Bullmastiff Breed Magazine - Showsight

you listen. I match personalities and temperaments with puppy buyers based on their lifestyle and their current living situation. BM: When before I place a puppy I ask that you fill out a questioner so I can get an idea in what they are looking for. A Bully needs to know who the boss is in the family. I have the people if possible visit my home, if they have children and they can’t control them I am sure that is not a good placement. The Bully will run the house. When we decide on the right puppy to the right home. My show homes are picked first then I do my pet placements. CP: Absolutely. My puppies are placed in homes I have inter- viewed intensively and according to the lifestyle of the prospective home. I would not place the most alpha pup in a home with other dogs and small children, nor would I place a very active puppy in a home with an older/elder- ly couple. Obedience and neutering are a must. KR: Some of the things I consider when placing puppies is I assess the activity level that they require of the dog. Are they going to be doing obedience, hiking, other dog sports. I look at any other pets in the home and also the presence of children. I usually try to pursued people with young children to take a female. I also through my interview evaluate the personality of the person. Are they soft spoken and quiet people or strong command- ing personalities? This will tell me which type of puppy to place with them. I tell people right from the start that they may not be choosing the one they want and that I will do my best to match dog to family. My goal is to have a long term placement and not get a dog back in a year if they cant handle it. I have lost sales because I would not place certain pups with families and that is okay with me. I spend eight weeks watching and observing interaction between littermate to determine temperament and suit- ability. Just because a certain puppy ran to you when you sat down does not make for an educated placement. MW: When we were breeding, we always made sure that the mother in the family was onboard with having a puppy. So often the husband and children want a dog but we all know how that story ends. Work, school and after school activities may relegate a pup to a crate or backyard when the novelty has worn off. Families with children under five are busy enough and we always cautioned about the amount of time that must be spent in socializing and housebreaking a puppy. Also, lets face it, puppies are very busy and will chew. It is all part of the growth process. If a harried mum wasn’t keen, we just talked her out of the purchase and validated her concerns. I would rather lose a placement than get an untrained and out of control chew monster back at nine months because

the family just doesn’t have the “time” for Fido anymore. Also, we would never sell puppies over the holidays. Too much stress on the pup and family. We always made a point to potential owners that owning a Bullie was at least a 10 year commitment. If they weren’t willing to make that commitment then they should look elsewhere. 10. Do you consider temperament and physical sound- ness strongly in making your decisions on placements? VA: Most definitely. SB: Absolutely. You want to make sure a home with small children has a puppy with a super sweet, confident tem- perament. On the flip side, those star puppies with atti- tude have to go to homes that know how to channel that attitude. A puppy who needs to have a job and doesn’t, often gets itself into trouble. Those puppies with drive galore need to be in working homes where they have a job that puts those attributes to good use. SG: Absolutely I do. I never want to place a puppy/dog in a home that will not be a good fit for everyone and I know the new family can afford a dog let alone a large breed dog. A Bullmastiff is not a cheap dog to own. CL: Absolutely! A forever home does not happen by chance. Finding the right fit between puppy and caregiver is cru- cial for lifelong success. BM: Yes I do consider temperament and physical soundness in making my decisions on placement! CP: Without a doubt. MW: The Bullmastiff is a working dog and as such must be sound in body and mind. Shyness and aggression should never be tolerated. Any dog exhibiting these traits should be excused. We do give some leeway for younger dogs that may be new to showing. I give every consideration to puppies as the show experience should be positive. On the other hand, I would never consider any award for dogs that I cannot adequately examine once they are a year or older. A lot of Bullmastiff’s are owner handled and as such the handlers may need more help than the dog. Their nervousness and inexperience can travel right down the lead. 11. Is there anything else you’d like to share about the breed? Please elaborate. VA: Bullmastiffs are a strong-willed, confident and intelligent breed with an intense loyalty and quiet, protective nature toward their family. SB: Bullmastiffs are wonderful dogs that are fearless and confident but are lifelong companions that will protect you and your family with all their being. But a word

254 • S HOW S IGHT M AGAZINE , D ECEMBER 2017

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