Lazy M American Mastiffs
AMBC Approved Breeders of American Mastiffs
Information about the American Mastiff
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Origin: |
United States |
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General Appearance: |
The American Mastiff is a large, massive, powerful dog with a moderately
broad head, drop ear, wide set kindly eyes of brown or amber color, the
darker the better. This dog possesses a powerful neck, wide deep chest,
and muscular back. Tail is wide at the root, tapering to the end,
hanging straight in repose, forming a slight curve. The overall
appearance should be of proportions slightly longer in body than in
height. |
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Size: |
Height at maturity is typically 32 to 36 inches for males with an
average weight of 180 but can exceed 200 pounds. Height at maturity for
females is typically 30 to 34 inches with average weights between 140
and 180 pounds. Larger or smaller sizes for both males and females are
acceptable provided the dog is in good proportion and structurally
balanced. |
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Bite: |
Scissors bite preferred, but a moderately undershot jaw should not be
faulted providing the teeth are not visible when the mouth is closed. |
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Coat: |
The coat must be short and dense. As in other mastiff breeds, a puppy
may have a longer coat; this is known as a "fluffy" and is extremely
rare but not considered a fault. |
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Color: |
Fawn, Apricot, and Brindle. Puppies are all born dark and lighten as
they grow. Some dogs may become very light fawn by age one year; some
retain dark hairs (not a fault). White on foot, chest, nose and chin is
not a fault. |
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Muzzle: |
Muzzle must be dark in color, darker the better with same color around
the eye orbits and extending upward between them, referred to as the
"Black Mask". All American Mastiffs must exhibit the black mask from
birth, but it may lighten a bit as they age. |
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Legs: |
Strong, set wide apart, heavy boned. Feet are large, round, and compact. |
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Gait: |
In movement, the gait denotes power and strength; rear legs drive while
forelegs track smoothly with good reach |
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Temperament: |
The American Mastiff is a combination of grandeur, good nature, and
gentleness. These dogs portray dignity rather than gaiety. They are
neither shy nor vicious. The well trained American Mastiff is calm,
controlled, confident, patient, and loving with their family, especially
children. They can be aloof toward strangers. A well-socialized American
Mastiff is friendly yet sensitive and alert to changing situations. They
are not aggressive by nature but will defend their family if necessary.
These dogs respond to threats with judicious warnings and courageous
action if needed. |
The American Mastiff was developed over twenty years ago
by Fredericka Wagner of Flying W Farms. The breed traces its origins
to the Old English Mastiff and the Anatolian Mastiff.
In the year 2000, the
Continental Kennel Club (CKC)
recognized the breed as "purebred" and closed the breed registry.
American Mastiffs were developed for the sole purpose of being loving
family companions. They are not bred for show or work, and cannot be
registered with the AKC. They
are large and powerful, yet very gentle in nature. The American
Mastiff has a relatively "dry mouth" and excellent life expectancy (10-12
years average). American Mastiffs are
healthy, but are not immune to health issues of giant breeds.
“What the lion is to the cat, the mastiff is to the dog. The noblest of the family, he stands alone, and all others sink before him.” (Britannica 1800)
The American Mastiff is often called the “gentle giant”.
Dignity rather than gaiety best explains their nature.
They are calm, quiet, loving, and extremely loyal.
They are wonderful with children, and are protective yet non-aggressive,
and do not bark senselessly.
However, if the family, especially the children, are
threatened, the American Mastiff will step between them and danger.
They are loyal and protective, and will, without contact, make it clear
that, if necessary, they intend to lay down their life to protect the family.
Despite their giant size, they are very sensitive and affectionate,
and can be corrected simply by raising your voice.
They are good with children, and are very patient and forgiving.
You must make a lifelong
commitment to training and socializing your American Mastiff.
As with all dogs,
training and socialization are key components to your dog living up to the
standards of the breed. American
Mastiffs are no different. They will
need training and socialization
throughout their entire lives, not
just until they are through growing.
American Mastiffs respond well to positive training, and need to know their
place in the family pack. They
enjoy going new places and learning new things. Some
may be more stubborn than others, but with consistent and loving guidance, your
American Mastiff will become the wonderful companion you desire.
We require that all of our owners complete at least one
basic obedience course, but this is only a start.
AMs want and need to be a part of the family, so this means going along
with the family. Training and
socializing them from day one, and throughout their lives, will allow them to
become happy, well-adjusted, secure dogs, and wonderful family companions.
Of course, this means you must have a vehicle big enough to bring a full
grown AM along… and fit the rest of the family.
American Mastiffs live to please their family, and NEED to be
with them. Despite their size,
America Mastiffs will do fine as apartment dogs as long a they are exercised.
They should
never be kept as outside pets
because of the need to be close to their families.
They are very calm indoors, and a small yard will serve them well.
They do not require much exercise, especially when they are puppies.
Because American Mastiffs spend so much of their first 12-18 months
growing, they also spend a lot of time sleeping.
It is often said, “Only walk your mastiff puppy as far as you can carry
them home.” Due to their rapid
growth, exercise should be limited to walks or controlled play until their bones
and joints are fully developed.
American Mastiff puppies can injure themselves by jumping and engaging in
rough play. American Mastiffs are
most happy when they can just hang out with the family.
Now
that you know more about the American Mastiff, it is time to ask yourself, “Is
this the dog for me?” It is best to
determine now if owning an American Mastiff is really what you want.
We would much rather have this decision made
before you purchase the
puppy. We love our dogs and want
nothing but the best homes for our puppies.
Mastiffs bond quickly and fiercely with their owners, so placing them in
life long homes is very important.
Here are some frequently asked questions to help you make your decision.
Why do I want an American
Mastiff?
Before we purchased our
first American Mastiff, my husband asked me this same question.
At first, I was going to give him a pat answer like, “I’ve always wanted
a dog that weighs more than me.” or “They just seem
like such a nice breed.” However, I
thought about it for a while, and my answer was this:
“I want a dog that will love my family as much as I do.”
Everyone has their reasons for wanting an American Mastiff.
What you need to ask yourself is, are they good reasons?
Only you know the real reasons you want an American Mastiff, but
remember, purchasing an AM not only gets you a big dog, but that big dog also
comes with big responsibilities.
Can I afford to keep an
American Mastiff?
As is often the case,
people rarely consider anything but purchase price when determining whether they
can afford an American Mastiff. An
average adult American Mastiff consumes 40-70 pounds of food per month, and when
puppies are growing, they can consume as much as 100 pounds per month.
It’s just like super-sizing your lunch meal…everything costs more.
Heartworm and other medications can cost twice as much as the average
cost for large breeds. Crates and
toys need to be larger and more heavy-duty, so they are more expensive.
For a more accurate
comparison, consult your veterinarian and ask them to give you a list of prices
on neutering and yearly shots/medications for a 90 pound lab versus a 180 pound
dog. Also, ask your vet if they have
giant breed experience and facilities to accommodate such large dogs.
If not, you may need to use a larger, more expensive animal hospital for
the spay/neuter surgery, etc.
If you are on a tight
budget or do not enjoy spending money on your dog, please reconsider getting
this breed. The initial purchase price of the pup will be the least
expensive part of owning an American Mastiff.
What are some other things to
consider?
American Mastiffs are a
“giant” breed. This means they take
up a lot of space in the house, and in the car. American Mastiffs like to
be close to their family. They will
sit on your feet, lean against you, and lay their giant head in your lap.
American Mastiffs love to pretend they are your shadow.
They will follow you wherever you go, and will insist on being involved
in whatever you do. They often lie or stand in doorways, and stand in
front of the TV so the remote doesn’t work.
Their toys, beds, and crates take up a lot of space too.
Although they are
dryer mouthed, this does not mean they never drool.
They can drool after eating or drinking, or when they are hot or have
been playing. They may also drool
when under stress.
American Mastiffs can
snore. They don’t all snore, but
many do, so if you are a light sleeper or need constant quiet in order to sleep,
you mat want to rethink getting an American Mastiff.
American Mastiffs, although very careful and patient with young children, can accidentally knock a small child over by leaning on them or hitting them with their wagging tail. Wagging tails can clear the coffee table too, so be warned. If you have small children, you may want to wait to get an American Mastiff until they can understand how to interact with a puppy and large dog. Young children love to play rough and run throughout the house, and your American Mastiff puppy will want to join in. If your children aren’t old enough to understand how to act around a pup, then you may want to wait until they can before you bring an AM into your family.
You may say that you can handle all of this, but realize that
American Mastiffs live an average of 10 – 12 years.
Will I have the time to
train/exercise a Mastiff?
Although it is true that
the American Mastiff is generally a low energy dog, they still require your time
and most especially, your attention for their entire lives.
American Mastiffs are house dogs.
They
need
to be with their family. They
cannot be chained outside in the yard, or to a dog house, or kept in a kennel or
fenced yard away from the family.
This isolation is often the cause of behavior problems.
It is essential for American Mastiffs to get lots of human contact, and
early socialization and training. If
your house is not big enough to accommodate a 140- 200 pound dog, or you won’t
have the time to socialize your dog and attend training classes
for the life of your dog,
the American Mastiff may not be the breed for you.
American Mastiffs need as
much socialization as possible right from the start.
This means taking your AM to as many different places as you can,
starting as soon as you can. The
more of the world your AM sees, the more stabile and confident they will become.
This socialization cannot end when the pup gets big.
Raising AMs is like raising children.
They go through developmental and emotional stages just like humans.
Therefore, training and socializing must reflect the needs of the dog at
these different stages. In order to
properly socialize your AM, you will need a large enough vehicle to accommodate
a full grown AM, and the rest of your family.
American Mastiffs also
need obedience training, and to learn their place in the “family pack”.
This is especially important for such a large breed.
Training should be positive because, despite their large size, they are
very sensitive and in tune with their people.
It is rarely necessary to need more than a harsh word to correct an
American Mastiff. It is best to seek
out a trainer that has experience with giant breeds.
Make sure you have enough time to devote to both socializing your dog,
and attending training classes.
Remember, this is a lifetime commitment…just like with human kids.
American Mastiffs do not
require as much intense exercise as other dogs, but they do require daily
exercise. For most AMs, walking them
2 times a day for 20 minutes each will be enough.
American Mastiffs also enjoy hiking and swimming, but are not good
jogging partners. Remember,
especially when they are young, only walk them as far as you can carry them
home. As is the case with many of
us, American Mastiffs feel that the best way to spend the day is on the couch.
However, it is best to make sure your AM gets daily exercise.
The
American Mastiff is a giant breed, and with this, comes the giant breed health
concerns. AMs are susceptible to
bloat, injuries to the ACL and other ligaments and muscles, and a variety of
bone and joint disorders such as hip dysplasia, and OCD.
As a breeder, it is my
responsibility to test my breeding stock for genetic health issues such as hip
dysplasia, heart disorders, and thyroid disorders.
However, despite our best efforts, Mother Nature, and diet and
environmental factors while growing, can have more influence than careful
genetic screenings. My breeding
stock have their hips certified by the OFA, and receive a complete breeding
soundness exam from a licensed reproduction specialist prior to each breed.
My owners receive a booklet designed to help them raise a healthy happy
AM, complete with dietary and exercise guidelines which will help promote good
health and longevity.
Purchasing an American
Mastiff:
Please call for current pricing. We
require a deposit to hold a puppy, and must receive full payment in the form of
cash or a bank check
before the puppy can leave.
All of our puppies will be sold as pet quality
only. Proof of spay/neuter will be
required in order to complete the registration process.
You will be required to sign a spay/neuter contract before purchasing a puppy.
Waiting List:
I am
currently accepting applications for my waiting list.
Depending upon the size of my future litters, and whether the people on
the list ahead of you want a pup when one is available, will determine your wait
time. The average wait time for a
brindle pup is 12-18 months, while the wait for a fawn is 2 years.
I currently do not have any apricot color in my breeding stock, so I
won’t have apricot pups.
In order to get on my
waiting list, please fill out and return the
application. Once I
have received and reviewed your application, I will email you to let you know
your position on my list.
Once you are on my waiting list, I
require that you contact me via phone or email every 6-8 weeks to let me know
you are still interested in remaining on the list.
If I don’t hear from you, I will assume you have changed your mind or
gotten a pup from another breeder, and I will remove you from my list.
This process helps me to maintain a more up to date, accurate waiting
list.
I am not competing with
other AM breeders. Feel free to get
on as many breeder lists as you wish.
All I ask is that if you get a pup from one breeder, you notify me.
We encourage all buyers and their families to come and meet us and our
dogs. We host open farm days when
the weather cooperates. Dates and
availability will be posted as soon as we decide on the upcoming dates.
Shipping:
Lazy
M American Mastiffs will not ship puppies.
If you cannot drive to pick up your new puppy, you will be required
to make arrangements with an airline that allows “in cabin” pets.
You will be required to purchase an airline-approved, soft-sided carrier
that can fit under the seat.
We will deliver your
puppy to you at Bradley International Airport outside of Hartford, Connecticut,
or will deliver your pup to you at the airport of your choosing.
Please inquire for current pricing and details.
All puppies will receive the necessary vaccinations and
health certificate prior to flying.
Please contact us for a list of airlines and places to purchase carriers.
Links:
American Mastiff Breeders Council
Hidden Acres Farm American Mastiffs
Books:
The Monks of New Skeet,
The Art of Raising a Puppy
Kim Thornton,
Mastiffs: A Complete Pet Owners Manual
Dan Rice, DVM,
Big Dog Breeds
Christina De Lima-Netto,
Mastiff:
A Comprehensive Guide to Owning and Caring for Your Dog
