastiff will eventually be rendered sightless. Not only can the dogs be tested for this prior to breeding, there is now a blood test available for detecting the genetic predisposition of this disease! Some Mastiffs can have problems with their thyroid. I have found that what is a normal low for most dogs, is too low for a Mastiff. Thyroid problems can lead to skin problems, fertility problems and weight problems among other things. 

Pricing:
Mastiffs are difficult to breed. Many of us breed using artificial/veterinarian assisted procedures. Usually this is done because of the proximity of the stud, sometimes it is done to prevent physical injury to the male or female. Many Mastiff bitches have difficulty whelping (Mastiffs are prone to uterine inertia - a condition where the uterus literally will no longer contract making a C-section imminent). Typically, the bitches are bad mothers; no milk, run out milk, they MUST be constantly monitored to prevent accidental death by rolling over on the puppies, etc. Taking all these things into consider (not including vet bills, stud fees, maintenance fees, etc.) Mastiffs are expensive. You should plan on spending between $800 and $3000 depending on what you're looking for. Pet quality puppies (with obvious flaws like long hair or a lot of white) usually go for between $800 & $1400 (the price depends on the amount of flaws, what the flaws are, who the parents are and what the guarantee entails) I sell ALL "pet" puppies with Limited Registration, meaning you will not be able to show or breed your puppy. I do not encourage "casual" breeding. Show puppies usually begin around $1500 and are affected the same way by pricing. If you're not buying your puppy locally, you are also responsible for "all" costs associated with shipping (including the crate) this is typically around $250.

Different types of Mastiffs:
Frequently I have people asking me the differences between English and Bullmastiffs. I do NOT have any personal experience with Bullmastiffs, the following is strictly MY personal opinions! (To get better information regarding Bullmastiffs... I would highly recommend you speak to Jan, of Patriot Bullmastiffs.) Obviously, the Mastiff (English) is much larger, I believe at least 50 lbs heavier on average. I find that the Bullmastiff is much more active and agile dog and also has a much "squishier" face and typically tighter coat. I also find the Bullmastiff to be more overtly protective than the English Mastiff. The English Mastiff is a VERY laid back type of dog. They do not require, nor can they have much exercise (until about 1.5 years). Both are good with children although I find the English to be a bit more tolerant. Both are large dogs that may inadvertently step on or tail-whip a child (those tails tend to be at eye level). In addition to these two types of Mastiffs; apparently, someone is trying to start a breed called an American Mastiff???? From what I understand, these dogs are cross breeds (maybe crossed with Anatolians) and I can't tell you much about them other than I wouldn't spend that much on a mixed breed. Brazilian (Fila Brasilerio) and Japanese (Tosa Inu's) Mastiffs are known for their aggressive tendencies and should NOT be taken on by an inexperienced dog owner. French Mastiffs (Dogue de Bordeaux) are smaller and that is the dog in Turner & Hooch (again, I don't know much about them). Italian (Neopolitan) Mastiffs are much more protective than the English and Bull. These dogs are usually steel or gun metal gray with closely cropped ears and tails.

Pet Stores and Puppy Mills:
Recently, my traitor sister has decided that her son would like a dog he can "hold" (as IF!!!) so in my research for the perfect dog, I came across a site, The Dachshund Network - by Jeannie Fazio, that had the most thorough and informative material I've ever seen about Puppy Mills and Pet Stores. I encourage you all to check out her site here:  Puppy Mills