Welcome To Ironhide Mastiffs
About Us
Ironhide Mastiffs is located on the western border of Southern Illinois, over looking the mighty Mississippi River. Our mastiffs are inspected and approved by the American Kennel Club and the Illinois Department of Agriculture.
Our goal is the perfect mastiff. Which to us is producing true, Italian type mastiffs, with extra large heads, and heavy, deep bodies. Our Neapolitans are out of imported lines that go above and beyond AKC's standards. They maintain huge bone, heavy wrinkle and are the ultimate package. Our mastiffs are sound and ready to work. They maintain the most steady, gentlest of temperments, yet always ready to guard and protect their family with unconditional courage.
We believe that early and ongoing socialization is a must in order to maintain a peaceful family. The puppies we produce are born in our home and receive 24 hour attention from the moment they are born. As they grow, they are introduced to people of all ages, other dogs, cats, horses, etc.... We attempt to expose them to as many different adventures as possible in order to prepare them for their spot as a member of their future families, and to make sure they have the absolute best chance at maturing into that "perfect mastiff". The one that will give his heart and soul, even his life, for the love of his family.
Blue Bloods Butlers Zoey Girl
Puppies for Sale
All of our puppies come to you pre-spoiled and ready for their new life. They also come with a puppy pack containing AKC registration papers, a health guarantee, and shot/deworming records.
DEFINITION OF A BREEDER
A breeder is one who thirsts for knowledge and never really knows it all and doesn't pretend she does... One who wrestles with decisions of conscience, convenience and commitment...
A Breeder is one who sacrifices personal interests, finances, time, fancy furniture and deep pile carpeting. She gives up the dreams of a long, luxurious vacation in favor of turning that spare room into a wonderful puppy room... besides, who would watch the dogs while she was gone.
She goes without sleep (but never without coffee!) in hours spent planning a breeding or watching anxiously over the birth process and afterwards, over every little sneeze, wiggle or cry...
She skips dinner parties because that litter is due or the babies have to be fed at eight...
She disregards birth fluids and does mouth to mouth to save a gasping new-born, literally blowing life into a tiny, helpless creature that she knows will fulfill someone's dreams...
Her lap is a marvelous place where generations of happy, healthy and much adored furbabies have snoozed... And still do...
Her hands are strong and firm, but ever so gentle and sensitive to the thrusts of a puppy's wet nose...
Her back and knees are usually arthritic from stooping, bending and sitting in the birthing box, but are strong enough to enable her to play on the floor with that rascally bunch at 5 weeks old...
Her shoulders are stooped and often heaped with abuse from unkind words of those who don't understand, but they're wide enough to support the weight of a thousand "Thank You's" from happy new families...
Her arms are always able to wield a mop, support an armful of puppies or lend a helping hand to a newcomer...but can't hold grudges or hold onto unpleasant ridicule...
Her ears are wonderous things, sometimes red (from being talked about) or strangely shaped (from being pressed against a phone receiver,) yet always fine-tuned to the whimper of a sick puppy or the distant rain that urges her to get the furbabies in from the upcoming bad weather...
Her eyes may be blurred from Pedigree Research, but they are ever so keen to what a healthy happy puppy looks and acts like...
Her brain is sometimes foggy on faces, but it can recall how many were in a litter four years ago that produced a certain puppy... It's so full of knowledge that it sometimes blows a fuse: it catalogues thousands of colors, sizes and perfect temperaments...
Her heart is sometimes broken but it beats strongly with hope everlasting...and it's always in the right place!
Oh, yes, there are Breeders, and then, there are BREEDERS!
