i-tails.com Community - Brooklyn - Mastiff

(12-24-2010 01:45 PM)diesel Wrote: [ -> ]the kirklands is not large breed, it is just adult. but it does not make much a difference. i have talked to many people who feed it to their mastiffs and all love it and no negative feedback.

While MANY people feel that way about giving adult dog foods to large breed puppies, I am not one of them. I understand that there was a time when no large breed foods or supplements were given to large breed dogs, I have been provided with clinical proof that large breed dogs are benefiting from staying on large breed puppy food up to 18 months old. I recently tried to put Brooklyn on Large Breed Adult because the feed store seemed to have it in stock more often and his ribs started to show -- even though I was feeding him 10 cups a day. I put him back on the Large Breed Puppy a month ago and he is already looking more healthy -- and I am only feeding him 7 cups a day now.

By comparing the bag ingredients, it seems that the big difference is the amount of protein (27% in lb puppy vs. 23% in kirkland). Although this might not seem like much, it really seemed to affect Brooklyn. He needed more. Since I do not add chicken or other protein sources to his food -- he just gets kibble -- I stick with the lb puppy.

I am glad that Kirkland is working for you but if you notice your boy getting skinny (more than the last rib showing), you might supplement with cooked proteins or move to a lb puppy food.

yeah i know what you mean, i would love if Diesel would eat LB, but all the ones we have tried he would not eat them and just didnt enjoy them, but this kirklands he eats way more and likes eating it, and it saves me alot of money so i am happy with that. so id rather him eat this food than feeding him LB that he will not eat.

Brooklyn is currently 11 1/2 months old, but I haven't weighed him in a while. I graduated from college in December and my plate has been kind of full with that and the holidays. Just thought I'd share a couple of recent pics. I don't know if he's gaining weight, but he sure is looking bigger to my family every day! Happy Holidays!
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P.S. My husband is 5'9".

Not an expert by any means; but I give Oscar (and our pitter Daisy) a different flavor of food every once on awhile. (I figure like us they might get bored of the same flavor...over..and over). I feed Acana Grasslands grain free (same company that make Orijen, but less protein), and I will throw in Kirkland every once in awhile. I free feed, and I'm not saying that's the be all end all, but have always had large breeds, and never had a fat dog....and hardlly ever have an empty dish. I also get tripe that I feed a couple of times per week, and raw bones and turkey backs and necks. So far Oscar is doing great (except for the fact I cant download pics).

(12-31-2010 10:01 PM)Dugg Wrote: [ -> ]Not an expert by any means; but I give Oscar (and our pitter Daisy) a different flavor of food every once on awhile. (I figure like us they might get bored of the same flavor...over..and over). I feed Acana Grasslands grain free (same company that make Orijen, but less protein), and I will throw in Kirkland every once in awhile. I free feed, and I'm not saying that's the be all end all, but have always had large breeds, and never had a fat dog....and hardlly ever have an empty dish. I also get tripe that I feed a couple of times per week, and raw bones and turkey backs and necks. So far Oscar is doing great (except for the fact I cant download pics).

Brooklyn NEVER gets bored of his food. If we left out a bin, he'd eat it all. I've never had a dog like this before. It seems like I had to bribe my last mastiff to eat anything. If our collie doesn't eat her food fast enough, she's SOL. He's kind of a pig. So free-feeding would be a disaster around here. Brooklyn's like the energizer mastiff: he keeps growing and growing and growing and...

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1 week - 2 lbs.
3.5 weeks - 7 lbs.
5 weeks - 9 lbs.
6 weeks - 13.2 lbs.
7 weeks - 19.4 lbs.
8 weeks - 23.4 lbs.
10 weeks - 28.7 lbs.
11 weeks - 33.2 lbs.
12 weeks - 37.3 lbs.
14 weeks - 50 lbs.
16 weeks - 60 lbs.
18.5 weeks - 71.5 lbs.
20 weeks - 78.8 lbs.
21.5 weeks - 83.1 lbs.
22.5 weeks - 89.4 lbs.
24 weeks - 95 lbs.
6 months - 101.7 lbs.
28 weeks - 111.2 lbs.
31 weeks - 118.4 lbs.
8 months - 126 lbs.
10 months - 131.2 lbs.
1 year! - 135.2 lbs.

Happy Birthday Brooklyn! It's funny to find out that he has only gained 4 pounds in the last two months because he looks a lot bigger. I figured it was probably due to all of his energy going to growing UP, but I measured him and he is between 33 and 34 inches tall. Of course, his shoulders have caught up with his hips, so maybe that's it. He's SO much skin right now and he's tall and bony so I'll be interested in what he looks like when he fills out. Regardless of why he isn't packing on the pounds, I am grateful to (FINALLY!) have a happy, healthy mastiff. Let's hope his medical issues stay in 2010!

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(01-18-2011 07:47 AM)Danka Wrote: [ -> ]

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1 week - 2 lbs.
3.5 weeks - 7 lbs.
5 weeks - 9 lbs.
6 weeks - 13.2 lbs.
7 weeks - 19.4 lbs.
8 weeks - 23.4 lbs.
10 weeks - 28.7 lbs.
11 weeks - 33.2 lbs.
12 weeks - 37.3 lbs.
14 weeks - 50 lbs.
16 weeks - 60 lbs.
18.5 weeks - 71.5 lbs.
20 weeks - 78.8 lbs.
21.5 weeks - 83.1 lbs.
22.5 weeks - 89.4 lbs.
24 weeks - 95 lbs.
6 months - 101.7 lbs.
28 weeks - 111.2 lbs.
31 weeks - 118.4 lbs.
8 months - 126 lbs.
10 months - 131.2 lbs.
1 year! - 135.2 lbs.

Happy Birthday Brooklyn! It's funny to find out that he has only gained 4 pounds in the last two months because he looks a lot bigger. I figured it was probably due to all of his energy going to growing UP, but I measured him and he is between 33 and 34 inches tall. Of course, his shoulders have caught up with his hips, so maybe that's it. He's SO much skin right now and he's tall and bony so I'll be interested in what he looks like when he fills out. Regardless of why he isn't packing on the pounds, I am grateful to (FINALLY!) have a happy, healthy mastiff. Let's hope his medical issues stay in 2010!

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Cute Pictures!!!!
I'm hoping to weigh Optimus soon...he is just over 1 year old now so I'm REALLY curious!!! He was 140 in November though...and he's filled out across his chest A LOT since then!! Brooklyn looks so good, I'm happy to see he is healthy and doing well Smile

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Cute Pictures!!!!
I'm hoping to weigh Optimus soon...he is just over 1 year old now so I'm REALLY curious!!! He was 140 in November though...and he's filled out across his chest A LOT since then!! Brooklyn looks so good, I'm happy to see he is healthy and doing well Smile

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Yeah, Brooklyn's been spending all of his calories growing up, I suppose. I see a lot of mastiffs on here that were growing at his speed for the first year who have surpassed him in weight. I'm not really concerned as long as he's happy and healthy. One year old mastiffs are funny. I take B to the dog park and he runs and runs. It's really cool...and slightly hilarious watching a dog that big lope across the park!

Cute Pictures!!!!
I'm hoping to weigh Optimus soon...he is just over 1 year old now so I'm REALLY curious!!! He was 140 in November though...and he's filled out across his chest A LOT since then!! Brooklyn looks so good, I'm happy to see he is healthy and doing well Smile

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Yeah, Brooklyn's been spending all of his calories growing up, I suppose. I see a lot of mastiffs on here that were growing at his speed for the first year who have surpassed him in weight. I'm not really concerned as long as he's happy and healthy. One year old mastiffs are funny. I take B to the dog park and he runs and runs. It's really cool...and slightly hilarious watching a dog that big lope across the park!
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Agreed! Year old mastiffs are HILARIOUS! Now that all of Op's energy isn't going into growing he actually has energy to act like a puppy! It is too funny because he flops around and plays like a tiny little puppy....nobody has told him how big he is yet ha ha ha Smile

1 week - 2 lbs.
3.5 weeks - 7 lbs.
5 weeks - 9 lbs.
6 weeks - 13.2 lbs.
7 weeks - 19.4 lbs.
8 weeks - 23.4 lbs.
10 weeks - 28.7 lbs.
11 weeks - 33.2 lbs.
12 weeks - 37.3 lbs.
14 weeks - 50 lbs.
16 weeks - 60 lbs.
18.5 weeks - 71.5 lbs.
20 weeks - 78.8 lbs.
21.5 weeks - 83.1 lbs.
22.5 weeks - 89.4 lbs.
24 weeks - 95 lbs.
6 months - 101.7 lbs.
28 weeks - 111.2 lbs.
31 weeks - 118.4 lbs.
8 months - 126 lbs.
10 months - 131.2 lbs.
1 year! - 135.2 lbs.
13 months - 134.6

I swear Brooklyn may never stop growing UP! I have been told by different people that his height might be due to the fact that I neutered him and that he will never get as full of a chest or as big of a head as he would if we had kept him intact. Has anyone found this to be true? Also, His dad is super-tall and lean and his mom is short and broad so the breeder's hope was that she would just make massive mastiffs. I just find it really interesting because of his immense growth during the first year and now he's slowed down dramatically, with a little weight loss this month.

I can always tell when he's going through a growth spurt because it seems uncomfortable for him -- he will sometimes limp for a couple of days or cry out randomly for no apparent reason. According to the vet, there is nothing physically wrong, but I'm sure growing is painful.

I consider him a pretty massive mastiff. My last mastiff was the runt of the litter and was 145 lbs. at his largest, so Brooklyn's a GIANT to me!

(02-25-2011 08:04 AM)Danka Wrote: [ -> ]1 week - 2 lbs.
3.5 weeks - 7 lbs.
5 weeks - 9 lbs.
6 weeks - 13.2 lbs.
7 weeks - 19.4 lbs.
8 weeks - 23.4 lbs.
10 weeks - 28.7 lbs.
11 weeks - 33.2 lbs.
12 weeks - 37.3 lbs.
14 weeks - 50 lbs.
16 weeks - 60 lbs.
18.5 weeks - 71.5 lbs.
20 weeks - 78.8 lbs.
21.5 weeks - 83.1 lbs.
22.5 weeks - 89.4 lbs.
24 weeks - 95 lbs.
6 months - 101.7 lbs.
28 weeks - 111.2 lbs.
31 weeks - 118.4 lbs.
8 months - 126 lbs.
10 months - 131.2 lbs.
1 year! - 135.2 lbs.
13 months - 134.6

I swear Brooklyn may never stop growing UP! I have been told by different people that his height might be due to the fact that I neutered him and that he will never get as full of a chest or as big of a head as he would if we had kept him intact. Has anyone found this to be true? Also, His dad is super-tall and lean and his mom is short and broad so the breeder's hope was that she would just make massive mastiffs. I just find it really interesting because of his immense growth during the first year and now he's slowed down dramatically, with a little weight loss this month.

I can always tell when he's going through a growth spurt because it seems uncomfortable for him -- he will sometimes limp for a couple of days or cry out randomly for no apparent reason. According to the vet, there is nothing physically wrong, but I'm sure growing is painful.

I consider him a pretty massive mastiff. My last mastiff was the runt of the litter and was 145 lbs. at his largest, so Brooklyn's a GIANT to me!

Hey! When Optimus was around that size he would do the same thing - the limping and random yelps! It was so sad! He would lay on the floor and whimper while he kept trying to get comfortable...I would give him massages starting at his back paws and just working in circles up his legs focussing a LOT on his hips and above his tail, up his back to his chest - then start at his neck and work back towards his chest...I've read that massaging animals should always be directed towards the heart...something about circulation! I'm no professional, but he LOVED it and you could just see the tension in his body release! It seemed to really help.

On another note - I see what you mean about Op being huge...he was 140lbs (and GANGLY!) at 9 months...wow, I didn't realize he was so giant heehee! Someone we know in town here has a fawn mastiff that is ridiculously big he was 180lbs at 14months I think? I'm glad I have this site to remind me more of an average than the biggest ones!! Smile

I know that bloat happened to you a while ago, but man after reading your story it just made me so emotional. We are new mastiff parents but that is one of our biggest fears. Any info and tips you could pass on. I fear I don't fully understand what bloat is and whats the best way to prevent it. Brooklyn is sooooo handsome by the way!!!

(07-14-2011 01:30 PM)Otis Wrote: [ -> ]I know that bloat happened to you a while ago, but man after reading your story it just made me so emotional. We are new mastiff parents but that is one of our biggest fears. Any info and tips you could pass on. I fear I don't fully understand what bloat is and whats the best way to prevent it. Brooklyn is sooooo handsome by the way!!!

Bloat is...horrible. It was seriously my worst nightmare aside from hip dysplasia. There is information out there to raise your dog's bowls and now there is new info to not raise their bowls. They are seeing bloat happening in a large number of dogs that have raised bowls now but is that because everyone uses raised bowls now? This led me to the following conclusion: a dog is going to bloat if a dog is going to bloat. Just a couple weeks after Brooklyn bloated, my cousin's pittbull mix bloated at seven years old. After they spent all the money to save him, he bloated again but his stomach was tacked so it didn't flip. Aside from brooklyn's medical snaffoos I think he is one of the most beautiful mastiffs I've seen. Perhaps a mothers bias. Tongue

The biggest tip I would give to a new mastiff owner is no playing for at least a half hour before and after feeding. Whenever Brooklyn thinks he needs to come inside and drink a whole bowl of water I make him take breaks. You can also feed smaller meals throughout the day. But I don't think there is a sure-fire way to prevent it. I think the biggest thing is to love them and know them well enough to recognize that something is off. Brooklyn was lethargic an I knew he had bloated. Brooklyn skipped one meal and I knew he had a blockage. It's the mothers intuition for our furry children. Missing one meal in most dogs is normal. Not in brooklyn's case. I'm sorry that my advice just comes down to watching your dog like a hawk. They say it's genetic but Brooklyn is the first mastiff in a long line of mastiffs to bloat. Just watch and love your baby. And enjoy it. They grow up fast!

Thanks so much, i've loved looking at Brooklyn's pictures and growth charts. He seems huge!!! His mom and dad are only 150 and 160?? Otis's parents are about 180 each and he was the runt, so he is so much smaller, but its so funny to see how different they all are. I love having some people to turn to that understand the breed!!!

He just looks huge. He is now 18 months and is holding stable right around 135 pounds. He was the biggest pup and he did plenty of growing up, currently standing at 33" at the shoulder, but I suppose they spend the first year growing up and the next few years growing out -- or so I've been told. I don't know where he'll be when he's fully grown but I'm fine with his current size. He eats 9 cups of food a day and devours Rawhides regularly which keeps him from eating everyone else's food and the trash. He's kind of a monster. Smile

maybe they all are in their own way. Enjoy your baby. They act like babies for a long time but they look like adults before they are one!

(07-25-2011 04:18 PM)Otis Wrote: [ -> ]Thanks so much, i've loved looking at Brooklyn's pictures and growth charts. He seems huge!!! His mom and dad are only 150 and 160?? Otis's parents are about 180 each and he was the runt, so he is so much smaller, but its so funny to see how different they all are. I love having some people to turn to that understand the breed!!!

Here's a current pic of B.
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