Mastiff Rescue: Are You Ready for Adoption?
Each year, thousands of Mastiffs are discarded, abandoned and relinquished into Mastiff Rescue. When they arrive at the Mastiff Rescue, these watchdogs are poorly nourished and untrained; some even requiring veterinary or orthopedic care. Since medicines for Mastiffs cost more due to its massive size, it takes a lot of time and money to rehabilitate, take care and maintain a Mastiff. If you’re planning on helping these gentle giants, joining a Mastiff Rescue organization or giving donations can help.
However, if you really want to take the Mastiff Rescue to the next level, then adopting a Mastiff may be a good idea. However, before you take on the responsibility of a Mastiff, here are several questions you should first ask yourself:
- Do you want a Mastiff?
All Mastiff breeds are great house pets, but most of them require constant companionship, as they desperately need any kind of human interaction. Since a Mastiff can weigh from 150 to 240 pounds, having a small indoor space may not be enough for a Mastiff to get its needed exercise. Mastiffs tend to slobber and snore loudly. They are nocturnal creatures, making them perfect candidates for a watchdog that barks and scares would-be intruders near his territory.
Mastiffs are good and gentle with children. However, they can forget about their massive size and knock down a child accidentally. In Mastiff Rescue, families with children are not the first choice for a new Mastiff home.
- Can you afford the lifestyle of a Mastiff?
In Mastiff Rescue, the main purpose is to bring back the joy and health of a deprived Mastiff. As such, proper health and exercise is needed combined with a good support system that can help the Mastiff recover from trauma. Adult Mastiff males can eat up to 70 pounds of dog food monthly, costing around $40 to $75. Medications can also cost more money, accounting for $200 to $500 of your savings every year.
- Can You Train, Groom and Provide Exercise to the Mastiff?
A Mastiff requires obedience training. However, to become successful in training, patience and canine knowledge is important. Since some types of Mastiffs are sensitive, positive reinforcement training should be used since these dogs respond well to praise, treats and love.
When participating in Mastiff Rescue, you understand that proper exercise is needed to protect the Mastiff from potential injuries to the knees, hips and other exercise-related disorders or rehabilitate them from an existing injury. As such, you need to commit your time everyday, say an hour, to accompany the Mastiff in running, walking, swimming or hiking.
Since some Mastiffs acquire diseases from dirt and insects, grooming is essential to a Mastiff’s life. Cleaning and brushing the coats, especially for Mastiffs with long and think hair, should be done regularly. Just think about it: If you’re going to commit in Mastiff Rescue, your adopted pet will be living with you and sharing your environment. Don’t you want a clean Mastiff who can’t live without you?
- Can the Mastiff Adapt to Your Environment and Lifestyle?
Most types of Mastiffs love the company of their masters. Once they become devoted to you, they will want to be near you all the time. Since part of the Mastiff Rescue is to provide the dog a normal life, you need to think of your home, vehicle and neighborhood if the Mastiff can become happy and healthy. Check if he has enough space to run, walk or jump for exercise. Check if your vehicle can fit the Mastiff if you decided to go for rides to the beach.
Once you take part in a Mastiff Rescue, you will have to take on some major responsibilities. Since the Mastiff is a large dog with unique needs, you need to have the patience, time and energy to take care of him full-time. But when you have invested your love and time to your pet, you know that the Mastiff Rescue was indeed a great decision.
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