So you are in love with the French Mastiff and are ready to bring one home to add companionship for you and your family. Awesome, you’re on your way to having some real fun and enjoyment. But there are some pitfalls to avoid when you’re in the market for a new mastiff puppy, so do your best to avoid them.
Here are the big three to step aside.
1. Pet stores
One of the worst places you can buy a puppy is the pet store. Don’t ask how much that little dog is in the window; now we know better. It promotes compulsive buying and more abandoned pets, disease-prone shoddy dogs pumped out by puppy mills and backyard breeders just looking to make a profit.
A French Mastiff puppy purchased from a pet store will not have a pedigree record and its health is not guaranteed. This can be a serious problem in the future when bad genetics and health issues start costing you big in vet bills.
2. Backyard breeders (posing as professionals)
Typically, the types of people that supply pet stores are backyard breeders and puppy “mills”/”farms” who simply put out “pure bred” dogs for sheer capital gain; no love, no pride in parenting, no rules.
Now, don’t confuse hobby breeders with backyard breeders. The backyard breeder usually produces low quality dogs because they don’t consider breeding for sound genetics and breed standards. A hobbyist who has a passion for the French Mastiff will go to great lengths to produce a high-quality dog that adheres to best practices.
3. Classified Ads
Now, not every classified ad you find in your newspaper or online directories will turn out poor quality puppies, but there is a risk. There are reputable breeders advertising using this medium (it’s much better to get a personal reference), but they are most likely hiding in a mess of backyard breeders, and people trying to offload their responsibilities for forced decisions.
There you have it, the top three pitfalls that savvy French Mastiff puppy seekers are sure to avoid.