Sweet Mastiff in the Dallas area needs a good home

My family is having to give up a beloved family member. About 6 years ago, a stray puppy showed up at my house, apparently a Mastiff. We tried to find her family at the time by posting "found dog" signs and contacting local vets, but no one came forward, so we kept her and named her Sophie. We already had a shepherd mutt named Bella, who we thought could use a friend, and this puppy was about the cutest dog we had ever seen.

As Sophie grew to be about 140 pounds (about twice the size of Bella) the two dogs started getting in fights. We tried all kinds of training and consultations to try to stop it but nothing helped. About 4-5 years ago, we started keeping the dogs separate at all times, and it has been that way ever since. Our house was a house divided. I have built custom gates to divide the house in half, and we always have to make sure we keep certain doors closed etc...

For both my wife and I, Sophie is the our favorite dog ever. She is incredibly cute and has a goofy personality, and is generally super-gentle. She has never even accidentally bitten either of us, which is more than I can say for Bella.

But last February my wife had a baby, Ben. He's 11 months old now, and he's starting to get really active. Both dogs have been incredibly gentle and sweet to Ben always, although sometimes a little clumsy. But we've been worrying about our potential dog-on-dog violence situation for a while. We can't have Ben get in between those two, it could be a seriously bad situation. We've been thinking we maybe we needed to re-home one of them, but we just didn't know what to do. We contacted some rescue organizations, but most are not interested in a dog that may fight with other dogs.

Anyway, last friday while I was a work, Ben was up in Sophie's face and must have startled her somehow. My wife turned her back for just a second, and the next thing she knew Sophie was growling, and Ben was on his back crying, and Sophie was standing over her. To my wife, it was immediately clear that Sophie had to go. I agreed, and when I got home from work, I took her up to the Richardson animal shelter, which happens to really be a top notch shelter that really tries to avoid putting dogs down. It was incredibly painful to leave her there, and my wife and I are both having a really hard time knowing that she is just mile from our house, but in a scary (to her) environment where she doesn't belong. She has always been a pampered inside-dog.

Anyway, I'm just trying to find a good home for Sophie. We miss her terribly, but we just can't risk our son's safety. If anyone in the Dallas area in interested in a very lovable huge dog, they should consider her. The Richardson animal shelter is in contact with various rescue organizations, trying to find her a home, but I just wanted to post this here to, as the people here at the EOC seem to be nicer than those at your average message board. Feel free to ask any questions if you are interested.

Here are some basic facts:

Name: Sophie
Breed: Matiff (mix?)
Coat: Brindle
Age: approx 6 1/2
Weight: approx 140 lbs

Cons:
May fight with other dogs
Barks at strangers
Spooks easily
Not good with very small children

Pros:
Submissive to people
Very obedient most of the time
Great on walks, doesn't pull at all
Very sweet personality
Spayed
Housebroken
Incredibly cute

Neutral:
Drools a lot
She's pretty huge

Sophie's link on the animal shelter Web site:
http://discovery.cor.gov/Public/AS/AnimalShelter.nsf/0/B1CB4E32387482C4862573DD0010CB74?OpenDocument

Have you tried your local rescue, both all-breed and mastiff rescue?

www.gentlegiantsrescue.com

gorgeous girl--i wish i could have her--check out the above link

Try contacting the national mastiff rescue group, http://www.mastiffrescue.org/

They most likely could help find Sophie a good home.

Or check into some of these recommendations of the Mastiff Club of America (http://mastiff.org/exhibit-hall/rescue/contacts.mv)

Just curious? Do you still have Bella?

Sophie is cute. Strange that the rescues won't take a dog that might fight? That doesn't really mean anything. In testing the animals the behaviorist usually decides if the dog needs to be the only dog in the home, which is quite different from a dog that cannot be placed at all.

I see that E-ple have given you links to rescues. Good luck in getting Sophie a home or a no-kill shelter.

-g

Please contact FORM (http://www.elementownersclub.com/forums/www.mastiffrescue.org/) - Friends Of Rescue Mastiffs. They have several Reps in your area and can help you locate the perfect home for Sophie.

Good luck!

www.gentlegiantsrescue.com (http://www.gentlegiantsrescue.com)

gorgeous girl--i wish i could have her--check out the above link

:confused: I have to ask that you stay clear of this group from California. They have a very bad reputation and are known to breed their rescues, often creating 'new' breeds.

Please google them and read some of the cases regarding them. :cool:

~Kerri

oh that's terrible for all the promotion they are doing

Sad sad story. I hope you can find her a good forever home, and you better post pictures of her new family!!

:confused: I have to ask that you stay clear of this group from California. They have a very bad reputation and are known to breed their rescues, often creating 'new' breeds.

Please google them and read some of the cases regarding them. :cool:

~Kerri

GentleGiant (the one owned by Batman fame "Robin" and his wife Tracy Ward) used to get so much good press. They've been featured on various animal planet shows, too. But lately (say last 8 mos. or so) a lot of people and groups are down on them. :confused:

Always research your rescue, and adoption centers; vets, puppy-sitters, kennels. etc.

But lately (say last 8 mos. or so) a lot of people and groups are down on them. :confused:


It's been way longer than 8 months, and there are good reasons for people being 'down' on them.

I agree totally about everyone doing research on them (or any rescue for that matter).

These folks at 'gentlegiants' have put a bad face on the term 'rescue' for too long. :mad: Maybe they started out with good intentions....

Just curious? Do you still have Bella?

Sophie is cute. Strange that the rescues won't take a dog that might fight? That doesn't really mean anything. In testing the animals the behaviorist usually decides if the dog needs to be the only dog in the home, which is quite different from a dog that cannot be placed at all.

I see that E-ple have given you links to rescues. Good luck in getting Sophie a home or a no-kill shelter.

-g

Yes, we still have Bella.

My wife is the one who's been in contact with with the rescue organizations, but I don't think we've heard of FORM before, so we'll try to get in touch with them.

My wife is being told that it's hard to find foster homes for a dog that may fight, since most of the foster homes already have other dogs.

I really wouldn't call her aggressive though. She doesn't just attack other dogs in a truly aggressive way, she sort of playfully pounces on them, but some dogs (Bella) take it the wrong way and turn it into a fight. I really can't blame Bella in this situation though since Sophie is so huge. The weird thing is, Sophie does the same thing to one of our cats, and the cat just plays back with Sophie. I think Sophie may have just been trying to play with my son the same way she plays SpaceGhost (the cat), but she can't do that.

so i just read the gentle giants news page and the stories are horrible, i was sitting there transfixed at these terrible terrible horror stories. why would a place like this be aloud to stay open. There website seems so helpful and like they are doing wonderful things for these dogs, training them, feeding them--etc. there is even videos showcasing the dogs and all the good they are doing. i just don't understand why they are doing this--it sounds like most of the animals are sick, injured, not trained and infested!!!

it sounds like most of the animals are sick, injured, not trained and infested!!!


'ding - ding - ding'



we have a winner folks, no more calls please.

Makes you feel sick, doesn't it?

Now imagine spending $1,000.00 (or more) on a dog in that shape...

i wonder why they haven't been shut down...

i wish you all the best on finding a home for sophie. she is gorgeous.

also glad to hear that people on this forum know the "good" rescuers from the "bad"

good luck :)

Such a pretty girl.... are you sure she is mixed?... She looks to be a true Cane Corso (Italian) Mastiff. We have one and are familiar with the breed. My wife agrees, she looks like a Cane Corso. My wife is active with many rescues and is gonna send out some feelers on her network. hrer is a picture of a Cane Corso..... I think you'll agree that Sophie may be full-blooded.

OK. My wife says that the Cane Corso Association of America is the best bet for finding a good home with someone who understands the breed well. They are a nation wide network.
http://www.canecorso.org
Good luck finding help. She really is a beautiful dog.

i wonder why they haven't been shut down...

Because they have money, and they sue anyone they catch wind bad mouthing them. And it's "Robin of Batman & Robin, he can't be all bad, can he?" :cool:

OK. My wife says that the Cane Corso Association of America is the best bet for finding a good home with someone who understands the breed well. They are a nation wide network.
http://www.canecorso.org
Good luck finding help. She really is a beautiful dog.

I agree with Inkspotman 110%!! Also, ask to speak with Liz of Cane Corse Rescue (http://canecorsorescue.org). That is who I am currently working with on a seizure of 27 Corso here in my county. :sad:

Hmm, I guess she may be a Cane Corso. We really just don't know her origins, since she was just wondering the streets as a puppy. I could never understand why someone (apparently) just abandoned her as a puppy! I'll get in touch with that group.

I went to visit her at the shelter today, and she was doing fine. She was being walked by a volunteer, and I found out that I can go walk her any time I want, so that's good. It's still really sad to have to leave her there, though.

They had a sign on her run that said, "The most well-behaved dog here!" It made me proud, and you guessed it, sad.

Hmm, I guess she may be a Cane Corso. We really just don't know her origins, since she was just wondering the streets as a puppy. I could never understand why someone (apparently) just abandoned her as a puppy! I'll get in touch with that group.

I went to visit her at the shelter today, and she was doing fine. She was being walked by a volunteer, and I found out that I can go walk her any time I want, so that's good. It's still really sad to have to leave her there, though.

They had a sign on her run that said, "The most well-behaved dog here!" It made me proud, and you guessed it, sad.

Ugh, I feel for you puzzle. Keep us posted. -g