I have gotten a tremendous amount of support from my breeders, Mary and Chris DeLisa of Divine Mastiffs. Therefore, I feel it is important to say a few words about finding the right breed and deciding where you are going to get your dog.

There are so many breeds and mixed-breeds of dogs available today. It is important to choose the right breed and dog for you and your family. Each breed and individual dog has its own unique temperament, appearance, activity level, and set of needs. Some things to consider when choosing the right dog for you and your family:

• Temperament
• Size
• Activity Level
• Coat/Grooming Needs
• Male or Female
• Puppy or Adult
• Health

Some of the things I considered when I was researching Mastiffs were:

• Drool
• Shedding
• Size
• Costs – bigger dogs do cost more
• Potential health issues

I am a big advocate of research and making educated decisions. Just as important to researching the right dog for you is making an educated decision on whether to purchase your puppy from a reputable breeder or rescue a dog in need of a loving home. SAY NO TO PUPPY MILLS, PET STORES, AND BACKYARD BREEDERS!!! Puppy mills, pet stores, and backyard breeders do not have you or the animals’ best interest at heart. They are just in it to make a profit.

I chose to purchase my puppy from a reputable breeder. It took me a year to decide if a Mastiff was the breed for me and to find the right breeder. Finding the right breeder, the right litter, and ultimately the right puppy, is well worth the wait.

The following were things I considered when deciding on the right breeder:

• What health testing have then done?
• Purpose of the breeding program – age of the dam and sire, frequency of breeding, what was the purpose of the breeding (what traits were they looking for)?
• What faults do the dam and sire have, what good points do the dam and sire have?
• Are they involved in conformation showing?
• What steps will they be taking to help socialize the puppies prior to coming home?
• What is their commitment to the puppy buyer?

I was lucky and found a great breeder. Mary and Chris of Divine Mastiffs not only met the criteria I was looking for in a breeder, they have always been there for me when I had questions or needed advice. I remember one night I called them at midnight because Newton had swallowed a squeaky toy that looked like a bone and I didn’t know what to do.