The Life Cycle of a Mastiff - Triton's Blog

Happy Halloween

2010-10-31T08:07:00.000-07:00

From your's truly - Me. I'm a happy 180 pound 2 1/2 year old love bug. The end.

I'm Two!

2010-07-03T15:48:00.000-07:00

As you can see I was helping my person check her email today and thought - HEY! I'm 2! I need to post something on my blog!
So here goes.. I am a very good boy for my people, although I don't like strangers coming to my house. When we go out on the town I let people pet me and am pretty aloof. But at home.. I let you know when you aren't supposed to be here!
I spend my days chewing on my stuffed dinosaur and slobbering my people. I go on evening walks with my people and I am overall a pretty laid back dude.
Back to my nap.

Twenty One Months

2009-12-25T13:49:00.000-08:00

Hi!! It has been awhile but I wanted to report that I am happy as a clam and healthy as can be this Christmas! I graduated from obedience classes and I am a very good boy. Here are some pictures from 11/30/09. I am a short boy, but built like a tank.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Triton video 15 months old

2009-06-05T18:05:00.000-07:00

Just wanted to share a video of myself to show off how well I am doing. Notice?? No limp!! I love my little swimming pool too.. when my people fill it I spin in circles until all the water is gone. My people told me they are going to get me a bigger pool this summer, I am SOOO excited!

15 months old

2009-06-05T09:04:00.000-07:00

Hello! Me again..sorry for the lack of updates..my people have been keeping me busy. How about some pictures first? Cuz I'm so handsome? This first one is me waiting for my breakfast... Then my person puts my breakfast down in front of me and I have to wait until she says "okay'..it sure is hard to wait but I am a good boy.

So..on to an update. As you know I was limping pretty bad for awhile and my people were real worried. They took me to a couple different vets and in the middle of it all found out my sister has elbow dysplasia. I was hoping I didn't have this too because it would mean surgery and all kinds of not-so-fun-things. Well.. I had a very thorough exam by a nice person whom I was told was an expert... and after the exam I was REAL sore.. I limped A LOT for a couple weeks.. and I also had some pictures taken of my hips and elbows.. they tell me these are called x-rays.

Ready for the verdict??? :) My x-rays were clear. This was sort of good news and bad news.. because they started thinking maybe it was so small that it didn't show up on the x-rays since I was limping so bad after my exam. So at this point my people scheduled something called a CT scan but the people who do that were pretty busy and couldn't get me in for six weeks. Well, two weeks later something strange happened. I started feeling better. My people noticed my limp wasn't so bad. In another two weeks my limp was gone all together and I was running.. jumping around like a rabbit chasing balls in the backyard.. and I seemed like a puppy again. My people were cautiously optimistic so decided to do something with me that always made my limp worse in the past - take me for a long walk. See, I haven't been able to go for walks since I was limping and I missed that SO much! After my walk.. and a visit to a couple of fun stores.. we came home and I took a nap. The next day my people watched me like a couple of concerned parents... but... NO LIMP!!!! My people called the vet.. and they canceled the CT. I am no longer "clinical" they tell me.. guessing that means I am ok. My people will continue to monitor me but right now it seems I am A-O-K. I am sooo excited because now I get to go back to that school I started and had to take a break from.. and I get to go out ALL the time and meet new people! I was so bored at home with a bad leg. So to wrap it up - a dog's life is good!!

Oh, and how big am I? Well, my people laugh at me because I am short like my mama.. about 29" is all.. but I am also very bulky, not lanky like a lot of mastiff puppies. My people try hard to keep me lean.. but man it's not easy!! I weigh about 175, it has been awhile since I have stepped on a scale. And my favorite place is the Saturday Market where people all want to pet me and take my picture!! :) :)

14 months old

2009-05-16T21:48:00.000-07:00

Jeez my person is slacking!! I had to beg her to put some new pictures up.. see - I am pretty good at looking pitiful. I can do it with both my people...

Suckers. :) Anyway, I am doing very well.. I have a few medical updates but my person isn't ready to write about them yet.. stay tuned! Until then.. some adorable pictures of who else?? ME!!

Happy Birthday To ME!

2009-03-20T19:46:00.000-07:00

That's right. Yesterday I turned 1 year old. My people even made me a cake. Well, they say they made it for me but I only got a little sliver. But it was OH SO GOOD! I have much to update on. I had surgery last month and things didn't go so well. I had severe swelling afterwords which eventually formed an abscess that ruptured. I am still on massive antibiotics (6000 milligrams a day!!) and I am finally getting better. My leg has been bothering me for awhile too. I limp. My people found me a new vet who is just AWESOME and they found out that the problem in my elbow. I had xrays but they came back clear. My next step is to go to a specialist to see what the problem could be. Physically I'm a wreck - but I am the biggest love bug on the block!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME! Hehe. '

Oh!! And if you are wondering about my kennel - I have to spend a couple hours a day in there relaxing because of my leg. Doctors orders! I don't mind, I LOVE my kennel as long as I have my bunny to chew on.

Protecting my little person.

2009-03-08T13:30:00.000-07:00

So I do this funny new thing now. I get really bothered if my big person chases my little person and she screams. If she is laughing I don't mind much and continue my nap.. but if she screams I feel like I need to protect her. My person took a video to share it with you. Notice that when I come over the first thing I do is check to be sure my little perosn is ok, then I herd the big person away by biting at her feet. I'm a big goof, but better not mess with my little people.

NEW COLLAR!!

2009-01-27T23:04:00.000-08:00

I finally outgrew my 28" collar. Which posed a problem for my people because stores in the area don't sell anything bigger than that. Well, my person's mom happens to know a wonderful lady who custom makes collars!! How cool is that? Check out my beautiful Mastiff size collar!
The nice lady who made it thought of EVERYTHING! It's a super-sized collar made just for me with lots of room to grow. If you are a mastiff owner or know someone who is and are interested in a personalized custom made collar contact my person via comment or email and she will get you in touch with the nice lady who made this for me. I got to pick my colors and everything and it was SO affordable. Can you tell I am proud of my new collar!? Oh! And she made me a leash loop with my name on it too, but I forgot to get a picture. I will post that later. This nice lady can make any size collar, she even made a couple with racing flames on them for a two of my little doggy friends. Until next time! Woof.

10 MONTHS OLD!

2009-01-19T20:30:00.001-08:00

I am 10 months old today! YIPPEE!! A few things going on in my little (OK big) puppy life. First off I went to the vet today to be weighed. Found out I am a short fellow like my momma.. I am 28" at the shoulder but I am built like a tank! I am a slim 162 pounds of puppy. My people tell me that's big. Surprisingly I don't drool too much, maybe I am saving that for later. I know that on February 17th I get to stay at the vet's office all day for a procedure, doesn't sound like fun but I guess it is necessary so I won't complain much. I am doing great in my training class.. although I'm sort of the class clown. We had to be in a lay-stay for 3 minutes and I decided it would be a great time to take a nap...so I did! I guess I was snoring pretty loud because the whole class was laughing at me. I can't help it!! :)

Here is my paw next to my persons fist...

And here is my paw on top of her open hand. Just call me Bigfoot!

A couple more fun facts about me: I LOVE other dogs, only problem is I squish them. I LOVE new people, I lay my big head in their lap for loves. I LOVE kids, probably best of all.. I like when they hug me and love on me. I LOVE stuffed animals - but I never tear them up.. I just use them as teethers and chew on them and get them slobbery. I am obsessed with wood, I like to eat it.. linkin' logs are my favorite so my people have to be real careful. My people had me on Solid Gold food for awhile but it gave me TERRIBLE gas, I didn't have a problem with it but I guess I cleared the room a lot. That's all for now! I need a nap.

Nine Months Old!

2008-12-22T12:27:00.000-08:00

Well..here I am. Just a little bigger than my sister now..hehe.

It snowed at my people's house! I loved it! When it first started coming sown I ran around in the back yard looking up and barking at it.. I wasn't sure at first what it was.. but man is it fun stuff!

I know you all want to know how much I weigh..but I don't even know right now. Soon as I find out I will let you know!

Oh how they GROW!

2008-11-11T12:24:00.000-08:00

5/24/08 TWO MONTHS 07/24/08 FOUR MONTHS

11/10/08 SEVEN MONTHS

A fun comparison!! 4 Month difference..

2008-11-06T23:52:00.000-08:00

THREE MONTHS OLD --

SEVEN MONTHS OLD --

7 Months Old!!

2008-11-06T23:32:00.000-08:00

Hello! Me again. My person has been properly scolded for not updating on my progress. First things first -- me and my little people on Halloween!

So where to begin.. I graduated puppy class with flying colors and I signed up for my novice class that starts in January. I really enjoyed playing with the other puppies even if they were not the best wrestling partners.. I kept losing them somehow? Guess I should find some bigger friends. Anyways.. so I am seven months old now. I am not sure how much I weigh..my person says she will take me in soon to find out. I am certainly growing a ton every day!! My person thinks I'm funny because I purr when I am happy.. well, I say purr..she says snort like a pig. How rude. I am pretty proud of myself too because I am officially the loudest snorer in the house! YAY! My people had to lay towels in front of my water bowl because my little people kept slipping in my slobber trails.. I don't really like to drink using my tongue, I just put my whole face in the water - -much more fun that way!! I eat a little less than nine cups a day (breakfast lunch and dinner) and LOVE my food! I am already learning the joins of counter surfing (when my people arent watching of course!!) I stand approx. 26 inches at the shoulders . I guess thats big? I don't bark much and I LOVE to play outside with basketballs and soccer balls. I can now sit stay or down stay for more than 5 minutes at a time -- aren't I a good boy!! Oh and I LOVE to flop into my persons lap when she is on the floor and snoooooore away. I'm just a great big dorky love bug. And my eyes still cross sometimes -- whats up with that? But my people think its cute so I guess it's okay. You know..I am sooo talented I even smile for the camera!! -->

More updates after I see the vet for a weight check. My person bought a folding metal ramp so I can climb up and down it to get in and out of her van...SO NICE! I love riding in the car and meeting new people. Oh!! I got to visit my little girl's school and meet all her classmates. I was so well behaved the teacher invited me to come back any time AND to stay all day with the kids!!! How cool is that?! I have decided that I would really like to do therapy work with kids some day. I LOVE kids!! We will see!!

Until next time...

Update!

2008-10-13T00:26:00.001-07:00

Ok.. so as of October 5th I weigh 110 pounds. I have also decided that being shy and insecure is for the birds and I have really come out of my shell. I LOVE new people and places!! I am a bit nervous about tomorrow, it is my big graduation day from puppy kindergarten!! Then I move on to the big dog class. I am a very happy, healthy.. slobbery...snoring.. puppy. Life is great!

6 MTHS OLD

2008-10-01T23:46:00.000-07:00

Hello!! I'm six months old!! And BIG! How big? Dunno.. my people haven't weighed me.. but I am much bigger than my sister now which you can see... I like to sleep in some funny positions..
Here is my front paw.. and what you can't see is that it is laying on my persons hand. I guess I have big feet.
I am doing AWESOME in my puppy classes! I am even getting more confident and will enter the tunnel and chute all by myself!! It is a lot of fun and my person thinks I am a big joker. She even has to bring a drool rag to class or I make the floors slippery and people slide around. Until next time!!

Pictures!! Almost 6 months old!

2008-09-10T19:22:00.000-07:00

Look, pictures of me from today.. and I didn't even have to bite her!! :)

How about a fun comparison shot?? This is me and my sister today..

And this one was taken on 5/30/08.. about 3 and a half months ago. I'd say I have grown a wee bit.

PUPPY SCHOOL!

2008-09-09T21:49:00.000-07:00

I mean really, I have grown so much and she doesn't have a single picture to share!! I'll get on that tomorrow, I'll bite her if I have to.
So an update on me.. I found out why my stools were mooshy!! It wasn't worms or infection (thanks goodness!). My person switched me from California Natural to Nutro Ultra and what do you know.. I'm all better!! Weird eh? Nutro really agrees with me (and my poo really agrees with my person now that it is solid).
Oh!! Exciting news!! I started Kindergarten yesterday!! I really enjoyed class and playing with all the other puppies.. I haven't figured out why everyone else is soo tiny, guess they should try eating more kibble -- it worked for me!! My best buddy is a boxer puppy. Oh, and I am SO good at the sit-stay that while everyone else learns that my person is working on me getting off my bottom and coming to her.. I don't see why sitting there the whole time is a problem.. I mean really, what do you expect me to do?? EXERCISE?? Pfft.
Seriously though, I am doing fantastic! I learn real quick and will do just about anything for a tiny bit of cheese. Mmm.. the slingers are forming just thinking about that cheese!
Anyways, I'm going to go snore now.. I will get some new pics up here soon.. I'm just so handsome I need to share my mug with the world!!

Fun times.

2008-08-18T19:42:00.000-07:00

I was being goofy, thought I'd share a quick video :)

20 weeks tomorrow... 5 mths old

2008-08-05T14:09:00.000-07:00

I went to the vet today and got weighed.. I was 71 pounds. I can now easily walk into my persons van to go for a ride, but I don't fit very well up front anymore with my little peoples legs in the way.. so my person put one of my little people in the far back so I'd have some more room and still be close to her. I am having an issue with mushy poop.. I know, gross. But my person is stumped so she took a sample (I know double-gross) to the vet and she will find out tomorrow if I have any issues like worms (triple-gross!). I am eating well and a very happy puppy. These are all pictures from today.. my sister and I are getting along a lot better now!

Oh.. and the vet tells me I'm cross-eyed.. here's a picture to prove it!! :) I hope I out grow this embarrassing condition someday but I guess I could learn to live with it.
I'm still a big ol' wrinkly baby. I really love my new family.

Playing in the water today...

2008-07-27T19:43:00.000-07:00

Two months

2008-07-26T23:16:00.001-07:00

05/24/08..

07/24/08...

What a difference two months can make in the life of a mastiff. :)

I am doing great.. I have a new trick too.. my people laugh at me because I like to put my whole head under water up to my eyeballs and blow bubbles. I think it is lots of fun.. they think I'm a goof.

15 weeks old

2008-07-11T16:11:00.000-07:00

Ok ok.. I'm really 16 weeks.. but here are some pictures of me at 15 weeks! :) I am weighing in at 55 pounds already, and I still trip over my own big feet all the time. I drool already too.. I can get a pretty good slinger every now and then.

14 weeks old and gone camping!

2008-07-02T22:54:00.000-07:00

Here I am 14 weeks old and I got to go on my first camp out!! My favorite thing was playing in the lake.
It was all pretty tiring though.. I am still a puppy you know. My people tied me up on a long rope so I could wander the camp site.. I guess I'm not 100% reliable yet and I could wander off and get lost. That was okay though, I only hog tied myself once and they rescued me.
I got to go on walks and discovered my very first chipmunk! What a fun trip. On the way home I wedged myself between the front seats of the van and fell asleep between my people. I snored too. Kind of a bummer I won't be able to do that much longer because I am getting so big. Oh well, I'll enjoy it while I can.. then I'm going to get stuck in the back with my sister.. and she's a crab. :)

Splish Splash

2008-06-25T21:44:00.000-07:00

My little people were playing in the pool and I pretended I didn't like it.. then they went in the house and I jumped right in!! Little did I know my person snuck a video!! I was caught. I REALLY like that little pool! :)

Dinner time!!

2008-06-25T20:30:00.000-07:00

I REALLLLLY like to eat. And I really don't like to wait for it.. so this is a huge accomplishment for me!! Just thought I'd share :)

13 weeks and counting...

2008-06-25T14:03:00.000-07:00

My person is really slacking.. I'm technically 14 weeks today, but these pictures of me are from a few days ago...
Remember when I first came to my new home and I was much smaller than my sister?? Well.. not anymore. That's her behind me hehe. I got in trouble for trying to grab a cookie from my little person, but it was a good picture to show how big I am getting so here you go!! :)
Here is me being handsome.. I swear I wasn't begging. Really :)
I'm just a big wrinkly mass of puppy. Gotta love me.

My official 12 week mugshots

2008-06-17T14:05:00.001-07:00

Here I am.. growing up fast. I outgrew the collar my new person bought me, but I got a new harness I like pretty well.
Things have been pretty interesting lately.. I've discovered all kinds of new stuff. My person took me to one place with an elevator and I wasn't scared at all, aren't I getting brave?? I will still plop down and observe if I'm allowed, but my new person says I should be more adventurous and encourages me to get up and explore. This is my little girl, she likes to play with me in the backyard a lot. I like her.. and I finally understand what "NO BITE" and "LEAVE IT" mean. I can even "SIT" and "STAY" (for a little while, I'm still a puppy you know!) and "DOWN" is making more sense now too. I keep getting told not to chew on my leash, but it is so tempting. We got to take my first walk on a leash to the park and it was pretty fun. I really liked all the kids to say hi to!! Oh.. I weigh 40 pounds now, I guess that's a lot because my new person grunts when she lifts me up now :) Until next time!!

12 Weeks Old

2008-06-11T15:12:00.000-07:00

My person gave me a bath today.. here I am all wet. I was a good boy in the tub and just laid down until I was done. Then I got her good with a quick shake! Who's laughing NOW?! Hehe..

I really love my new kids.. they play with me all the time and we get along great.
I have decided that my new person is kinda nice too.. whenever she gets down on the floor I am in her lap.. or snoozing on her feet. In the car I put my paw in her lap as she drives. Oh.. she weighed me yesterday and I was 37 pounds, I guess I am growing pretty fast! :)

11 weeks old!! :)

2008-06-08T23:12:00.001-07:00

That's right!! I'm 11 weeks old!! Last Wednesday I got my shots, I just snoozed on the exam table.. it wasn't too bad at all. I was healthy except for a little skin issue that the vet said should go away on its own or my person will have to give me a bath with special shampoo. I weighed 30 pounds by the way.
My new person has started taking me out on little adventures and I LOVE it! I only had one time where I got a little scared and it was because I slid on some linoleum, but my person didn't make a big deal about it.. and when I acted scared and refused to go back on the floor, she used some turkey to change my mind.. after about 10 minutes of walking back and forth I decided the floor wasn't too bad after all.. and that turkey was awesome!! :) My person thinks I am the most wrinkly dog she has ever seen.. what do you think??
I'm cute.. I can't help it. Now if I could just convince my sister of that fact. Oh well.

Now I lay me down to sleep...

2008-06-02T21:10:00.000-07:00

Thought you might enjoy this video.. I was sleeping, and I guess I looked kinda cute. Did you know I snore already? I can't help it.. I think some day I might wake the dead with my snores, good think my person can sleep through anything! :) Ahhh.. life is good.

It has been almost a week..

2008-05-30T15:30:00.000-07:00

I am so happy!! My tummy is no longer upset and I have really settled in here. My new person was playing around with my pictures from today and thought I looked handsom in black and white.. what do you think?

And here I am with my sister, everyday she gets a little more relaxed with me.

10 weeks old!

2008-05-29T16:53:00.000-07:00

Yep.. that's right.. I'm ten weeks old!! Jeez times flies when you are having soo much fun.
My new person really likes to take pictures of me getting in trouble.. I'm lucky I'm so cute!! Here I am eating her carpet.. it was already gnawed on here from my sister when she was a pup I was just trying to add the finishing touches. :)
I found one of my little people's shoes, and my person took it away.. but I was so cute she had to get a picture first!! She gave me a rawhide instead.. it was ok.. just didn't taste as good as the shoe. I'll get over it.
My sister and I are getting along better now.. she even lets me get close to her now! Soon I just know she will want to play.
I played outside with my little people today and had a great time chasing them on their bikes. My person forgot her camera.. darn.

Day 4

2008-05-27T13:59:00.000-07:00

It has been four days since I arrived at my new house. It took me a couple days to loosen up, but then I discovered I really like it here!! See those feet next to me? That's my new person, lately I decided she is my pack leader so I follow her all around the house, she doesn't mind.. but my new sister gets a bit jealous now and then.
I get to hear, "NO BITE" all the time.. I'm starting to understand.. but I REALLY like to gnaw on everything..
I mean really, how could little 'ol me get in trouble? I have perfected my innocent face. When my sister is sleeping, I like to come up from behind and do a sneak attack.. I think it's funny, she isn't impressed.
I REALLY love to be outside. The sunshine agrees with me :)
This is one of my new people, he is gone a lot.. but I get real excited when he comes home. He stays up late with me and plays until I am ready for bed.

This is my favorite new little person, I like to chase after her in the back yard and play with a beach ball. She is real gentle with me and she even gave me my name!! Cool, eh?
This is my favorite picture of us together, I like to sleep with my head on her feet.. she thinks my fur tickles! Hehe..
My favorite new toy is a mesh collapsible storage thingy.. it is GREAT to chew on and drag around the house. My new person said it could be my toy since I like it so much.
Lately I have had a little tummy trouble, probably stress from my move and my new person gave me some different food.. I'm feeling a bit better now because I was given my old food again and I'm starting to get more comfortable with my new people. It's a dogs life.. and a dog's life is GOOD!!

I'm home.

2008-05-24T20:48:00.000-07:00

Hello... I made it home finally.. the ride in the car was looong, but I had special things to chew on and my new person was pretty nice to me. When I got to my new house I needed to go REAL bad.. I was a good boy and waited until I got out of the car.

I met my new sister, Zena. She was nice but my person had to correct her when she growled at me for coming too close to her things. Other than that she liked me a lot and maybe some day I will talk her into playing with me.
I like my new yard -- lots of grass to stretch out on.. I even saw a baby pool!! When it gets hot I'm going to go swimming!!
It was pretty tiring coming all the way to my new home.. goodnight.

Triton is coming home!!

2008-05-20T12:49:00.001-07:00

I just talked to the breeder and she says Triton can come home this weekend. YEAH! We are more than ready and very excited to meet him. I will write more on how his transition into the family goes.

Update on Triton

2008-05-19T15:42:00.000-07:00

Triton is 8 weeks old and has not shown any symptoms of Parvo thank God. If things continue to look good in a week or two we will finally take our little man home. I'll post more when I know more.

Another roadblock..

2008-05-10T09:27:00.000-07:00

This experience has been quite a roller coaster ride. Triton is not coming home today. Two of the puppies in the litter have come down with Parvo. This is very serious but the breeder caught it early and is taking extreme measures to help them get healthy again. Triton so far has not shown symptoms although he will be treated because of exposure (Parvo is HIGHLY contagious). Prayers are appreciate for the already sick puppies and that Triton remains strong and healthy and can come home to us. It will be a couple more weeks of waiting. I will update with his progress.

Home coming..

2008-05-06T08:10:00.001-07:00

Triton will finally be coming home this Saturday May 10th. It has been a journey to get him, and I just can't wait! I just finished reading Cesar Millan's book, "Cesar's Way" and I feel more prepared. We have done the puppy thing before, but it has been 6 long years.. I think it is a bit like having a baby - you forget how hard it is after awhile so you actually want to do it again ;). We were told that Triton does awesome at home, very outgoing and friendly -- loves everyone and accepts strangers.. however.. when he went on his first outing he didn't want to come out of his crate. Since then we know that he gets insecure in new surroundings and will need a TON of positive experiences when he first comes home. So we will be taking him out daily to new houses and other safe environments where he can have positive experiences and learn that this world really isn't scary after all. :) I'm sure he will do great and we will be able to build his confidence in no time. I will update here with our outings and how he does to keep track of his progress.. and of course we will do weekly pictures so everyone can watch him grow..and grow.. and grow! A mastiff is a huge commitment and one we do not take lightly.. if you would like to follow me on this journey feel free to check in every now and then. I'm thinking that once Triton comes home this blog will be turned over to him, as in written from his perspective. Might be fun.. we shall see. Until then..

How fast they grow..

2008-05-05T14:41:00.001-07:00

One week old - Two weeks old -
Little over two weeks, eyes just opened..
Three weeks old..
Four weeks old...
Five weeks old... Six weeks old...

Eight weeks old... Nine weeks old...

Ten weeks old...