Big Paws Only Dog Forums

I agree with the DC guy...AM are mutts and profit...I spoke to the woman at flying W expressing my concern and she actually knew very veyr little on the breed...I also spoke to a woman that owned a AM named odin that pretty much was a 220 lb Anatolain which is a serious serious breed...

I gotta pull my "trump card" here -- and that trump card is, I suspect that I know much more about American Mastiffs than non-owners do.

The breed was designed b/c OEMs have so many wonderful traits -- but also have some negative qualities, including excessive drool, certain health problems, and many have shorter lifespans.  AMs have the personality of an OEM, the look & size of an OEM, but generally don't drool (unless it's excessively hot or they've just gulped down half the water bowl!), don't have the health problems associated w/ many larger breeds (including OEMs), and live a very long time.  In fact, the breed has only been around for about 15-years -- and the first AMs have only started to pass away recently.

You've seen my puppy Leon.  Do any of you REALLY think that he looks like an Anatolain?  Come on, guys!

Not all aspects of having AMs are positive.  Because the breeding of 'em is so controlled, their health/ longevity is exceptional -- but a limited supply drives the cost up considerably.  B/c they lack certain "recognition" from the dog show crowd, they lack some of that "prestige" factor.  You don't have hundreds of years -- or hundreds of dogs -- to make conclusions from.  You aren't likely to run into other AM owners in your hometown.

The BEST thing about AMs, in addition to the other qualities I listed, is the accountability .  The breeders are very responsive & very caring about the dogs -- and have even set up an online community to answer questions.  In fact, it was a Big Paws person promoting this site on the AM Board that led me to drop on by!

Check it out at: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/AmericanMastiffs/messages

Ask your questions about the breed.  There are tons of AM owners & breeders on there -- and I'll give anyone a golden donkey if you can find folks unhappy with their breed selection.

We have a 22-week American Mastiff, who'll grow between 3 and 7 pounds per week.  (How do I know how much he'll grow?  Because it's MY job to pick the puppy up and stand on the scale, which is becoming increasingly difficult!)

We feed:
Half dry food;
Half cooked chicken/ gizzards/ eggs/ peanutbutter.

Augmented with a vitamin our vet gave us, to ensure that our boy has all the right nutrients, as his rate of growth is so rapid right now.

For the chicken, we buy cheap dark meat in bulk from Wal-Mart or Cost Co, chop up the pieces raw, mix 'em in a big bowl, add some soy & teyaki sauce, stir, and put an identical amount into different plastic baggies.  We then freeze all the bags, and microwave as necessary, mixing in the cooked food with the raw food, along with an occasional egg or peanutbutter.

Well, I like classy, intellectual films with lots of celebrity firepower.

Therefore, I'd have to go with "National Lampoon's Strip Poker" -- available now on Video on Demand!

You want celebrity firepower?  Well, "National Lampoon's Strip Poker" has Kato Kaelin, folks!  I smell Academy Award!

(Sorry -- that smell was Bruno Maglis shoes.  My mistake.)

The cinematic masterpiece: http://www.nationallampoon.com/strip_poker/

Such a happy face!  is the cat still around or did the dog run him off?

No, the cat is Leon's buddy.  She's declawed, but when Leon gets too **affectionate** she'll hiss & swat at him -- and Leon will take off running, as if that cat was armed with a semi-automatic!  The cat will play with Leon (on her own terms) but won't really let Leon play with her... if that makes any sense!

It's hard to believe, but just 15 weeks ago, Leon and that cat were within three pounds of one another.  Of course, Leon is currently 21-weeks, 85-pounds -- and adding between four & seven pounds each week -- so I'm sure Leon is wondering why that sneaky cat keeps on shrinking...!

#4...

#2...

I read on another board that the horrible things that are being seen on the web about Iams was put there by PETA.  I've also heard that PETA are borderline criminals, hysterical phanatics.

Tina

PETA is a sham, deplorable organization.  The real shame is that so many of its members (and well-wishers) are perfectly decent, loving animal owners who have NO IDEA what PETA is trying to accomplish.

Do you know that PETA believes that human slavery & pet ownership are morally equitable?  That's right -- one of PETA's stated goals is "liberating" pets from families -- and they actually have the unmitigated nerve to compare your pet sleeping by your bed to the horrors & genocide of human slavery.  Mix this with their grotesque PR stunts (like reading about a Palestinian suicide bombing that killed four Israelis, an American, and a mule -- and writing a letter to the terrorists asking them not to harm mules in the future), and I doubt if any clear-thinking pet owner would want any sort of association between PETA & themselves.

Remember -- even if you're against all forms of animal-based research, PETA is an organization that wants to use force to remove your dog from your home.

The SPCA needs your help.  PETA needs to be ignored.