Old English Mastiff's

Hi There!
 I know you're new so I'm going to be gentle []
 
Your dog is either a "Mastiff" [linkhttp://www.akc.org/breeds/mastiff/index.cfm]http://www.akc.org/breeds/mastiff/index.cfm[/link]
or a Bull Mastiff [linkhttp://www.akc.org/breeds/bullmastiff/index.cfm]http://www.akc.org/breeds/bullmastiff/index.cfm[/link]
There is no AKC breed "Old English Mastiff"
 
Breeding is a very tough job. Many people try it and find that it is more of a heart break then a joy and those who do it right find that they are only doing it for the love of the breed as it really costs more to have a litter then it is to make money on one if your doing everything right.
 Health testing to breed a better dogs is a MUST, because you are planning on breeding to improve the breed right?
 
From the Mastiff Club of America's Health page.....
http://mastiff.org/exhibit-hall/health/
 
The following four criteria are mandatory:

Hip Dysplasia
OFA, OVC, or GDC hips. OFA, OVC, GDC hips to be based on x-rays taken at, or after, 24 months of age.
Elbow Dysplasia
OFA, OVC, or GDC elbows. OFA, OVC, GDC elbows to be based on x-rays taken at, or after, 24 months of age.
Heart
OFA heart, at 12 months or older.
Eyes
CERF certified at or after 24 months of age. Yearly recertification recommended.
The following two to be optional:

Thyroid
MSU or other lab's equivalent full thyroid panel and/or OFA Thyroid Certification at or after 24 months of age. Yearly recertification recommended. For tests other than OFA, the following must be included:

1. Free T4 by dialysis (FT4D)
   
2. Canine Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (cTSH)
   
3. Thyroid globulin Autoantibody (TgAA)
   
4. T3 & T4 Autoantibodies
   
5. Lab interpretation
   
6. Lab must be one of those approved by OFA

Cystinuria
UPenn cystinuria at or after the age of 18 months.
The evaluation at the oldest age is the one that will be recorded. For instance, if a dog is certified at 24 months, then is later (at 30 months) evaluated by the same or other agency, then the 30 month evaluation would be recorded in CHIC.
Permanent identification at the time of testing (tattoo, microchip or DNA) is a CHIC requirement.
 
Now also considering the pet over population we have in our Country I found 36 dogs needing homes through the parent site and 413 on pet finder who are looking for homes.
 
 
Being an ethical breeder is important here is the code of ethics through the parent club
[linkhttp://mastiff.org/faq/coe.mv]http://mastiff.org/faq/coe.mv[/link]
 
Breeding takes a lot of time, experience, knowledge and money. Unexpected problems can happen and to the inexperienced, uneducated they are devistating.
 
Please consider spaying your girl for the betterment of her health.
 
If you truely wish to breed there are many here including myself that can guide you into doing it the right way and not be a back yard breeder just looking to breed their dog for a few bucks or "just because"
 
This post is in no way shape or form complete to all that is involved in breeding and I hope I am not chasing you away. I have been breeding since 1994 and have had more then my share of heart ache and expenses
 

Ditto everything Jaime said.
 
Welcome to idog!

Why do you want her to have a litter? Is it cause you want her to experience motherhood? I haven't yet met a female dog who told me she can't wait to have babies. Also, if your're asking these very general questions, you obviously have no clue about breeding and shouldn't do it. IMHO.

Wow, that was pretty harsh tiffy!  Sheesh!!   My sister raised two litters of Shelties, all gorgoeus healthy puppies that went to wonderful loving homes.....I guess that made my sister clueless.  Gee, I wonder how the "professional" breeders who "have a clue" got started........
 
I say go for it if you want to raise a litter, you sound like you love your dog and why not raise a litter.  Just do your homework, and talk to your vet about it, they will get you started in the right direction.  Also, are there other breeders in your area that perhaps you could talk with?  Or, maybe join a local kennel club?
 
 

Remali, so long as we have the horrible overpopulation of dogs, dogs who die in the shelters waiting for homes, no one should be breeding.  ONLY the very best of the best should be breed and those dogs need to be proven in either conformation or field trials and extensively tested for any and all genetic disorders common to the breed.  Breeding is not something to do lightly.  It's a ton of owrk and quite often a ton of heartbreak.
 
Your sister was very lucky to get healthy pups and find excellent homes for them.  But, how many OTHER pups didn't find homes in time because your sisters pups were born?

Sorry if I was harsh,but I stand by what I say.Thousands of dogs die each day in the shelters, so  lets say a litter of 6 is born, that means that 6 dogs are dead because someone wanted cute little babies.. These dogs aren't proven and they're certainly not bettering the breed.If the OP does decide to breed, I hope she knows that it can be harsh.FWIW.

I wonder how the "professional" breeders who "have a clue" got started

Since the only modern justification for breeding today is to produce superior examples of your breed of choice, the FIRST STEP is getting VERY involved in your breed, competing, getting outside opinions on the breedworthiness of your breeding stock, and learning about what goes into producing the "best of the best".  Doing a stint in rescue is a good idea, too.  That's a good way to see "the dark side" of your breed and strengthen your resolve to produce ONLY the best quality, wanted pups.

Once you have spent a good deal of time getting to know the breed inside and out, and figuring out what niche you hope to fill in that culture - or what your dogs have to offer the future of the breed - then you want to mentor with an "old hand" in breeding.  through them you'll learn how to make choices on the individual level about health issues, matching particular lines, and of course whelping and puppy raising tips.

Responsible breeding is not done lightly.  I wouldn't risk the life of my baby dog Ann for anything less than the future of the breed.  If I breed her in a few years, I'll have been "in" Border collies for nearly fifteen years without adding to the population.  I don't care, in fact, if I'm a part of the culture for the rest of my life and NEVER breed - having a dog isn't about making a puppy factory out of them - it's about enjoying their companionship and working as partners with them.

Oh.  So on one on this forum breeds dogs?

Sorry about the typo, that's what I get for not using my spellcheck.  But, again.....so, no one on this forum breeds then?
 
I agree about the shelter dogs.  But, to blast someone like that is rather rude I think, who is to say she isn't going to do all of that of which you mentioned, and more.....

We have some breeders here.  But they are breeders who do things PROPERLY.  Their dogs are health tested and finished before they start breeding them and they breed them to dogs who are also health tested and finished.  Off the top of my head I can think of Jaime, Jan Ruggles and Gina who breed.  I USED to breed.  But doing it RIGHT and just doing it are way different.
 
Cute adorable puppies are nice....but the world already has a TON of cute adorable puppies dying in the shelters.  I don't know tiffy, and maybe she could have put a bunch more words around her message to maybe soften it a bit, but gosh, she's RIGHT.  And I honestly didn't think that she was harsh.  And i noticed that no one has taken the OP to task for taking a pup home at FIVE weeks!  So actually, I thought that this tread was pretty gentle.
 
However, since the OP hasn't been BACK.....why are we fussing among ourselves?

5 weeks is waaaay too young for a puppy to go to a new home. No responsible breeder would EVER send a puppy home at that age. I'm pretty sure in a lot of states it isn't even legal to sell them that young. 8 weeks is much better for most puppies (10-12 weeks for tiny breed puppies).
 
So considering the breeder sent a puppy to its new home so early, I would be very surprised if they did any sort of health testing or showing. I'd say the chances that this dog is from sound, healthy lines and an excellent representative of the breed are slim to none.
 
I agree with glenmar, the ONLY dogs that should be bred are ones that are superior examples of their breed. That allows the breeds as we know them to continue. Otherwise, there are so many dogs/puppies in shelters. I could never justify bringing breeding a pet quality dog.

Yes, I agree, 5 weeks is very young for a puppy to leave home.  And, also do agree about breeding properly and very responsibly.   I just wanted to give her the benefit of the doubt, but, like you said, she hasn't been back here.

OK, now that everyone has pretty much blasted me, no one has still answered any of my questions.  We haven't decided if we are going to breed her or not, just in the asking questions stage, I really thought these forums were for help not hurt.  I love my dog very much, she's very spoiled, and loved by all family members.  I'm sorry if I offended anyone with my questions.

i think most people her do love their pets , and can be very judgemental.  Anyone can breed and there are lots of unwanted animals.  When i  had my first mastiff I thought i wanted to breed her.  Going into heat is messy time and you dog does not really listen very well. After a year your female mastiff will go into heat it lasts 2 weeks or so .  Most people breed after the 3rd heat. I never did breed her and had to be very careful  of other dogs that seemed to be coming around from everywere when she was in heat.  after about 8 years of this i fimaly had her spayed do to health reasons. be she died last year  at 11 years old and we now have bodi  17 month whom is a mix between old english  and , tosa inu (japanese mastiff)  he is neutured.. good luck with her she sure is cute