Mastiff Resources & Links
(in no particular order!)
About Mastiffs
Just a good basic overview of Mastiffs, top to bottom. Mastiff 101, with recommended reading list included!
Mastiff Club of America
The U.S. breed club for English Mastiffs, and besides having other great resources on this site, it’s the home of some great Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) regarding owning a Mastiff.
The American Kennel Club
The AKC, for better or worse, is the most recognizable organization for registering and regulating dog breeding, in general. Here you can find a description of any AKC recognized breed of dog, along with links to the national breed clubs and *hopefully* links to the breed-specific rescues, too.
The Breeds of Molosserworld
Ever have trouble identifying exactly what breed a dog is? This site is dedicated solely to the Molosser breeds, and not only provides you with photographs and descriptions of all the different types of mastiffs, it shows you many of their ‘close’ relatives.
Devine Farm
This site has a treasure chest of articles and information about Mastiffs. For ‘advanced’ Mastiff owners as well as beginners!
Doc Robs Library of Mastiff Medicine
From a veterinarian who also happens to be owned by a Mastiff come some great articles specific to Mastiff health. Topics such as Heat Stroke in Mastiffs and Mastiffs and Skin Problems are just some of the must-read articles on this site.
How to Dremel Dog Nails
Do what? Does your dog hate to have his/her nails trimmed, or worse yet, are their nails so tough that your standard clippers just don’t cut it (no pun intended)? This site gives excellent instructions on how you can use a Dremel (power rotary tool) to keep your dog’s nails under control. If the site is to be believed, some dogs enjoy it so much that it puts them to sleep – I won’t go that far, but the Dremel definitely does a great job for some!
KV Vet Supply
Pet supplies at affordable prices. KV Vet carries everything from doggy dishes to canary cages, books, collars, leads, crates and even prescription meds (prescription required, of course!). For a minimum dollar order amount, shipping is free, and in general, pretty fast!
Merck Veterinary Manual
This site is Merck’s Veterinary Manual online. You don’t have to buy that ten pound book anymore, and this information never goes out of date!
Old English Mastiff Foundation
This organization helps to raise funds to support the plight of Mastiffs in puppy mills. Some of the pictures on this site can be quite graphic, but it is truly an education into where pet store pets come from. For anyone who’s ever considered buying a dog from that pet store on the corner or in the mall, please go to this site to learn more about the conditions those dogs REALLY come from, and why you shouldn’t support the commercial breeding industry by purchasing from them.
Pet Care Insurance
Sound ridiculous? It’s really not. For as little as $25 a month, you can ensure that should something catastrophic happen to your pet, you would be able to afford to care for it. Read the policies carefully, to make sure you’re getting what YOU need out of it. Unfortunately, in most cases you’ll still have to pay vet costs upfront and send in claims for reimbursement, but this can be well-worth it in a pinch. Mastiffs don’t ‘break’ easily, but when they do, they’re not cheap to fix! Well worth the investment. **Side note: Even if you don’t want to send your money off to some faceless insurance company for something that may or may not happen, at least consider opening up an ‘emergency funds’ savings account at your bank, and throwing “X” amount of dollars into it each month – just in case!
Pet Rescue
Although not Mastiff-specific, this site has a wealth of information regarding rescuing and re-homing pets; it also offers articles and advice to those who are looking to find a new home for their own pets. Lots of links, forms, and just good stuff to read.
The Senior Dogs Project
This site is excellent. While not Mastiff-specific, it provides information on something we will all probably have to deal with at one time or another – an aging pet. This covers age-related illnesses, explores medication-related issues, and offers a plethora of information for making your elderly pet comfortable and happy for as long as possible. This site also posts adoptable older pets, and lists some excellent reasons why adopting an older pet is a ‘good thing’.
UPCO Pet Supply
Another resource for affordable pet supplies. This is the BEST place to get nice thick leather collars for our gentle giants. The leather working dog collar is tough, durable, comes in sizes large enough for virtually any Mastiff, and costs less than $10! Upco also carries a large variety of pet supplies and prescription meds.
OTHER LINKS:
Veterinary Medicine - University of Missouri
