I finally decided what dog I shall get.

[Apotheosis]

THIS is the dog I want, it's a bull mastiff.

So, anyone have one/know one that can tell me a bit more about having one. the one's I have met have been very even tempered and well behaved.


http://www.lovedog.srv.br/caesfotos/images/Bull_Mastiff_JPG_jpg.jpg

[Sean of the Thread]

HOLY STUCK WITH BIG DOG FOR YEARS AND YEARS BAT..person.

[Soulpieced]

They tend to drool/slobber... a lot. My roommates and I have a bulldog (similar drooling tendancies), and it's pretty gross.

[Apotheosis]

That sucks, I don't like the drooling part.

[Showal]

I've heard, but am not certain on this, that they are hard to train. One of our family friends had one and it caused a whole lot of problems, mainly just because of its size. One time they put up a kiddie gate to keep him in one room ... he got out of the room, not by breaking down the kiddie gate (which he EASILY could have) but by clawing and biting his way through the fucking wall. But that also leads me to my belief of it's never the dog's fault, they should have trained him properly. I imagine that story is more the exception than the rule.

I imagine, if you spent the time to train them, they would be fantastic dogs.

[4a6c1]

Mmm, puppy drool on your face to wake you up in the wee hours of the morning from a hangover.

< ---- glad she has a cat to boss her around instead

I've had many, many dogs, as well as bred them. And I can tell you confidently that Iguanas are by far the best breed.

[War Angel]

My brother in law has one, and he has a really weird temperament. He is very protective of him and his wife, so much that they can't let people in the house without crating the dog first. He has been to obedience training and everything, but they haven't been able to socialize the dog correctly.
I haven't ever come into contact with another of this breed, so that's all I know, which I am sure doesn't apply to all of them.

[Alarke]

Mastiffs are great dogs if you dont mind them taking up a ton of space. My ex had two, and while there's a lot of drool, they were very easy to train and extremely mild mannered. Her brother would actually ride the thing like it was a pony. They were both over 150 pounds, so dont expect to train it by force... heh.

[Chelle]

Those are some good and handsome dogs.

[Apotheosis]

The reason I like them so much is that they're big, and very well tempered, provided you don't suck @ training dogs. They're also rather inimidating, and living in some of the places I will probably be for the next few years, I wouldn't mind having some extra muscle.
And they do get big. heh

My first experience with one was a situation where I was visiting a friend's friend for the first time. He had a mastiff, and I had always had this terrible fear of dogs (stemming from a childhood incident), oddly enough, I wasn't too scared of this one, and actually had fun with it.

So thanks to big mean dogs for making me not scared of the whole race (or whatever)

[Hulkein]

My Uncle had two English Mastiffs.

Awesome dogs, very good around his kids and any other kids.

Just make sure you have the space it'll need.

[HarmNone]

You might look into the Akita, if you're looking for a big dog. They're pretty intimidating, and they don't drool. ;)

[Apotheosis]

Originally posted by HarmNone
You might look into the Akita, if you're looking for a big dog. They're pretty intimidating, and they don't drool. ;)

I would rather not get a dog that is prone to biting. Plus, Akita's are hairy, I would prefer something that sheds less.

[HarmNone]

Heh. I guess the Akita I knew was atypical. The kids used to ride him around and he never bit anybody...just grinned. ;)

[HarmNone]

From what I can gather, if you don't want a dog that drools, stay away from the breeds with the pendulous upper lips. Those are your droolers, from what I read.

[Apotheosis]

Originally posted by HarmNone
From what I can gather, if you don't want a dog that drools, stay away from the breeds with the pendulous upper lips. Those are your droolers, from what I read.

I'll do my homework first, just looking at different breeds.. I would so get a presa de canario if they weren't prone to violence, either.

[HarmNone]

I always thought it would be fun to have a Great Dane. Any dog taller than I am gets my attention. :lol:

[Kyra]

Originally posted by HarmNone
Heh. I guess the Akita I knew was atypical. The kids used to ride him around and he never bit anybody...just grinned. ;)

Not all of them are bad, they are stuck like pits where they get a bad rep from the media :rolleyes:

Yswithe the mastiff's I dealt with over the years working at a kennel & grooming were great dogs. You need a/c for them tho or they do have a problem breathing most of the time.

Obedience at a young age is your best bet & shock collars work wonders should the obedience not sink in.

Possibly look for a mixed breed to avoid drooling? I have a St. Bernard/sheperd mix that looks 100% Saint yet NEVER has he drooled in his life. Got him as a puppy from a rescue.

K.

[Apotheosis]

Originally posted by HarmNone
I always thought it would be fun to have a Great Dane. Any dog taller than I am gets my attention. :lol:

ROFL

Now that I got over my dog phobia, I am so ready to learn how to own/handle one.

There's alot to it, and I want to make sure I understand proper dog training before I even consider getting one.

I've seen people with poorly trained dogs, and that's not for me, plus it's dangerous. I suppose I could go with a more vicious breed, but you know, I wouldn't want that liability.

[HarmNone]

That's why I was always drawn to Great Danes, I guess. They're huge, but are said to be just gentle giants. I've never owned one, but would get one if I were going to get a dog.

[Apotheosis]

Originally posted by HarmNone
That's why I was always drawn to Great Danes, I guess. They're huge, but are said to be just gentle giants. I've never owned one, but would get one if I were going to get a dog.

actually, great danes were used as guard dogs back in the days, they have a tendency to bite, too..

other common violent breeds (and this is from a legal website regarding dogbites)

Pit Bulls
Alaskan Malamutes
Rottweilers
Akitas
Chow Chows
American Staffordshire Terriers
Doberman Pinschers
Boxers
German Shepherds
Great Danes
Siberian Huskies
Wolf-hybrids
Perro de Presa Canarios.

Boxers? That's some bull fucking shit. I call shenanigans.

- Arkans

[Apotheosis]

I agree, boxers are pretty much the runts of the Bulldog-ish breeds.

They have much more size when compared to bulldogs. The very nature of a boxer is playful and highly energetic. They jump on you a lot and box with you, but that's about it. Calling them agressive is just ridiculous and insulting to boxer owners.

- Arkans

[Apotheosis]

well, then, take the argument up with these folks, i know what they represent, too, but you know, it was a google and provided some basic information from one point of view.

http://www.dogbitelegalcenter.com/resources/common-dogs.html

[HarmNone]

I think a lot of it comes down to breeding and how the puppies are socialized by the breeders. If you're careful in choosing your puppy, and really look into the parents and the breeder's practices, you should be fine.

Dobermans had a horrible reputation for a long time; yet, with careful breeding and care in socializing, the breed has made quite a turn-around.

*MAY* include is what struck out at me first and foremost, then I looked at the sources and they hardly seem unbiased. Too me, it looks like home insurance companies could have had a hand in this.

- Arkans

[Apotheosis]

Yeah, I know. Insurance companies = bastards.

I have alot of family in the insurance industry (the italians in chicago) and they totally make a fortune in that line of work.. why I chose multi-media design as a field, i will never know.

They'll do whatever they can to raise rates and going after dog breeds has been common practice that dog owners have had to fight with for quite some time now.

- Arkans

[xtc]

In parts of Canada and Europe the Bull Mastiff is banned as it is considered a vicious dog.

http://www.cbc.ca/consumers/market/files/health/dangerousdogs/

[Apotheosis]

Originally posted by xtc
In parts of Canada and Europe the Bull Mastiff is banned as it is considered a vicious dog.

http://www.cbc.ca/consumers/market/files/health/dangerousdogs/

Canadians are pansies, though :P

[Apotheosis]

Oh and you know the humans need to understand how to approach/deal with dogs.. part of my phobia was because I didn't understand how to properly communicate with dogs, and what a dogs instinctual behavior is, and why it does what it did. Now that I understand, I know how to counteract, for the most part, their agressive behavior. :D

Get the collar off and use harnesses!!! They provide better control and do not choke the animal, but other than that, VERY nice dog.

- Arkans

[Apotheosis]

that dog rocks.

[Jazuela]

You can't go wrong with a mutt. I'll bet you'd find some awesome "big menacing-looking" cuddlepuppies at the local pound. I did - she was half shepard, 1/4 rottweiler, and 1/4 shetland sheepdog. Looked like a semi-short-haired german shepard with a shaggy tail and those cute orange doberman eyebrows. She was pretty big too, stood as tall as I did when she got onto her back legs.

The mix of the breed took all the "mean" out of her - she loved chasing anyone who ran, but had no idea what to do with them once she caught them. I actually had to bring her to the post office to introduce her to the postal workers, because they refused to deliver to our house. But once the postal workers saw for themselves that no way - no how - was the gonna bite them, they went back to delivering and let her chase them around the neighborhood on their shifts. She really had the personality of a sheepdog - trying to corral all the strays (anyone who ran around in the neighborhood), ya know?

No drooling, not much shedding at all except when she got mange as a result of flea allergies AND flea-remedy allergies (yeouch)..and she was SUCH a sweetiepie to everyone she came in contact with.

Get a big mutt. They're awesome.

[Killer Kitten]

If it helps any, I found this website with the answers to a lot of frequently asked questions about mastiffs.

Good luck with your new pet, whether you decide to go with a large dog or the finest of animal companions, a shelter cat. :smilegrin:

Whatever pet you choose, I wish you and your new friend many happy years together.
http://mastiff.org/faq/faq.mv#II11

[Apotheosis]

Originally posted by Jazuela
You can't go wrong with a mutt. I'll bet you'd find some awesome "big menacing-looking" cuddlepuppies at the local pound. I did - she was half shepard, 1/4 rottweiler, and 1/4 shetland sheepdog.
Get a big mutt. They're awesome.

post some pics!

[Apotheosis]

Originally posted by Killer Kitten
Good luck with your new pet, whether you decide to go with a large dog or the finest of animal companions, a shelter cat. :smilegrin:
http://mastiff.org/faq/faq.mv#II11

i grew up with cats, and while I appreciate them, no more for me. Plus, they always whine when you don't pay attention to them.

Hehe, breaks the harnesses? Strong dog! My boxer female is tough as nails, but she can't tear through harnesses, what kind did you use?

- Arkans

[xtc]

Originally posted by Yswithe

Originally posted by xtc
In parts of Canada and Europe the Bull Mastiff is banned as it is considered a vicious dog.

http://www.cbc.ca/consumers/market/files/health/dangerousdogs/

Canadians are pansies, though :P

Yeah like in World War Two where Canadians were involved from day one, not hiding for 3 years. :P

The ban is by municipalities, not by provinces, so they are city bans. Certain cities in the USA have also banned certain breeds of dogs and the state of Georgia is considering a state wide ban on certain dogs.

http://www.herald-dispatch.com/2005/May/20/LNspota.htm

[Killer Kitten]

Originally posted by Yswithe

i grew up with cats, and while I appreciate them, no more for me. Plus, they always whine when you don't pay attention to them.

Mine only whine when the bowl is empty. Ungrateful beasts!!!

Hope the website helped, and post pictures of your new pet when you get it!

Puuuhlease! Canadians didn't fight on the scale of any major power out there! They did fight, but nothing compared to British or Russian troops!

- Arkans

Yup.. its the one I got.. Tough dog then!

- Arkans

[Jazuela]

I'd love to post some pics, but I had to give her away many years ago. She's probably dead from old age now, but I gave her to a wonderful family who owned a house on a huge wooded lot, and I can only assume she lived out the rest of her life running around the woods and keeping her new owners safe (I trained her as a no-attack guard dog, which was why I felt comfortable letting her run loose in the neighborhood).

Just in case someone wants to know: a no-attack guard dog will "hold" a predator's arm or leg in its jaw, without breaking the skin. Difficult to train them to do that but extremely effective and gives you time to call the police if someone trespasses on your property. Basically the only way someone can get hurt from that kind of hold, is if they try to pull their arm or leg free. And in that case their skin will get caught on the dog's teeth, but the dog isn't actively bearing down. A burglar would know better than to try and pull away from a dog when his artery is sitting just under the pooch's incisor :)

Tooot toot!

- Arkans

Very very very very simliar to boxers. Except Rex is a genious. The next Einstein, I swear!

Also, any breeds with excessive lips have a LOT more facial expressions!

- Arkans

[xtc]

Originally posted by Arkans
Puuuhlease! Canadians didn't fight on the scale of any major power out there! They did fight, but nothing compared to British or Russian troops!

- Arkans

The Russians lost more men than any other Allied force. The Brits were stalwart and steadfast, they fought the war on the front door step. I would take nothing away from either. I have relatives on my mother's side who fought for England.

The Canadians were involved in WW2 from day one, we didn't wait to see if the Germans or Japanese would attack us before we got involved. We took areas that both British and American troops had tried to take and failed like Vimy Ridge.

http://collections.ic.gc.ca/turner/ar_vimy.html

We were on the front lines from the first day of the war until the last, including D-day.

http://collections.ic.gc.ca/turner/ar_vimy.html

We are many things but pansies isn't one of them.

I agree the Canadians contributed a lot to the war effort, but saying the they contributed on the scale of the other nations is inaccurate. Though they were extremely helpful, but more of a support role. Very much like the remnants of the Polish Army that escaped Nazi capture.

- Arkans

Yup, boxers have a TON of energy. It's best if you have a large open area you can walk them. They also need a lot of attention and affectionate, they really are attention whores (that's why I get along with Rex and Daisy!), but provide excellent companionship. I remember when I got FUCKING PWNED! by illness, Dr. Rex just laid on my futon with me and kept licking my face. He rocks.

- Arkans

[xtc]

Originally posted by Arkans
I agree the Canadians contributed a lot to the war effort, but saying the they contributed on the scale of the other nations is inaccurate. Though they were extremely helpful, but more of a support role. Very much like the remnants of the Polish Army that escaped Nazi capture.

- Arkans

We were a small (population wise) and young country. Considering those two factors our contribution was significant. We put almost 10% of our population in Uniform to fight the war.

http://www.warmuseum.ca/cwm/cwme.asp

[Edited on 6-5-2005 by xtc]

Which I agreed with. Definately showed that with the point by comparing them to the Polish contribution to the war.

- Arkans

[xtc]

Originally posted by Arkans
Which I agreed with. Definately showed that with the point by comparing them to the Polish contribution to the war.

- Arkans

You have reminded me I have an unfinished letter to my Uncle, who served in World War two. I have to complete it before he dies, some how the words never come out right. I just want to thank him.

Do it to it, I had half my family killed off in that war and it really is the courage of the people that fought that the rest survived!

- Arkans

[Praefection]

My best friend had a mastiff (I don't remember which kind!) when I first met her. Tessie was amazing, even though she was about ten years old at the time. Huge but gentle enough to allow my baby brother to crawl all over her.


My suggestion would be do lots and lots of research, just don't get a dog because you like the way it looks.

[DCSL]

If you want to live in apartments anywhere in the country, getting a mastiff will rule that out nearly everywhere. There are exceptions, sure, but they are majorly few and far between.

First you have to beat the breed list. The dogs on that list that was posted earlier are banned from most apartment complexes. If you manage to find one without a breed restriction, then there's the weight restriction. And sometimes both. My last apartment had the breed list and a weight restriction of 30 lbs, a fraction of a mastiff's weight. And a mastiff puppy? Forget it. Many apartments also require that the dog be at least a year old.

I hope you have a house and an insurance company that doesn't up your payments for dogs on the breed list!

(As an aside... oh god, the drooling. On the upholstry, the carpet, your clothes, your bed, everywhere. And lemme tell you, drool stains if you let it just sit there until it dries. The stains? They look a lot like another kind of stain if you know what I mean.)

[Apotheosis]

Originally posted by DCSL
(As an aside... oh god, the drooling. On the upholstry, the carpet, your clothes, your bed, everywhere. And lemme tell you, drool stains if you let it just sit there until it dries. The stains? They look a lot like another kind of stain if you know what I mean.)

ROFL @ DCSL

I've been assusred that drooling only comes from a> getting a drink and b> chewing..

yeah, It's pretty gross..

basically I am looking for something with the tempremant of a mastiff, coat of a mastiff, face of an akita, and frame of the mastiff...(ie 130 - 150lbs. isn't a big deal on a dog for me, even though I only weigh 170)

[Keller]

Originally posted by HarmNone
That's why I was always drawn to Great Danes, I guess. They're huge, but are said to be just gentle giants. I've never owned one, but would get one if I were going to get a dog.

I've owned 10+ different pure breeds in my life and my great dane was far and away the best.

Strider was the runt of the liter at 145 lbs. He would do this cute this where he watched Seinfeld with the family by perching his rear-end on the couch and his front paws out in front of him. He tried his very best to be just like us.

One time when we were still adjusting to the big-dog, my mother mistakenly left our thanksgiving turkey on the counter to cool. Being the considerate dog he was, Strider took the entire turkey back to his blanket where he wouldn't make a mess of his feast.

Danes don't need a lot of space and are wonderful apartment dogs. They are sociable (much more than a mastiff) and have characters you wouldn't believe. If you want a big dog, I'd look NO further than a great dane. The best dogs, ever.

[Brattt8525]

Since you seem to want a very large dog here are some. As with any breed as others have stated take the puppy everywhere have others hold the puppy. Any breed can be bitters or aggressive if not properly socialized. Unfortunately the bigger the dog the harder it bites.


Great Dane


Rotty

Doberman

Neopalitan Mastiff

[crazymage]

<-------- best dog.

[Wezas]

Big thumbs up for getting a big dog.

I have a 145 lb newfoundland. She's not fat - just taller then most in her breed. Nothing like being able to pet your dog standing up. Wrestling on the ground is also more fun when you're not worried about squishing the dog.

Larger breeds tend to have more health issues (bones, joints, heart) and shorter life spans (~10 years) - but they can be the best pets ever.

[Kyra]

Originally posted by Yswithe
well, then, take the argument up with these folks, i know what they represent, too, but you know, it was a google and provided some basic information from one point of view.

http://www.dogbitelegalcenter.com/resources/common-dogs.html

What's total bullshit about these "lists" is that they do not include any bites that a veterinarian, shelter worker, groomer or kennel worker get. Personally I would take the word of a person who works with the breeds day in & day out over a list compiled that includes "provoked" bites(i.e. tormenting the animal, abuse, etc).

Just my 2 cents.

K.

[Kyra]

Originally posted by Keller

Originally posted by HarmNone
That's why I was always drawn to Great Danes, I guess. They're huge, but are said to be just gentle giants. I've never owned one, but would get one if I were going to get a dog.

I've owned 10+ different pure breeds in my life and my great dane was far and away the best.

Strider was the runt of the liter at 145 lbs. He would do this cute this where he watched Seinfeld with the family by perching his rear-end on the couch and his front paws out in front of him. He tried his very best to be just like us.

One time when we were still adjusting to the big-dog, my mother mistakenly left our thanksgiving turkey on the counter to cool. Being the considerate dog he was, Strider took the entire turkey back to his blanket where he wouldn't make a mess of his feast.

Danes don't need a lot of space and are wonderful apartment dogs. They are sociable (much more than a mastiff) and have characters you wouldn't believe. If you want a big dog, I'd look NO further than a great dane. The best dogs, ever.

Amen, Danes are for the most part a wonderful breed. Good temperment, smart, not huge droolers, shorthaired, etc...

K.

[Shari]

First off, I wanna say I didn't read all the posts.

Two thing I noticed that others have too that I would see as a problem, size, and drooling. One other thing I noticed, is I'd hate to pick up after anything that leaves a bigger shit than I do.

That being said, as long as you find a good and reputable trainer, it is fairly easy to train any dog, even ones that weigh more than you do.

I HIGHLY recommend a walking head-harness called the "Gentle Leader". They sell at Petsmart for about 25 bucks and while I find that expensive, they're EXTREMELY effective. We calmed down a 150lb great dane puppy on one of those and now their 10 year old son can walk him without getting killed. :D

Not to cheer on my company, but Petsmart also has a really good training program that instills "positive reinforcement" instead of, "no, yank on choke chain, no, good dog, bad dog, yank on choke chain".


But still...having to use a shovel to do "dog duty" would severely deter me from owning something that large.

Good luck in your quest!

[Atlanteax]

Get a yellow lab!

Only suckers pick up after their dogs. When Rex and Daisy go I just turn my head. When someone says something I ask them, "You're seriously going to talk to shit to a guy with two big dogs on his leash?" They leave me alone then.

- Arkans

[Wezas]

I usually go around maybe once a month and pick up the huge craps my dog leaves. She's pretty good about only going in specific places.

Winter is awesome because they're all frozen and easy to pick up.

That was probably too much info.

[xtc]

Originally posted by Arkans
Only suckers pick up after their dogs. When Rex and Daisy go I just turn my head. When someone says something I ask them, "You're seriously going to talk to shit to a guy with two big dogs on his leash?" They leave me alone then.

- Arkans

In Ontario they just have to report you and you get fined for not picking up after your animal. Please if you own one pick up after it.

Cocker Spaniels are the best dogs. Especially the black and white ones like Lady from Lady and the Tramp. They are sooo cute. They're also extremely sweet and genuinely good-natured. Awesome dogs.

But iguanas own all.

[Shari]

Places in Arizona will fine you if you get caught not picking up after your dog.

Ontop of that, I was referring to people with enclosed back yards. It must be nice to live out in the boondocks where you're surrounded by wilderness and have that luxury.

[Edited on 6-6-2005 by Jesae]

[AnticorRifling]

Weiner dogs pwn but for a big dog I'd say mastiff or weimerd00dle!!