Duchess is a spayed 3-4 year old beautiful, fluffy, brindle English Mastiff ‘velcro’ dog, weighing
approximately 105#. She is a very affectionate, energetic sweetheart who does well with small dogs
(hasn’t been around other sized dogs) and listens to commands “come,” “do your business,” “crate,”
“off,” “no” and “lay down.” If you're looking for a sweet shadow of a pup, Duchess is your girl!
Likes: Duchess loves to be with her hooman (wherever you are) and is very responsive to direction. She likes going for hikes/ walks (still working on leash manners) and car rides with the window down.
Dislikes: Duchess does NOT like to be separated from her hooman (if the hooman is in the house, she’ll howl if she can’t get to you). Duchess doesn’t like stairs (although she can be coaxed up/down them) and she does NOT like having her crate covered and/or being out of the know.
Personality: She’s very agreeable and wants to please; she can be stubborn if she sees something she wants (true to the breed) and will try to use her strength and troubleshooting to get to it (breaks nylon collars, can open doors by turning door knobs, can get out of a closed crate unless corners are zip-tied). She’s protective of her yard and humans (barks pretty loudly at any two legged or four leggeds being nearby until properly introduced).
Temperament: Duchess is affectionate, playful, wants to please, and smart as a whip on how to get around enclosures (or locks).
Energy level: Average/Medium level.
Favorite activities: Eating, sleeping, zooming/frolicking in the yard, hikes/walks, being petted/brushed.
Good with cats, dogs, and kids (over 6)?: She hasn’t been introduced to cats, larger dogs, or kids. She has been around a lot of adults after proper introduction.
Not good with: Isolation
Housetrained: Yes! Duchess has only had accidents when she escaped the crate and was in the house alone (her first week in foster). She has been left downstairs at night and does fine outside the crate but prefers to go upstairs to be with her people.
Crate trained: Yes (even if she is a Houdini getting out of it).
Requires a fenced yard (physical fence and/or invisible fence)? Yes, and she must be watched when in the yard as she has jumped a 3 board fence to get to the other side, constantly tests gates to see if they are closed, and has been caught trying to lift latches with her nose. She has also picked up her brother’s bad habit of barking at people and dogs walking past on the street until they are out of sight. If a dog starts barking back, she tries to jump the fence. Behaviors that could definitely use some work!
Walks well on a leash? Duchess is working on it with a gentle lead. A front chest harness and collar with a handle will work wonders for her.
Challenges: Still working on leash walking (not pulling) and separation anxiety, where people can be out of eyesight in the house.
Any Medical issues? No known issues.
What would be the best kind of home? Duchess would do wonderfully in a home with at least one more dog and humans that are around most of the day. She will need regular bathroom breaks for a while (every 4-5 hours) and continued training while she is learning the ropes of what it means to be a dog living her best life.
Application Fees, Adoption Donations and Rescue Policy:
Please know that 100% of our fees and donations pay for the costs of rescuing dogs. These include, but are not limited to: pull fees from shelters, veterinary examinations, vaccinations, medications and care, microchips, neuter/spay surgeries, heartworm treatments, behavior evaluations, and foster care, as needed.
Our rescue policy requires the following:
Adopters must have their primary residence in one of the following states: Pennsylvania, Ohio, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, West Virginia, Virginia, and parts of North Carolina.
We will not adopt a giant breed dog to homes where the dog will have access to highly varnished hardwood steps inside the home. Any inside steps to which the dog(s) have access, must have carpeting, securely fixed stair treads, or a non-skid surface. We encourage you to remediate potential safety issues while your application is under review, prior to the home visit.
Methods or devices using pain or force on the dog to control the dog, or to deter undesirable behavior is prohibited.
Applications for giant breed dogs must be submitted by the property owner.
Homes with children under 6 years of age will not be approved for adoption.
Homes with children should have a fenced yard.
Pets currently in the applicant's home must have a history of appropriate veterinary care. Veterinary records will be checked.
All references must be checked before any visitation of the dog is permitted at the foster home.
All family members must be present during the home visit to the applicant's home.
Any dog(s) in the applicant's home must have an introductory meeting with the rescue dog being considered, before any adoption can be completed.
Homes with intact dogs will not be approved for adoption. Exceptions to this policy can be found on the Adoptable Dog Page.
Mastiffs To Mutts Rescue reserves the right to approve or deny any adoption that occurs through this organization without disclosure. We reserve the right to make exceptions for special circumstances.
More about Duchess
Good with Dogs
Duchess' baby girl, Wanda (adopted) can also be seen on our website.
Duchess' baby girl, Wanda (adopted) can also be seen on our website.
Duchess' baby boy, Drax (adopted) can also be seen on our website.
Duchess' father, Drax (adopted) can also be seen on our website.
Duchess' baby girl, Pepper (adopted) can also be seen on our website.
Duchess' mother, Pepper (adopted) can also be seen on our website.
Duchess' baby boy, Rufus (adopted) can also be seen on our website.
Duchess' father, Rufus (adopted) can also be seen on our website.
Duchess' father, Rufus (adopted) can also be seen on our website.
Application Fees, Adoption Donations and Rescue Policy:
Please know that 100% of our fees and donations pay for the costs of rescuing dogs. These include but are not limited to pull fees from shelters, veterinary examinations, vaccinations, medications and care, microchips, neuter/spay surgeries, heartworm treatments, behavior evaluations, and foster care, as needed.
Important notes before applying.
Approved adopters must have their primary residence in one of the following states: Delaware, Maryland, Michigan, New Jersey, Ohio, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Virginia, and parts of North Carolina and Kentucky.
You must be at least 21 years of age to apply and legally sign our contract for adoption.
Applications must be completed by the homeowner.
We do not adopt giant breed dogs to renters.
If you are renting, and you are applying to adopt a dog that is not a giant breed, permission to adopt an animal must be obtained from the landlord or property owner.
We do not adopt giant breed dogs to homes with children under 6 years of age.
Homes with children should have a fenced yard.
Applications will be denied if anyone residing in the household has a record indicating drug/alcohol abuse, theft, or violence.
Pets currently in the applicant's home must have a history of appropriate veterinary care.
Homes with intact dogs will not be approved for adoption. Proof of any of the following exceptions is required:
The intact dog is a working member of a law enforcement, or search and rescue/recovery team.
The intact dog is registered under the auspices of the American Kennel Club and is actively being shown.
A veterinarian has determined the sterilization procedure would harm the intact dog.
We believe in Force Free Training Methods and do not approve of methods or devices using pain or force to control the dog, or to deter undesirable behavior.
Homes with highly varnished steps must have carpeting, securely fixed stair treads, or a non-skid surface. **We encourage you to remediate potential safety issues while your application is under review, prior to the home visit.
Any inside steps to which the dog(s) have access, must have carpeting, securely fixed stair treads, or a non-skid surface.
Homes with highly varnished floors must have non-slip area rugs or mats wherever your animal walks or rests frequently.
**Puppy Adoption Policy**
To ensure proper house training and socialization, puppies will only be adopted to homes where an adult will not be away more than an hour per day, per month of age of the puppy, up to 6 months.
Certain large-breed dogs should not be sterilized prior to 12 - 18 months of age. If you adopt an intact puppy, you will sign an adoption contract agreeing to have the dog sterilized at your expense at the time your veterinarian recommends.
Proof of sterilization must be provided to Mastiffs To Mutts Rescue as soon as the procedure is completed. If the puppy is not sterilized as required, Mastiffs To Mutts Rescue reserves the right to claim legal ownership of the dog.
**Mastiffs To Mutts Rescue reserves the right to approve or deny any adoption that occurs through this organization without disclosure. We reserve the right to make exceptions for special circumstances.
**PA Kennel License: 05845
Videos of Duchess:
Other Pictures of Duchess (click to see larger version):
