OUR INTRODUCTION TO THE BREED - GRIZZ

Almost every weekend our family would go to the Humane Society to look at the dogs to see if our family's companion might be there. In March 1990, our visit proved to be a success! Sitting behind the gate was a very quiet, stoic, large fawn dog who looked to be a Bullmastiff! His name was GRIZZ. His family turned him in because he didnt get along with his other housemates. He seemed lieable enough. We took him out and sat with him in the visiting area. We were unsure how he would get along wtih young children, so the Humane Society workers called the former owner to ask. Meanwhile, GRIZZ was proving to his charming personality, getting along with our young son, Benjamin, splendidly!

We made the decision to take GRIZZ home with us after he was nuetered. I remember the day he finally came home. There was a large dog panting in the back seat, his huge mouth gaping at me and looking like it could engulf my son's entire head in that toothy cavern! It was as if he read my mind because in that moment, he laid his head on the headrest and settled right down. Any worriesI had were laid to rest.

During this time period, we lived in a rented townhouse which had a very small concrete outdorr patio. GRIZZ was a perfect addition to our lifestyle. He was laid back, quiet, smart and had a unique personality that everyday, endeared himself to all of us. A year passed and we bought a small craftsman fixer-upper home. GRIZZ didn't initially do well with the move. He ate Carey's new work boots (leaving only the rubber soles), chewed up the pencils and ate anything wood. The ends of the wheelbarrow handle and the corners of the new deck fell victim to his teeth.  I felt GRIZZ was becoming a mental case due to the new environment and the change in family tempo.

OUR FIRST SHOW DOG - MOLLY
MEX/INTL CH MOLLY FRONT CADYS RAPTOR, CGC

I spoke to Carey about bringing in another dog and he was NOT thrilled with the thought.  I persisted. I made phone calls, wrote letters, and went to dog shows. At the time, Carey was in the US Navy serving with the Submarine Forces. It was also time for his sea duty rotation. In 1993, while he was deployed, I brought home a brindle Bullmastiff puppy that was advertised in the newspaper.

Looking back, I know it wasn't the ideal way to purchase a puppy. Unfortunately, I had no luck with getting breeders or the people at the shows to speak to me, to return my calls, or answer my letters in my quest to learn more about their breed.

The newspaper breeder didn't know much about the breed nor how to pick out a possible show prospect from their litter. They were essentially a short term, small backyard breeder. I brought home MOLLY, a puppy who exhibited a sound confident temperament, intelligence and beautiful pigment.

GRIZZ adopted MOLLY and they became fast friends. They did everything together and I enjoyed seeing them play. Carey came back from sea and after his initial dismay discovering we had a second dog, accepted her with an open heart.

With Carey's encouragement, I joined an All-Breed club and decided to exhibit her at the AKC shows. We showed MOLLY for a year and a half. She became a Mexican and International Champion and she even attained an AKC point. Together we worked hard in obedience, agility and tracking. MOLLY became extremely steady and well trained. I never did enter her in an official trial as at that time, I was only interested in competing in the conformation event. The performance events were viewed as our stress release and bonding time for her and I .

However, all the while that she and I showed, it was increasingly noticeable to my eye that MOLLY'S head and muzzle were different than the rest of the entry. It was apparent that she lacked a quality in this area that the other dogs had. I eventually came to learn that this difference was something that serious breed fanciers know better as "BREED TYPE".

OUR FIRST BULLMASTIFF LOSS

We put GRIZZ to sleep a couple years after MOLLY joined us. He had slipped several disks in his back and lost the quality of life. He was medicated for comfort and the odds of surgery being a successful option were not in his favor. It was one of the hardest decisions I have ever made as an adult.

OUR FIRST BULLMASTIFF LITTER

MOLLY has only had one litter - but it was a litter of 15 puppies! This breeding was the result of her being bred to a highly inbred male (Tailwynde's Sudden Impact aka: BUSTER ) from Adele Pfeninnger's Tailwynde program (now retired). See photo above.

MOLLY produced several champions from this litter, including the brindle male, MAC (Ch Keeper's Midnite Marauder) who won Winners Dog and Best Of Winners at a specialty! This same brindle boy also has a claim to fame for his part as a back seat passenger in the Honda Odyssey car commerical. (Photo taken by co-owner, Tracy Ferrick, Wild West Bullmastiffs.)

MOLLY'S outstanding health, fertility and temperament gave us a great start to our breeding program!