How to Breed a Mastiff
- 1). Determine if the dog is a good representation of the Mastiff breed. Adult male Mastiffs should be at least 30-inches tall from the shoulders. Females should be at least 27.5-inches tall. The tail should be wide toward the bottom and taper toward the end. Ears should be dark and the neck should be muscular and medium in length.
- 2
Eye problems are common in most Mastiff breeds, some of which can cause blindness.neapolitan mastiff image by pixelcarpenter from Fotolia.com
Schedule an appointment with the veterinarian to check on the dog's health. Genetic abnormalities or illness can pass to puppies during the breeding process. Health issues to watch out for include hip and elbow dysplasia, heart and eye conditions, and hyperthyroidism. The exam needs to also include blood work, vaccinations and a fecal exam, which should be negative. - 3). Find a partner for the Mastiff. Pay stud fees if it is a male dog and obtain a semen analysis. Complete the analysis one to two months prior to breeding.
- 4). Determine the female dog's best breeding time by running blood tests. These progesterone analysis tests are run every other day to determine the optimal breeding time. Contact the owner of the stud dogs to arrange a breeding time.
