Mastiffs are very popular dogs; they are costly but many people still desire to keep them as pets. Some people own these noble hounds solely for the purpose of breeding them with the intent of earning profit, however there are also those who keep mastiff dogs only for companionship.

If you have mastiffs and you want to breed them then be ready for the hardships and difficulties which will greet you. Mastiff breeders have a very tough time; it is not only very difficult to raise mastiff dogs, but profitably breeding them is near to impossible. Mastiff dogs are very susceptible to fertility problems. If breeding becomes a possibility then post-pregnancy problems in mastiff females will almost certainly make the breeder's life more difficult.

Mastiffs are only suitable for breeding between the ages of 18 months and 6 years. If the animal is between 18 months and 2 years old additional health checks are necessary prior to attempting breeding. It is extremely rare to get three litters from an individual mastiff bitch. Each litter should yield on average 7 to 8 puppies. It is these constraints on supply, which ensure that the market price of mastiff puppies remains high and why finding mastiff puppies for sale can prove difficult.

Before commencing with breeding a pair of mastiffs, the mastiff breeder needs to ensure that both the stud dog and bitch have clean bills of health. The temperament of the animals concerned also needs to be minutely analyzed as any problems can be passed on to their puppies. Some of the physical problems which need to be watched for in mastiffs include: elbow and hip dysplasia, genetic eye problems, thyroid problems and heart irregularities.

Many professional mastiff breeders also opt to carry out more rigorous genetic testing to try and avoid less common ailments. They will also conduct hormonal tests to determine whether the chosen mastiff pair is ready to breed or not. All of this medical effort is not cheap and again contributes to the high market price for a mastiff puppy.

Even if all the pre-pregnancy testing was clear, complications during and after the pregnancy can still arise. A high percentage of mastiffs require help from a veterinarian when whelping and costly cesarean sections are often necessary. Once they have whelped, there is a high probability of the bitch developing mastitis -- an infection in the mammary glands. The mastiff puppies will also require the usual worming, vaccinations and other health checks.

You can probably see by now why mastiff breeders seldom make any profit, but this breed inspires such love and devotion that people keep breeding them anyway.