one thing that i cringe at, is when someone states they are buying the dog for the kids. though i am sure it is not meant in bad light.
Many people say the kids will be responsible for the grooming and care, as a groomer, i was accused for clipping the feathers off a schnauzer becouse the kids did not brush and comb properly though mom insisted they did, and they huffed and puffed and never came back, good, i dont need clients like that, so to, goes for you guys, the responsibility and rearing and care is the parents, the kids enjoy the pet. not that you were going to be this way, but, the majority of people i dealt with in grooming it was that way!
first off, you must meet them, be ready for the drool the wet floors the mud and dirt, the grooming alone is a full time job esp when they are altered, you also must remember, OFA is NO GAURANTEE! NONE! and just becouse generations are ofa good, it doesnt mean this litter will be healthy, though prescreening is good, it just is to much a guessing game, and, joint problems in dogs are very samiliar to our own joint problems in humans, you dont see us being xrayed before we have children, and, our children do not come with a GAURANTEE.
just remember, big dogs cost big bucks to treat.
it is best to be around the big dogs to see what they are like, visit as many people who own them, in their house and wherever.
Remember, the building block to this breed is muscle, excersise is crucial, it builds up the rear muscle that helps hold the hip bones in place as they grow, if they are not excersised chances are the development will be affected, as well the final outcome.
i also urge anyone who has a pup to go to obedience classes and not just one, these are THINKING DOGS they problem solve and think, what happens when we think? we get into trouble, there will be mouthing issues, esp bad if bought before nine weeks of age, the giant breeds do not go thru bite inhibition until later, and the whole litter must be in that stage and thru it before going home, mouthiness is natural, to save a drowning person they grab an appendage in the water to drag them to shore, the pup must learn that on shore grabbing an arm is not allowed, it maybe cute when they do it as a pup, but, believe me, it aint cute when they get older and bigger.
it is not allowed in my home or on land.
there are many more issues and most important, your breeder should be your COACH, not someone who gets the money and is never there for you. that is not a good breeder.
a good breeder does not finish their job once money is in hand, the job continues thru the lifetime of the pup.
questions should be welcome, education should be hot and heavy before the purchase of the pup.
look up the breed standard, do not BUY FOR SIZE!!!
females 100-120lbs
males 130-150 lbs
do not be impressed with a huge sire, bring someone knowlegable about structure and movement, becouse, if this huge newf cannot walk three miles a day, and doesnt gait with reach and drive, that can be passed on to pups, and, remember, the building block of muscle.
if a dog is not energetic and active, it is not going to develop correctly.
i could go on and on
i do not mean to turn you off, or to chastise, i just like to educate, and, i my own way it may come across the wrong way completly.