Big dog, VERY big responsibility! Well worth the effort!
If you must have a mastiff, please do the following:
LEARN, LEARN, LEARN everything you can about the breed. Talk to people who own them. Visit www.mastiff.org for more info
Don’t buy one from a pet store or a backyard breeder. Mastiffs are prone to lots of health problems – get a puppy from a reputable breeder who does health testing, and who can tell you everything about your dog’s ancestors. It will cost you more money short term, but you’ll save in vet bills and heartbreak in the future! Look for someone who emphasizes temperament over size (Size is great, but a mastiff who grows too fast, or too big can have problems down the road)
Better yet, adopt a rescue, from a reputable rescue group!
Don’t breed unless you know what you’re doing, and you’ve got a fantastic pair of dogs. Mastiff breeding is not for the faint of heart – if you’re doing it right, you’ll lose money! Mastiffs often have to be surgically inseminated, and can injure themselves during natural mating. Many moms end up delivering by C-section. You’ll want to test both mom and pop before taking the plunge, and that can cost beaucoup bucks. There’s way too many poorly-bred mastiffs in the world to create more.
Make sure you have the time, space and personality for a mastiff. They don’t like to be left alone, they belong in a house with their people. They can be incredibly destructive (doors torn off hinges, sofas shredded down to the frame, tile floors torn up within just a few hours!) They don’t need as much space or exercise as you might think, but you want to put a LOT of effort into obedience training BEFORE the dog weighs 200 pounds and can drag you around the block!
They shed, snore, fart and drool. If you’re a neat freak or squeamish, they’re probably not the dog for you. Male dogs usually have their “lipsticks” hanging out, so if you find this gross, get a girl!
If someone tells you about a drool-less mastiff – don’t buy into the hype – the “drool-less” dogs drool as much as any other molosser-type dog, and there have been many reports of aggression problems in these dogs. They also have poor structure compared to well-bred mastiffs (they tend to look more like Great Danes)
Much of this info is probably true for other molosser breeds, such as Neos or Dogues de Bordeaux. Take your time, do your research!
