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So, you've fallen in love with the Mastiff breed, and you've decided to begin your search for the perfect Mastiff puppy for you. Where do you start?

You can begin your search locally. That certainly is a great place to start, but don't limit yourself to only those in your area. A great dog can be well worth the effort of traveling to find, or even arranging shipping. Good breeders are known beyond their local community, and happy puppy/owner pairings are made everyday over long distances.

One really good place to get the names of good dog breeders is at dog shows. Some of those showing dogs are breeders themselves, but even if they aren't, they have a lot of connections to reputable breeders. These "dog people" can be very passionate about their animals, and are usually very happy to talk to people who are really trying to learn about dogs.

Most people who show their Mastiff dogs love their animals and understand the importance of good breeding. And they have little tolerance for those breeders who don't care about the dogs they produce. You will very likely find out the breeders you should avoid, as well as those breeders who will give you a happy and healthy mastiff puppy. Collect business cards and phone numbers as you go. This research should give you many good resources.

These conversations should help to give you a feel for a breeder's knowledge of the Mastiff breed and their general feelings about the dogs. If they take a lot of pride in their mastiff puppies bloodlines, features and personalities, and talk about those things more than the money, you might have found a good breeder. Trust your own intuition, but what you're looking for is a breeder who loves and cares about his puppies, and cares about the person who adopts his puppies being right for him too.

Take your time. Make as many calls as necessary. Interview breeders and references. Don't make the decision casually. You may well find a breeder long before you find a Mastiff puppy. You may even find a breeder whose dog is expecting puppies, rather than one who already has puppies for sale. This is alright too.

So, what specifically do you want to ask a Mastiff dog breeder? Ask why he breeds dogs and how long he has been breeding Mastiff dogs. Does he breed show dogs or pets? Ask about the health concerns he has about Mastiffs and what you should be concerned about and aware of before you adopt a Mastiff. Ask what the breeder thinks is the most important characteristic to look for in Mastiff puppies.

You may find a breeder long before you find your Mastiff puppy. You might even be put on a waiting list. Try to be patient. You'll be much more likely to be happy with a puppy from a well investigated breeder, than from a choice made from impatience.

Once the puppies are ready to be viewed, the fun really begins! They really begin to show their personalities around eight or ten weeks old, and you look for a puppy who suits your personality and families energy level. You'll want to take your family members with you for this part of the decision making process. The puppy will interact differently with different people, and each member of your family should see how they feel about the new member of your family. Hopefully, your Mastiff puppy will be a loving member of your family his whole life!