RYDALMOUNT MASTIFFS
Chuck and Gloria Cuthbert
How Long have you been involved with Mastiffs?
We have both been involved with Mastiffs since 1980. Chuck read about the Mastiff in a Family Day magazine-really like the article and we set out to find more information on the Mastiff Breed. As most new owners we bought our first Mastiff out of the newspaper, but were very, very lucky and found top bloodlines and a wonderful Mastiff named Joshua.
What attracted you to the Mastiff breed?
Mainly the temperament. We always liked bigger dogs......we had German Shepherd before. Since losing our last Shepherd, we both wanted a breed that was very different from the Shepherd Breed. Since each Shepherd was so similar to each other, it was just heart wrenching to lose one, get another one that reminded us so much of the one we just lost.
Can you describe your idea of the correct temperament?
Mellow and laid back, only protective when the situation demands protection. This is one of the reasons we went to Greiner Hall for our next set of Mastiffs. The temperaments on our Mastiffs are unbelievable. The most common thread I hear from puppy buyers or breeders that we have dealt with is that our puppies are so laid back, calm and intelligent.
What improvements have you seen in the breed during your involvement?
Definitely the structure and movement of the breed as a whole. More typey Mastiffs now than in the 80's and 90's. Our Mastiffs were the odd ones. I was told many times that our Mastiffs were just too big. (They were only 32-33 inches. Our first Mastiff, Joshua was 34 inches, but lacked the type I wanted). For our first Mastiff, he was a American/Canadian Champion - so you can see what was popular at this time. We didn't know what a dog show was and showed our own Mastiffs at this time. We were really novices.
The feet are much better than in the past. Tight and cat like feet are seen more often now than in the past.
What do you see lacking in the breed today?
I am seeing too many Mastiffs with undesirable temperaments, which I think is a major problems.
The front assembly definitely needs work. Too many Mastiffs are very straight in the shoulder......they can't really reach in the front. There are top Mastiffs crossing over in the front and it seems as though this is definitely overlooked. Without the proper lay back of the shoulders the dog can't more properly (this is with most breeds)
Frankly, I think that too many new breeders don't understand the structure that is needed in the breed. I love type, definitely try to breed for type, but you need to understand the structure of the breed. It took me many, many years under the guidance of my very special friend and mentor, Mr. Jack Patterson, to understand the structure and movement of the dog.
Would you share some of your favorite Mastiffs of your breedings over
the years?
I have to state here that I did not personally do more than two breeding over the years that I have been in Mastiffs where I co-owned or owned the bitch. I have studded my Mastiffs out over the years and did put much thought in the breeding that I did with them. Although my name is not on the registration papers, I do consider the breedings as part of my decisions. I did not breed with just anyone and bred only to improve the breed. My intentions were to breed to improve the Breed.
My one very special breeding that stands out in my mind is the breeding with Deborah Pallone's Fatima and Jedadiah. This breeding produced many outstanding Mastiffs and the foundation for many of today's Mastiffs. Pallone's Road to Glory is my favorite out of this breeding, although there were many great ones in the breeding. Roady was as close to a perfect Mastiff in my opinion that I have ever seen. Very typey, wonderful bone and a beautiful moving Mastiff............lots of power, but was very light on his feet. You couldn't feel him at the end of the lead.
There are others.............we have a very special boy, Springhollow's Flying Churchill that is living out east that I just love. He is a Roady son and reminds me so much of Roady. He is co-owned with Mary Horner, Donna Reese and Bruce Likly.
Berenargia's Is it Any Wonder (Cassie) owned by a very good friend of mine, Cindy Hollar was a very special bitch out of Jed. Serendipity Greiner Axel (Julie Nelson) is another very special male out of Jed
There are so many and I don't want to slight anyone, so I will stop here.
Would you list a few of your ideal Mastiffs past/present not owned or
bred by you?
Medicine Man is my favorite of all time. Beau Ideal is my favorite bitch.
Would you list the priorities in your breeding program in order of
importance (type, temperament, pedigree, health, structure, championships)
Temperament is first, type and structure are second. Pedigrees are very important to me and I will study them carefully. I am very fortunate to have seen many of the Mastiffs in the older pedigrees. Chuck and I attended many of the specialties over the years and learned so much from other breeders and from actually seeing these Mastiffs. Championships don't mean much to me..........I feel some of the very best Mastiffs are sitting on families's couches and enjoying life with their owners.
As far as health, we have tested all of our Mastiffs way before most breeders were testing. We use it as a tool............we did pull one of our males from the breeding pool in the 90's because of size and health.
Do you feel that the majority of AKC judges have a clear understanding
of our breed standard?
NO!! I think that the judges really go with whatever the education committees show them. In the past, I have seen and heard many statements that make me shudder. We need impartial people doing the mentoring and not people interested in promoting their opinions and personal feelings about the mastiffs. I am not saying that all mentors do this, but there are definitely mentors that do this very thing.
What are your goals for the future of your breeding program?
We are getting older and I am not sure that we will be doing any more breedings. We might stud our males out, but they will be used very carefully. We have frozen semen on some of our old guys, so if a very special bitch comes along we might try again.
I would like to see the same thing that I have always bred for...........nothing as changed.
Who has influenced you in your breeding program?
Leah and Stephen Napotnik and Jack Patterson
I have learned so much from Leah and Steve............I benefited greatly from their many years of breeding and the building of their line. I bought Jedadiah and Zechariah from them and they were my foundation.
Jack told me the basic knowledge about structure and movement and important this was to the Mastiff.
Putting their knowledge together helped me to understand what I wanted to accomplish in my lifetime.
What has been your greatest accomplishment so far?
Having wonderful Mastiffs that have been out of my guys in the wonderful homes with people that love and cherish them.
I have eight dogs right now.........four male mastiffs, three rott rescues and one cattle dog/bajseni mix (spelling) that all live together peacefully. It shows me that my breeding programs has produced what I wanted.........wonderful Mastiffs that get along with all animals. (Well, the three rotts are all bitches and they do not get along peacefully with each other, but do get along with my Mastiffs).
What is the most important advise you can give to new breeders?
Please listen to older breeders. Do not shut them out because they are older. They have many experiences and advise that they can give you to help you in your breeding program. You learn through the years of experiences - good ones and bad ones. I learned very early to try to absorb as much as I could from people that have been in dogs and in the Mastiff Breed much longer than I have.
Breeding to the top Mastiffs in the country is not always the way to go. You need to look at your Mastiffs realistically and see them for what they are. You need to pick a male that will help improve on what you have. Don't breed because the Mastiff is a top winning Mastiff or because the Mastiff is close to you or more convenient or has a cheaper stud fee. Look at what you hope to produce to better then what you have.
I was and am always so proud to see the offsprings of my Mastiffs do well.........that is what it is all about - giving back to the breed and knowing that we have help improve the Breed.
Thank you for the honor of asking me to contribute to the breeders interviews. I enjoyed this very much and it brings back many memories.
