The Mastiff: Aristocratic Guardian (The Pure Bred Series)

By Dee Dee Andersson

Book Overview

For the first-time owner: an A-Z of buying, owning and raising mastiffs, a practical guide to the world of mastiffs. For the would-be breeder: how to raise and train a stud dog and how to manage a breeding of these gentle giant mastiffs. How to maintain and meet the needs of the pregnant mastiff and lots of whelping information. For the entire mastiff community: ancient history, British mastiff history up to World War II, American history, top show dogs, top producers, top obedience dogs, temperament, mastiff artwork and much, much more

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0944875513
• ISBN13: 9780944875513
• Release Date: September 1998
• Publisher: Doral Publishing
• Length: 306 Pages
• Weight: 1.40 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0" x 6.3" x 9.3"

Customer Reviews

If you only buy one, this should be it!

If you only plan on buying one book about Mastiffs, this should be it. I own several mastiff books, but I go to this one when I need information. It is as great a refrence book for the first time owner as it is for the experienced breeder. Full of beautiful pictures, charming anecdotes and detailed history, this book is incredibly informative. Other than the dogs themselves this has been my best mastiff purchase. All mastiff owners and those thinking of becoming mastiff owners should own this book.

Mastiff Magic

As a first-time Mastiff-owned person, I was very happy when I received this book as a gift. From the moment I opened it, I knew that this book would be my Mastiff bible. It is filled with historic facts (did you know that Mastiffs were declawed, by law, in the middle ages! ), amusing stories about Mastiffs (you'll see your own dog in these tales), medical information, top producing dogs and bitches, and tons of pictures... this book has it all. Breeders and owners alike will delight in reading this book over and over again. If you are even considering brining one of these gentle giants into your life, this book is a must-read. Mastiffs are not for everyone, but for those of us who are lucky enough to be owned by a Mastiff, I can assure you that this book will become your other best friend. dee dee Anderson knows her audience well; we all love Mastiffs as much as she does.

Absolutely Fabulous!

This book is not only informative it is "riveting" from cover to cover. dee dee Anderson has given the Mastiff world the most comprehensive history of the breed ever written. Her chapters on the care of, common disorders, choosing a puppy and breeding should be required reading for anyone even interested in "being owned by" a member of this marvelous, "Aristocratic" breed!Thank you, dee dee Anderson, for writing this wonderful book!

Bursting at the seams with relevant Mastiff information.

This book has been written by someone who not only loves this breed dearly...but who is rich in the experience of its care and knowledge of it's roots. Every chapter tells both the novice and the expert, something they did not already know. The historical research has been comprehensively and articulately addressed. Going into far greater detail than most subject specific books. Chapters on conditions such as Bloat, breeding and whelping are so detailed as to provide the owner with all the necessary information to deem themselves, well informed.Dee has managed to convey the wonderful breed characteristics through sharing delightful anecdotal experiences of her own familly of Mastiffs, with which any Mastiff Owner can fully identify. Such as this, spurred this reader on to write poetry in Memory of the Mastiff.I have to say therefore that this book has inspired, informed and educated! Few books in this day and age can qualify for such an accolade.Dee Dee, this book is a wonderful testament to someone who really knows and loves the mastiff. If you never did another good thing in your life...you would still have done too much!

A Mastiff book, written from the heart of a Mastiff owner.

MASTIFF Aristocratic Guardian, truly a must read for all Mastiff Fanciers and wanna be Mastiff Fanciers. The author, dee dee Andersson has fulfilled her goal to tell readers why Mastiffs are the greatest animals on earth. dee dee's many years of having been owned by Mastiffs has enabled her to write stories and experiences from her heart. In reading the book, one can not help feeling the affection the author has for the breed.There has never been a Mastiff book written, depicting the history of this magnificent breed the Mastiff as the author has done. She has written the history of the good and the bad; the terror and the romance; the discrimination and the almost loosing the breed to the past. A reader can well imagine the many, many hours of research involved in writing the in-depth history of the Mastiff as dee dee has done.Non other than a dedicated Mastiff owner can write of the true temperament of a Mastiff. The author has written this chapter showing great feeling for the breed, knowing from many years of experience, that the Mastiff is not the dog for everyone. As I read this chapter, in some instances I almost felt that the author had crept into the heart of the Mastiff and was writing as if she were the Mastiff. The author is sharing with the readers a wealth of knowledge in the chapters The Growing Mastiff, Breeding Mastiffs, Whelping & Puppies, and How to Select a Mastiff Puppy. The many, many years of living with Mastiffs shines through these chapters.When my husband and I owned our very first Mastiff, we would have given our eye teeth to have been able to find such a book as the MASTIFF Aristocratic Guardian.