A Mastiff Poem

A little something written by my friend Terri Perkins, Oso Bodacious Mastiffs.  Enjoy!

Soft and gentle, are the snores

that shake my windows and rattle my doors.

Paws as big as dinner plates,

smash my feet like ten ton weights.

Drool that hangs from lips to floor,

I wipe it off, and still there’s more.

Slingers high, and slingers low,

where all they go, I do not know.

When the TV doorbells ring,

the pack I have begins to sing.

To the potty I will go.

With my entour--age in tow.

When they grunt and pass their gas,

I pray the Lord, this too shall pass.

Drool rags hang around the place.

To wipe that slimy, drippy face.

When I’m chilled, they warm my feet.

Mastiff love cannot be beat.

A Little Insight Into Why Reputable Breeders Have Contracts

I saw a post on Facebook recently from a friend who had several experiences with buyer in direct breach of the contracts they signed when they purchased their puppies. I wanted to share this to give puppy buyers a little bit of insight into why breeders have so many clauses in their contracts.  Some may seem insignificant or silly, but they are all there for the protection of the dog, and that’s what’s important to a breeder (and should be to a buyer and owner). Furthermore I would like to state for the record that my puppy contract is upwards of 10 page and I feel like after reading the story below I need to go back and add some things!


“Recently I made a post regarding a prospective puppy family having issues with our contract we have in place for anyone who would like one of our puppies. This family chose not to get one of our puppies due to me not being lenient with the stipulations of it. And it worked out amazingly considering this puppy has a wonderful family that adores him. However, it is funny how that all kind of came full circle today. With this particular situation, the family asked me to change a clause that states that if at any time the buyer can no longer keep the dog or no longer wants to, the dog comes back to us. They asked me to add immediate family to that clause. I was okay with that. Then I was asked to omit the part of our contract that states that if they violate any part of our contract, there is monetary penalties that will be enforced, also the part that states that if authorities have to seize the dog for any reason, or if I have to go take possession of the dog, the buyers are responsible for all of my costs. I would not do that, deal off. So here is why reputable breeders have these contracts. Today, I pulled a dog from our local shelter that was purchased from a very, reputable breeder in Oregon, by someone in California, 3 years ago. Not only does this breeder have a strict contract in place, they just spoke with this puppy family a few months ago and they were very happy with their dog, told them how much the family loved him, etc. Well, life took a turn, as it often does, and rather than contact the breeder like they are legally, and ethically, supposed to do, they gave it to a family member here in Idaho (which is why I will remove the immediate family part of my contract again). Some issues occurred with the dog and they could no longer keep him either. So there he sat at the shelter. Arrangements were being made to send him to a rescue but luckily we were able to step in, do some homework and get him back where he belongs. He didn't deserve to be at the shelter for the last 15-20 days. This is a case of a bad buyer. The best breeders do all they can to keep tabs on their puppies but some slip through the cracks. But how awesome are they that they instantly are jumping to action and being accountable for their dog. This scenario is not only no fault of the breeder's, but what gives breeders bad names. We put our heart and soul into what we do. So for one of our babies to end up in a shelter, is our worst nightmare.


Scenario 2: I currently have a dog at the kennel whose owners are getting a divorce. AFTER the dog comes in for what I was told was to be a weekend, I find out that they are arguing about who is going to do what with the dog. One spouse moves into an apartment that does not allow pets, the other doesn't know what to do with her either. Yet, neither of them will sign the dog over to me so I can find her a suitable home. So there she sits in a kennel for 2 weeks and counting. And I have no choice but to wait until I get word from one of them  My contract, which luckily I high jacked (with permission) from someone who did all the hard work LOL, states that our puppy is not to be held in litigation in a situation like this and if so, the dog comes back to me.


So as you can see, yep, we are a bit strict, odd, strange, protective, obsessive, paranoid, you get the idea, this is why. We care. Not only do we do everything possible to make sure our dogs do not end up in a bad situation, but we also step in and help others who may have been blindsided. We work together, with each other, with rescues, with shelters, etc.”e care. Not only do we do everything possible to make sure our dogs do not end up in a bad situation, but we also step in and help others who may have been blindsided. We work together, with each other, with rescues, with shelters, etc