Who is Castlemist Mastiffs?



I guess that's a fair question.  I've shied away from listing our show wins and such on the entry page for a lot of reasons.  
Anyway, there are a few of the reasons I've skipped a brags page up until now.  I still refuse to plaster wins on the entry page, because that isn't our primary focus.  However, I guess it makes sense to list some accomplishments so that you know a bit about our dogs and how they compare to the others you find while surfing.  The more significant show wins are listed on each dog's page for the sake of relevance.  

Please keep in mind that any show win is a subjective thing - meaning the opinion of the one judge on the one day.  We show because we enjoy it as an activity to share with our dogs and our family, and also because we strongly believe that anyone breeding dogs should be showing them as well.  It's no secret that there are too many pets being surrendered to shelters every day, and euthanized because there are no good homes willing to take them.  Responsible breeders take each new life they choose to bring into the world seriously, from start to finish.  We do not add to the problem.  If the only dogs which were born were produced by responsible breeders, there would be no pet population problem.

Responsible breeders show their dogs because they welcome outside opinions on what they are producing, in terms of temperament and appearance.  They are willing to shoulder the considerable time and expense this involves because it's so important to not go blindly forward with breeding if you happen to get off track.  You need to have the confidence to exhibit your dogs in an open forum and weather the opinions of various judges and your competition.  You are even allowed to enjoy it.  :)  For these reasons, I'm going to put up a brags page for you to peruse if you like.  Please first read the more important stuff below.

We are very proud of our crew, and love each dog for his or her own traits here at home first and foremost.    Show wins are a secondary - not a primary - focus.

We love Morpheus, for instance, for being so gentle, even with his stuffed toys.  He carries them around in his mouth and shares them with the people he loves.  He has been a great juniors dog for our eldest daughter and has been an outstanding canine ambassador in schools, fire stations, shows, parks, playgrounds, and anywhere he goes.

We love Shaman for his brain that's always working full bore, for his boundless energy, and for the fact that we're amazed that he's alive.  He and his sister were the sole two survivors of a litter of ten.  They have a singularly wonderful pedigree and thankfully have been able to pass it along to a few lucky offspring as well.  Shaman has never had a shy day in his life and he's also been a great juniors dog for our children.

We love Evie for her sweet silliness and great sense of humor.  She is the very best with the kids and is one of those dogs without an aggressive bone in her body.  She's beautiful and loving and one of a kind.

We love Mingo for many of the same traits (they are brother and sister, after all!)  He is truly a big lap dog and has come a long way in his time here.  He's loads of fun in agility, and he adores the children as much as his sister does.

We love Salem because she's so... Salem!  She is smart, sweet, clever and loving.  She lives for sleeping in the bed next to us, and I mean next to us, pressed close, all night long.  If there is less than ten psi between her body and mine, she gets up, turns around a few times and flops down again, closer.  She's a really lovely girl both inside and out, who seems to be so happy to be part of our family that she makes us feel special.

We love Sam for many of the reasons we love his dad, Morpheus, and because he was our first stud puppy back ever.  He is smart in ways his dad never was (but we do love you, Morph!) and which are sometimes trying <G>, but his unflappable temperament is both a credit to him and a pleasure to have go with such a handsome bod.  He shares with his father that loving temperament and a total trust in his people, without any sign of aggression to mar a peaceful existence.
 
Lastly, we love our Keeper-man!   It was a tough job making him a reality, and he is one of a kind.  He combines some work from the past with a promise of the future.  He is quick both mentally and physically, as are both of his parents, and his solid temperament is again, a real pleasure to live with and to bring to shows.  He is so much himself and yet also very much a mosaic of his relatives which we have here or which we remember fondly.  
He thinks he can do almost anything, and he might just be right.

Also, gentle and sweet Amy and Phoenix, our brother and sister who are happily retired and sharing a sofa in the perfect doggie home.  Sweet Sage, who is missed but will never be really gone from our hearts.  Peaches, a perfect golden soul who gave us so much and never asked for anything but love.  Beau and Boone, who have it made with Sue and Dan and who are great examples of how different an uncle and nephew can be.  Zoe, who also has it made and who chose her new person wisely.  Hero/Rocky, always a mind of his own but found the perfect niche in life and never looked back though we still miss him.  Cheyenne, missing her half-brother Dakota.  Emma and Seeley, both independent souls and now gone but never far from our hearts.


And Dawn, my heart and soul, who gave us everything and showed us what a Mastiff should be.

If you need more than that, here is a brags page.