Tag: mastiff

haven |ˈhāvən|, noun: a place of safety or refuge : a haven for wildlife.

Masthaven Mastiff Sanctuary believes that safety for their favorite giant breed dogs is a personal dedication that requires your full self. That’s why this rescue began--to give refuge and solace the full dog; their mind, body and soul and the people of Masthaven Mastiff Sanctuary commit themselves likewise. Read more about this Indiana rescue in BestBullySticks Rescue Spotlight on Masthaven Mastiff Sanctuary. 

When & Why did you start?
We have worked in rescue in one way or another for a very long time. We officially created our own Non-Profit Mastiff Sanctuary in Jan 2011 when we were searching for a fawn Mastiff to adopt. I had subscribed to many rescues and shelter feeds and made many great contacts. But we were flooded daily by neglected and abused Mastiffs and realized there was no centrally located rescue in our area for these Gentle Giants and as most people in our area were looking for small dogs, the Giants waiting in shelters were very hard to place and there was no where for them to go. As we continued to get notifications, we soon began coving our entire Tri-State of Indiana, Kentucky and Illinois and now network, rescue & place Mastiffs from Indiana and all surrounding states.

What's different about your rescue?
Our goals remain the same as any other rescue out there. Its all about saving innocent lives and finding wonderful loving homes for these big kids. People tell me that what makes us different is our personal bond and attachment to each one. We love them and mend their spirit and we stay involved for the rest of their lives. We have an open door policy that encourages new families to reach out for questions and assistance and we have been known to babysit when the family has to be out of town. We keep our numbers small enough so that we can give personalized attention to each unique Mastiff and we do not kennel here, so each one truly feels at home. It is always the Mastiff that sets the pace. They tell us when they are ready to adopt a forever family and we do not rush that. We are also very conscious of their sensitivity to change so we personally transport each of our babies and stay in that area to ensure their transition to the new home. Our last adoption took us to Louisiana which under normal circumstances would be too far, however when a Mastiff says that’s his or her perfect home, we listen. They haven’ t led us wrong yet!  Read more

We've had a great week on the Blog! But, if you've missed the Veggie/Book/Chilly Bone/Mastiff fun catch up before Monday with all the great BBS Blogs!

So snuggle up to your favorite pooches (or pooches) and read the BBS Blog! Happy Weekend Reading! Click the links below to find out more about:

Veggies To Share With Your Dog • Books For Dog Lovers • Chicken Carrot Chilly Bones • Tibetan Mastiff

Also in your free time this weekend, check out our fun Pinterest Page! We've got TONS of great dog videos, adorable dog photos, funny dog photos, DIY dog project and more!

A relatively new breed to the United States, the Tibetan Mastiff has an ancient history in Asia. Marco Polo once described this dog as “tall as a donkey with a voice as powerful as that of a lion.” This large dog has a friendly disposition yet intimidating presence. Find out more about the Tibetan Mastiff in Best Bully Sticks Breed Spotlight on the Tibetan Mastiff!

History & Background: Potentially, Tibetan Mastiffs originated from Molossus breeds, an extinct large breed dog. It is known that Tibetan Mastiffs are an ancient breed that can be traced back to 1100 B.C. China. At a point, these dogs were seemingly isolated in the Himalayan Mountains in Tibet where it developed into the dog recognized as the modern Tibetan Mastiff. 

This dog was used as a guard dog for flocks, homes, tents and more. This breed was sometimes tied up to enhance aggressive tendencies. These dogs are still sometimes used a guard dogs in different parts of the world.

A Tibetan Mastiff was brought to Queen Victoria in the mid 1800s and popularity for these dogs began to rise. More were imported into England and the English began to breed and standardize Tibetan Mastiffs. The breed didn’t gain a lot of popularity in the United States until 1980. The Tibetan Mastiff was recognized by the AKC in 2006 and first shown at Westminster in 2008.

In Asia, the term “mastiff” attached to this dog’s name is somewhat of a misnomer. In many languages, including Nepali, Mongolian and Mandrin Chinese, all translations of this dog’s name simply mean “dog,” “home guard,” or “door guard.” The term “mastiff” was mostly likely used because it meant “large dog” but is suggested that a more correct name for this dog might “Tibetan Mountain Dog.” Read more

Bullmastiff Twiggy taken by flickr friend hindesite's

Height: Male 25-27 inches, females 24-26 inches

Weight: Male 110-133 lbs, females 100-120 lbs

Coat: The Bullmastiff has a short, dense, slightly rough, giving good weather protection.

Color: The Bullmastiff coat comes in brindle, fawn or red often with black markings on the head

Appearance: The Bullmastiff is massive, very powerfully built, but is not a cumbersome dog. The large, broad skull is wrinkled and the muzzle is broad, deep and usually darker in color. The forehead is  flat and the stop is moderate. The black nose is wide and has large nostrils. The teeth meet in a level of undershot bite. The medium sized eyes are dark hazel. The V-shaped ears are set high and wide carried close the cheeks giving a square appearance to the skull. The strong tail is set high, thicker at the root and tapering and is either straight or curved, and reaches to the hocks. The back is short, straight and level between the withers and the loin.

Temperament: The Bullmastiff is a devoted, alert guard dog, with a good natured temperament. Docile, affectionate, but fearless if provoked. Although unlikely to attack, it will catch an intruder, knock him down and hold him. Bullmastiff  is tolerant of children. Intelligent, even tempered, calm & loyal. These dogs crave human leadership. The Bullmastiff is extremely powerful and needs a firm master, who is confident and consistent with the rules set upon the dog. Bullmastiffs should be thoroughly obedience trained and taught not to pull on the leash,  to heel, and allow owner to enter & exit  door/ gate first as pack leader. Be sure to socialize the Bullmastiff around other dogs & people.  The Bullmastiff is more dominant than the Mastiff. They tent to drool, slobber & snore. Bullmastiffs are sensitive to voice tone and need to be spoken to in an assertive, but not harsh way.

Health: The lifespan for a Bullmastiff is generally from eight to 11 years.  The Bullmastiff is prone to cancer, hip dysplasia, tumors, eyelid problems, Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA) and boils on the lip. Also prone to bloat, so it is a good idea to feed them 2-3 meals a day instead of one large meal. Gains wight easily, so be careful not to over feed.

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