Hey! Mastiffsrule!!

[BestMomEver]

I love mastiffs. My husband used to show them. But, if you love mastiffs, why is your profile picture of a cat?

I've been wanting to ask that for a long time!!

 

[67chevellemalibu2]

I love mastiffs. My husband used to show them. But, if you love mastiffs, why is your profile picture of a cat?

I've been wanting to ask that for a long time!!

Lol[emoji3]

 

[Crabs McJones]

Hmmmmm does seem pretty inconsistent.

@Mastiffsrule

 

[Mastiffsrule]

You guys may know fish, but nothing about mastiffs. My avatar is my mastiff. So obvious. Can’t you see the whiskers, pink nose, pointy ears? Wait, maybe I’m the crazy one, that is my cat:);Jawdrop;Cat


Ok, I have never done this, but I will divulge the basis for the name. Very personal thing, but I’ve gotten to know you all enough to know you will understand.

 

[Peace River]

You guys may know fish, but nothing about mastiffs. My avatar is my mastiff. So obvious. Can’t you see the whiskers, pink nose, pointy ears? Wait, maybe I’m the crazy one, that is my cat:);Jawdrop;Cat


Ok, I have never done this, but I will divulge the basis for the name. Very personal thing, but I’ve gotten to know you all enough to know you will understand.

 

[cmcoker]

Short story: wants a Mastiff, wife said no [emoji12][emoji38]

 

[Mastiffsrule]

So, this is a long story but it is important to tell to understand my name. It’s the story of Bella.

This is your last chance to turn back. Once you read, you can’t unread:)

Puppy years...

One day me and my wife went to a kennel I had been passing during the day but never went in. I already had roxy, my Lhasa poo but thought she needed a friend. The kennel had dogs from a few different local breeders. We looked around for a while, we were trying to buy a Great Dane. Turned out he was sold. We came across a mastiff puppy. Looked scared and sad. We interacted and knew how gentle she was. So we bought her. We had noticed her front paw had a toe that was crooked. Must have broken it and no one saw or wanted to fix it. The place actually gave us a discount.

So we bought her home. The first week she sat in the front room right next to one of those 3 foot statues of a dog holding a serving tray. She was meant to be with us.



Notice the frame. It has fish that when you turn it on swim.

 

[Mastiffsrule]

As she grew, she was alway doing crazy stuff. She slept next to me, her feet were down by mine. She had the jimmy paws and would kick me while asleep. She also would flap he mouth and make a comical noise. I tore my meniscus and ripped cartilage off my femur one day running down a hill with her and my knee bent back, not forward. She also bruised my ribs a different time.

Great guard dog, you weren’t invited you weren’t coming in. I came home one night really late and the house was dark and wife asleep. Our bedroom door faced the front door. I unlocked the door started to turn off the alarm and, charging out the bed room growling full steam I thought I was toast. I kept yelling her name just in time for her slide into my feet.

When our baby was born she was right there. When we changed diapers there Bella sat right next to the table.

Roxy is in the background. You can see her left toe.

 

[Mastiffsrule]

At 8 she got cancer. Her breed usually has an average life expectancy somewhere between 8 and 12 years. When she got sick I would spend time just sitting on the floor with her. She hated taking her pills. It was always a struggle. You would think such a big dog, wrap it in cheese and no problem. Not Bella. She would eat the cheese and spit out the pill. I even tried my favorite underwood chicken salad with extra beak and claw. No go.

The last 2 or 3 days when I knew it was time, she told me, I sat with her, cried and told her I’m not going to let her die. But I knew we had to. I sat with her in the hospital while they did it. I still see it in my head. I should have never went in. I left saying I failed, I let her die. A few months or so later we had gone out with friends and had some drinks. I got home and lost it, my wife couldn’t calm me down. I kept saying I killed her, I failed.

At this moment I am in tears, so hers here final day pic with me sitting with her and how I remember her every day

 

[Mastiffsrule]

Thanks for reading, my avatar.. pic of our rescue cat, she’s crazy too:)

 

[Mastiffsrule]

I think I’m going to take rest of night off. Have a good evening all, we will catch up Friday and we can dose:)

 

[Auquanut]

Dude! Same story with my dog PJ. I'm in tears right now. Thanks for sharing.

 

[Peace River]

No, you didn't fail at all. You gave a very special, but overlooked dog many special years. I can relate more than I can put into words (although I don't think I could speak if I had to right now and I just noticed that I need windshield wipers in my eyes). Mine was a chocolate lab rescue - at least I thought we were rescuing him and he was very patient as he taught me so much about life. Thank you for sharing - truly meaningful story.

 

[Hermie]

I hope she's already met Charlie in doggie heaven, he was practically a person in a dog's body

 

[bluprntguy]

My first dog Casey passed away at 7 from heart disease, so I know how hard it is to lose a member of the family at a young age. Here he is on his favorite spot on the couch.

PS: He also liked Lotus scallion chicken - well, maybe that's me...

 

[GThompson]

At 8 she got cancer. Her breed usually has an average life expectancy somewhere between 8 and 12 years. When she got sick I would spend time just sitting on the floor with her. She hated taking her pills. It was always a struggle. You would think such a big dog, wrap it in cheese and no problem. Not Bella. She would eat the cheese and spit out the pill. I even tried my favorite underwood chicken salad with extra beak and claw. No go.

The last 2 or 3 days when I knew it was time, she told me, I sat with her, cried and told her I’m not going to let her die. But I knew we had to. I sat with her in the hospital while they did it. I still see it in my head. I should have never went in. I left saying I failed, I let her die. A few months or so later we had gone out with friends and had some drinks. I got home and lost it, my wife couldn’t calm me down. I kept saying I killed her, I failed.

At this moment I am in tears, so hers here final day pic with me sitting with her and how I remember her every day

And now I’m in tears too. So sorry for your loss. Real dog owners know the love we have for our babies

 

[Lissa1987]

What kind? My Rottweiler developed an osteosarcoma and by they time we found out it was too late...I love big blockheaded dogs..

 

[Flippers4pups]

They become like human children to us humans. They are always happy to see you, even if you have a bad day.

Boxers have their health issues and me and my wife were well aware of this when we got our first, Milo. And then Remi.

They have both stole our hearts and we love them as if they are our own children. They act like they are. When the day comes to say "I'll see you again, over the rainbow bridge" is a day I know we will never be the same.

@Mastiffsrule, I fully understand how you feel.

View attachment 1114056

 

[WMR]

We had Misha & Sophie, they’ve both crossed the rainbow bridge & are waiting for us. I miss them both

 

[BestMomEver]

Like I said before, I showed Scottish Terriers for about 15 years. Hubby had two mastiffs when we got married. He had to find a home for the male, as the female

bullied him constantly. The female died from bloat while hubby and I were at the beach. Very sad. Mastiffs, as you know, are considered a giant breed and have all the health problems to go along with the size.

Through the years, we’ve lost quite a few dogs. At one point, we had 12 Scotties. Since then, they were all either placed in homes or have passed away. The last one died about 12 years ago. I loved them all.

Currently, we have a yellow lab that, when tiny, was found on the side of the road in a box with his siblings. It was hurricane Katrina. We lived outside New Orleans. The dog shelters were full, the vets were full and people were racing to get out of town before the storm hit. The puppies’ owners apparently didn’t know what to do so they dumped them on the shoulder of I-10 on their way out of town. That was 2005 and Buddy is still with us.... 14 years old! My vet tells me that 14 is very old for a lab. His time is coming. He has terrible arthritis/displasia in his hips and elbows. He doesn’t see or hear well. Sometimes I have to hoist him into the house cause he can’t step over the threshold. He gets disoriented and has gotten “stuck” under the dining room table. His time is drawing near. But, he eats, wags his tail, barks if he can muster, and seems happy enough. I give him pain pills everyday. He’s doing ok. He’s not ready. He’ll tell me when it’s time. Until then, we love him. He pretty much sleeps all day but I managed to wake him up to take a picture. He’s not looking at the camera because he wasn’t sure where my voice was coming from. Old age sucks...


Anyway... I’m sorry if I dredged up bad feelings @Mastiffsrule. I love your story even if it was hard to tell. I can tell Bella was special.