Divine Mastiffs
  • Home
  • About Us
    • Our Philosophy
    • Our Start
  • Breeding
    • Health Issues >
      • Cystinuria
      • Degenerative Myelopathy (DM)
    • Planned Litter >
      • Our Process
      • Important ~ Please Read
    • Past >
      • 2014
      • 2012
      • 2010
      • 2009 >
        • Abbey
      • 2007
      • 2005
      • 2004
  • Champions
    • Past Show News
  • Gallery
  • Boys
    • Hermes
    • Co-Own >
      • Mater
      • Mooch
      • Watson
  • Girls
    • Chloe
  • Rainbow Bridge
    • Boys >
      • Elvis
      • Giambi
      • Gully
      • Hilbert
      • Homer
      • Ike
      • Jovi
      • Luke
      • Kramer
      • Mizuno
      • Newton
      • Tobias
      • Willie
    • Girls >
      • Bronx
      • Chantica
      • Darcee
      • Ella
      • Honey
      • Kailie
      • Kellyn
      • Kila
      • Maggie
      • Minnie
      • Posada
      • Raisin
      • Rossi
      • Vegas
  • Info
    • Articles >
      • Are We Mastiff Breeders or Just Breeding Mastiffs
      • Breeding Quality
      • Color Inheritance in the English Mastiff
      • Cost
      • Designer Dogs
      • Early Puppy Socialization Classes
      • The “Evil Breeder” Mentality
      • I Don't Want a Show Dog, I Want a Pet
      • Looking for Breeder
      • The Neuroscience of Puppy Development
      • Puppy Socialization
      • Puppy's Rules of Twelve
      • The Rules of Seven
      • Spay and Neutering
      • Thyroid Problems
    • History >
      • Pilgrims and Dogs
    • Links
  • MCOA National Specialty
  • Designer Dogs
  • Insurance

Our Process of Puppy Selection

What is the difference between show and companion?
What do they cost and how do we choose?
How long can we expect to wait for a Divine Puppy?

What is the application process?
When do I get to pick my puppy out?
Once we have been selected how soon before I will get a puppy?
What is expected from the puppy buyer?

Many people that I speak with ask the above questions. Most people who contact me regarding a future puppy are looking for a quality bred companion Mastiff. This is good because Mastiffs are animals that are companions first and foremost. Showing is a fun and extra event that you do with your pet. When people do inquire about wanting to show their perspective companion what this means for me as a breeder is that I would look for certain qualities in a Mastiff puppy to place with them that I feel comes close enough to the breed standard to be exhibited in the show ring.

Any breed of dog that is shown in the American Kennel Club (AKC) conformation ring must be AKC registered and must remain intact (not spayed, not neutered) throughout the duration of his or her show career. Having an intact pet carries an extra element of responsibility above and beyond the normal pet responsibility to make sure your pet is not mated unexpectedly. A pet that will be shown will also need to be registered on full registration vs. limited registration, which I, as the breeder, would authorize on the initial registration papers or in some cases, change once I evaluate the potential show puppy at 6 months of age. Registration papers can easily be upgraded from Limited to Full at any time in the dogs life by the breeder.

So, many may be wondering "Will my non-show quality puppy be as good looking as the show quality puppies?" This is a good question. At Divine Mastiffs I don't breed very often but when I do, I strive to select parents that will hopefully produce a quality and consistent litter where there is not much difference between the pups as they grow.  As nature and genetics will have their way many times, there will almost certainly be a few or more puppies who stand out as better specimens than others. To the untrained eye, these puppies may not even stand out in the crowd.


The prices of our puppies are $3500. The sire and dam of the puppies are health tested and temperament tested.  The puppies are age appropriate health tested, Temperament tested, and raised inside our home with love and care right by my side. They go home with a full veterinarian health check, deworming, at least 1 set of shots, AKC Reunite microchiped Lifetime Registration, OFA eye exam, lots of information on how to raise them and of course 8-10 weeks of tender love, care, and socialization (see puppy culture and avidog) which contributes to a good start in life. As well as a Divine Mastiffs bag that includes a puppy snuggle blanket they have grown up. You will have a constant link to me forever to share joy, ask questions, be frustrated, whatever it is you need. They also come home with a full contract, guarantees that apply to that pup and a 5 generation pedigree. If someone expresses a desire to show a puppy, I will make certain to do my best to place a puppy with you that I feel will do well in the show ring and be a quality representative of the breed and will be there to mentor you.  

Since, I don't breed often the average wait for a Divine Mastiff puppy is 18 months from the time your application is submitted, this of course can be much shorter or longer depending on the number of applications and number of puppies expected.  I know that waiting for the perfect puppy can be hard; but is more than worth it to find the perfect fit.  If I do not have a puppy for you I will help you find the perfect puppy from another reputable breeder.  Puppies are placed based on my interview process with applicants (an application has been submitted). You are welcome to email me to express your interest and ask questions however due to the large volume of people interested in our puppies I do not consider families or start the application process until an application has been received.  You may request an application by email or download an application from the planned breeding page.  

All families applying must know that I do a full check on applicants and encourage you to do the same of any breeder you are interested. After reviewing your application I may ask you additional questions, let know that we are not a good fit, or let you know when our next litter will be planned.  Once a litter is born we will review all applications that we have at that time and email everyone to confirm their interest.  If we had not already done so from a previous litter we will proceed with the full application process.  I will then set up a phone screen, check all your references, then for local homes I will schedule a time to meet you and you to meet me and my family, for out of state homes I will put you in contact with a fellow mastiff lover in your area for you to meet and let me know their thoughts, after this process if we (both myself and potential family)  think we are a good fit we will keep in touch as the puppies are born.  If anything on the application is found to be untrue after placement of the puppy, my contract gives me the right to take the puppy back at any time with no refund to you.  I take the placement of my puppies very seriously, thus if you would like a Divine Mastiffs puppy, honesty is necessary.  Why do I have to write this... well an applicant who received a puppy lied about much on their application and then breached their contract.  I don't ever want to go through this again and will make every attempt going forward to ensure I make sure all that is listed in an application for a puppy is true and correct. Thank you for  understanding my commitment to the puppies I place and to the families I select.

I try to make my selection of families or individuals, that have completed the above application process and been approved,  for a puppy between 2-4 weeks of age.  Once I have made a decision I MAY send out a deposit agreement for the selected families to sign and send back with a $500 personal check which will immediately be deposited and held in the litter account. At the time of the deposit they will receive a puppy manual to read and prepare them for bringing home their new puppy. The deposit is refundable from the time you give the deposit till the puppy is 6 weeks old.  If YOU change your mind on taking a puppy after you have paid your deposit and it is past the 6 week time frame, it will only be refunded if I can find another buyer for your puppy by 9 weeks of age for the same purchase price you were to pay.  If I cannot find another buyer by 9 weeks for the same price, the deposit will be forfeited.  This is due to the extra work I will have to do locating a new family after sending many applicants to other breeders or just away in general because I have selected you. Remember you will receive many pictures, videos and be invited to my home to visit the puppies, and a meet-and-greet with all the other new and past puppy buyers when the puppies are about 6-7 weeks old. If during those six weeks or at the meet-and-greet at 6 weeks you should change your mind, your deposit will be refunded to you.  We have a nanny cam where you will be able to watch the puppies 24/7 from the minute they arrive home from the vet. I do reserve the right to not place a puppy in a home at any time during the process should I feel uncomfortable about the placement. If I decide not to place a puppy with you after you have paid your deposit, your deposit will be fully refunded.

This gives you an opportunity to see how the puppies are growing, meet at least one of the parents (Mom) and make sure you are happy with the litter. We do it as a group both past as well as new puppy buyers, it's fun and casual. No one EVER picks puppies out their puppy I am still evaluating. You will all however have a good idea of which puppies we are considering as your future family member. 

Correct puppy placements are vital to the puppies being in a forever home.  I take a great deal or time, energy, and money to ensure the correct placement.  That does not mean that I will not listen to your input but you do not get to pick your puppy.  I place puppies based on the overall picture.  I take into consideration your families wants such as color and sex and needs such as your activity level and what you want to do with them.  I take everything into consideration that I have learned about your family through the application process as well as everything I have learned about the puppies via observations, vet exams, temperament testing, and evaluations from others such as breeders, judges, and handlers. Then I talk to you about my selection and we go over any questions you may have.

When purchasing a puppy from Divine Mastiffs you are not buying a mastiff you are joining our family.  We keep in touch with each other via a private Facebook group, email, text messages, phone calls, and in person at get togethers. You will have everyone's contact information so that you will ALWAYS have a Divine Mastiff family member to talk to if I am not available. I want everyone that gets a mastiff from me to feel comfortable talking with me as our relationship will last at minimum for the life of your mastiff. I request that the CHIC requirements (at this time Hips, Elbows, Cardiac, and eyes all after 24 months of age) be done on all of our puppies, also with the release of results for public view, whether normal or abnormal. For more information on why health testing puppies is important in all puppies please read out our Important  ~ Please Read page.  You must agree to continue with the socialization plan that I used their first 7 weeks of life, The Rules of Seven, by using The Rules of Twelve.  Puppies must attend and complete a puppy kindergarten class before 5 months of age and an obedience class after 1 year of age.  In addition, I ask that puppy buyers (at no cost to them) be willing to coordinate DNA donations for on going research studies to aid mastiff health research.  This may be check swabs, blood, urine, or any other body tissue. If you have any questions on your requirements as a Divine Mastiff owner please feel free to reach out to me.

I hope the above answers the most frequently asked questions I receive in e-mails and phone calls. As always I am available to answer any questions by phone.

Thanks for taking the time to read this page!

Copyright © 2001-2020 by Divine Mastiffs, LLC
No photo may be reproduced without express permission. 

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.