Mastiff Chat

Thoughts

Sat, 19 May 2012 22:49:47 GMT

As many of you know, I often use my board to voice opinions, thoughts and feelings. Many of you have gotten to know who I am by my general musings. I cover everything from how I feel about life in general, to politics and all the way to the dog world. Well, here I go again.

Recently, an organization very near and dear to my heart has come to a cross roads. On one hand, it can overcome power struggles, dishonesty and bullying and do what is right and ethical. It will take people reaching across "the aisle" to those that they might not necessarily align with in most circumstances, but it will be necessary to build a future for the greater good. You don't have to like me as a "personality", but if you want what is right and ethical, I ask that you work WITH me and not against me. In turn, if you have the betterment of the organizations best interest at heart, I will work with you. It will take a great deal of courage by good people willing to fight the good fight. The alternative is for various groups to become territorial and protect "their own" or let "personalities" get involved. Good people can cave to the bullying because "fighting the good fight" is too difficult, and quite honestly, I understand the temptation to walk away or "just go along", but I implore you to realize you have a responsibility to do what is RIGHT. Taking the "easy way out" would result in the deterioration of the organization. Great people could be lost and the potential good of the organization can be irreparably harmed. The organization will suffer and all if it's potential for "good work" can be lost. How sad that would be. Yes, the thought has occurred to me to just walk away from the whole thing simply because it's just too darn stressful and let whatever happens, happen. It would be so much easier. After all, I really don't need to be a part of any organization especially a potentially corrupt one. But, that would make me a quitter...something that I'm not. It would make me as responsible as the corrupt for failure. I believe in fighting for what's right and ethical no matter how tough the going gets. No organization should cater to an elite few and rewrite the rules for those few. In any successful organization, the sum of the total is supposed to be much more important that the sum of one or two. The rules should not change depending on "who" you are. It's up to EVERYONE to be sure that is not allowed to happen!!!

I realize I'm being somewhat "cryptic" here, but the time will come that I will no longer be so cryptic. Should right prevail, I will give great accolades to the heroes. Should wrong triumph, I will expose those individuals for their actions. I will simply tell the world what their actions were and allow everyone to judge them for themselves. Will it come at a personal cost to me? Of course, but any good fight is worth whatever the consequences are when you are on the side of right. Wrong should always be exposed and right should always be praised. Now, lets see which side triumphs.

So for anyone reading this, I ask you to think. Do you want to be a part of positive change and do what's right or do you want to be remembered for your dishonesty? If you are an honest person who believes in doing the right thing, do you want to cave to bullies and find yourself labeled as being one of the corrupt ones simply because you were afraid to stand your ground? So much is up to you. Will you stand up and fight for what you believe is ethical and honest and shows great integrity? As for me, I will go down fighting the good fight if necessary and being absolutely sure that the those that want to destroy a great organization will forever be remembered for their lack of integrity. Please don't misconstrue this as a threat. It is more of a "mission statement".

The very worst that can happen is that I fail. It won't be the first time and truly won't affect my life all that much. But, even in failure, I will be able to look myself in the mirror and KNOW I did the right thing. Will you be able to do the same if you cave? I will never be ashamed of being "afraid" to fight for what I truly believe in. At the end of the day, having pride in doing the right thing is so much more important than almost anything else.

Stay tuned!!!!

Prayers needed for Frankie.....

Sat, 19 May 2012 17:48:29 GMT

Last night Frankie took a serious turn for the worse!! He woke up from a nice long nap with one very swollen knee and TONS of pain!!! Couldn't put any weight on that leg at all!! Took him to the ER, they did new xrays and everything is still the same no new injuries and NO torn ACL's! Just lots and lots of fluid on the knee causing tons of pressure and tons of pain for him. He spent the night in the hospital and they kept him sedated from the pain. I picked him up this morning and took him down to my regular Vet where he is currently undergoing a surgical procedure to relieve some of the swelling and pressure and the Vet will better be able to assess his injuries more clearly. If things don't look good for him I will have to say goodbye. This baby is in so much pain its unbearable! I have never had a dog experience this much pain before and I will not let it continue. He's just a baby!! He is such a sweet, sweet special boy and he deserves so much better than this!!!!!

Please keep Frankie in your prayers..........

Our Early Pick For Our Keeper

Tue, 15 May 2012 19:39:58 GMT

We plan to keep a brindle girl from our Sadie Rose X Cactus Jake litter, and this is our early pick. With 3 brindle girls in the litter, our pick could change, but I don't think so. She's 3 weeks old today.

A breeders nightmare......

Sun, 13 May 2012 15:31:55 GMT

I took a puppy back that was showing signs of an injury. Took the pup to the Vet the day after I got him back. Sure enough my nightmares were confirmed! At first I thought he had two blown knees with how he was walking. He doesnt have blown cruciates but he sure has broken knees!! Both tibia's are broken right below the knee! I honestly dont know how this baby boy sustained such horrible horrible injuries! I'm not pointing blame.......we all know where that leads!!! I just need to know what to do from this point!!

I have never struggled so hard with "whats the right thing to do"! He is such a doll and though I have tried to detach myself, its just not working. My Vet said I have two choices. Wait until he's done growing, he's 8 months, have the surgery one leg at a time. He'll have to have them re-broken since their starting to heal and are healing all sorts of messy, he'll have metal plates in his knees, go through exstensive therapy, lots of pain, and lots of stuggle. He doesnt have one good one to help support the other while healing from surgery so things will be really ruff on him. My Vet also said he will always lead a painful crippling life and he would have to stay with me for the rest of his life. No puppy buyer should ever have to deal with this........nor breeder IMHO!

My other option is to put him to sleep. In all reality I know thats probably the best thing to do for him but this sucks so bad!! This baby has been dealt one shitty ass hand and all this is so unfair!! I'm taking him to the Orthopedic specialist on the 24th of this month to see if he gives me any hope for him.

Right now I'm keeping him happy spoiled and on good pain meds. Its heart breaking to watch him walk, he wants so badly to play with his siblings. He watches them through the window and it just breaks my heart. He's just a baby.....He's in really good spirits and never whines and his pain seems to be well mantained now. I dont know how long he's lived with this pain though and I have a feeling he's learned to coupe with it very very well.

I posted this for opinions, advise, a learning experience perhaps. Not to stir shit up, point blame or cause any other problems. So please dont post your negativity, hateful bitterness, I dont need it right now! Save your judgment for another day. I just need a little help, a push in the right direction, something!! I just feel so helpless and simply dont know what to do.......

I'm prefectly ok with going through this with him. Trying the surgery and helping him fight for his life.....but is it the right thing to do for him???

As a breeder what would you do???????

Congratulations Chris & Grace

Sat, 12 May 2012 21:54:26 GMT

A big congratulations to Chris Elliott and Grace. Grace is now Meadowfarms Good Gracious UDX. She is only the second mastiff to get a UDX title which is Utility Dog Excellent. She had a score of 197 in Open and 193 1/2 in Utility. She also now has 35 points toward her OTCH (Obedience Trial Champion) title. Way to go girls!!

Spectacular Pendant

Sat, 12 May 2012 16:28:18 GMT

I have to say I LOVE this pendant, and was so worth the wait. Barrie is an ausome artist.

http://www.sunstonedesigns.com/

Preliminary count is in for the specialty

Fri, 11 May 2012 20:35:37 GMT

Sweeps & Futurity (combined)

68 dogs / 88 bitches

Main Entry

52 - 70 - 44 - 30

Veterans (total)

13 dogs / 13 bitches

FYI....

Fri, 11 May 2012 11:32:51 GMT

http://www.aphis.usda.gov/newsroom/2012/05/retail_pets_051012.shtml

http://www.aphis.usda.gov./newsroom/2012/05/pdf/docket_APHIS_2011_0003.pdf

Living With Giants~New Video!

Thu, 10 May 2012 16:24:52 GMT

http://www.petcentric.com/Videos/Video/Snouts-in-Your-Town-Living-with-Giants.aspx?videoid=1593461756001

Sorry I haven't been around much lately, life, you know? I had so much fun taping this, hope you enjoy!

Congrats to Tina, Jaye and Pam on Oliver's win today

Mon, 07 May 2012 02:31:09 GMT

Oliver went BOB AND a Group 2 at Trenton today! HUGE ACCOMPLISHMENT LADIES!! Way to go OLIVER!!

At the Specialty...

Mon, 07 May 2012 02:05:55 GMT

Check out the raffle basket donated by the Mastiff Club of Northern Ohio (MCONO)! My hubby and I are making a set of cornhole boards to go along with our "tailgate" themed basket... complete with Mastiffs on them.

Teresa

Sun, 06 May 2012 03:03:32 GMT

For some reason I can not put the recipient in

for private email... Dont know what is up with

that???

HUGE congrats to Darren!!

Sat, 05 May 2012 20:50:29 GMT

Darren's girl, Jade won winner's bitch at Bucks today!! HOW EXCITING FOR HIS FIRST SHOW GIRL!!!

Stud Dog Criteria

Thu, 03 May 2012 22:36:23 GMT

To go along with Tammy's "Best" post, I am still stuck at how to choose a stud dog. Given set aside (health testing, CH lines, great temperment, etc), how would you rank each characteristic as far as most important/least important. I'm talking head type, bone size, angulation, substance, color, pigment, coat type... pretty much everything physical and structural appearance.

What I mean is if you find a great dog with the perfect pedigree, great angulation, bone size... but a bit lacking in the head. Or the opposite, or everything great, but poor pigment, etc. I'm working on a list (which is everchanging as she grows) of Brinkleys 'shortcomings' we'll call them, so I for sure want to work on improving those areas, but at 18 months that is still changing regularly. I know we can't generalize on every case, but if you had to what are your thoughts?

At this point in order of importance to me...

Rear angulation and correct hip and sholder set

Head

Overall size/porportion (well sprung chest, etc, not just height/weight)

Bite

Stop

Tail Set

Pigment

There are 1000 more things I could throw on this list if I obessed about it right now. Just wondering everyone else's thoughts on it... plus we have to consider dogs in the pedigree too... just so much!!!!

WOOHOO official AKC breeder of Merit

Thu, 03 May 2012 17:45:18 GMT

Now on official AKC Breeder of Merit!! Very happy milestone for a small breeder!