Drax (formerly Stewart aka “Stewie” at the shelter) is a roughly 11-month-old fluffy English mastiff. He and his three siblings, as well as his mother, came to Mastiffs to Mutts from a shelter in Maryland following a neglect investigation.
Likes: Drax enjoys any activities that involve being doted on! He loves to get belly rubs and being brushed. When he isn’t snuggling with his people, his second favorite thing to do is eat, which is understandable given his history. Drax enjoys puzzle toys and lick mats and is willing to work hard to earn his snacks! He is also getting more comfortable with car rides and seems to really enjoy hikes in the woods, as long as they don’t involve being out in open areas. Dislikes: Drax is not a fan of the sensation of memory foam beds; he will go out of his way to avoid stepping on one, and believes they are best used as pee pads. Drax is very fearful of unfamiliar and open surroundings. He does not enjoy walks out in open areas and prefers the woods. He really dislikes walking in areas with any type of traffic, as he finds cars a bit scary. He is working very hard to become a brave boy on his walks, but needs a family who will be willing to be patient with him as he learns to navigate situations he finds scary. He also is not a fan of loud noises when he is already not comfortable in his surroundings. When he is outside, hearing things like basketballs bouncing on pavement, PA announcements, people using tools, etc. are all very scary to him, and he will do his best to retreat to somewhere he feels more secure. Personality: (goofy, laid back, playful, etc) Drax is a super laid-back dude! While he enjoys the occasional zoomie, it is pretty short lived. He will happily watch YOU chase the ball, but isn’t so interested in doing it himself.
Temperament: Drax is easily overwhelmed by the unfamiliar, and will shut down completely or attempt to retreat to somewhere he feels safe in response to stress. He does extremely well with physical handling, even when he is in a stressful situation. He will not get up into your car on his own, but will certainly allow you to give him a boost. He tolerates grooming well, and has been very patient with having mats removed when he first came to his foster home. Drax also takes hand fed food and treats politely, without grabbing or becoming mouthy.
Energy level: (like daily hikes, walks three miles, prefers to be a couch potato, etc) Drax enjoys moderate activity. He has found hikes enjoyable, but even in cool temperatures, you are only going to get about two miles out of him. He plays in short spurts as well. It should be noted, he is not at all aware of his size, and will think nothing of running straight into you to show you how excited he is to be having fun together, so stay alert when he has the zoomies! Favorite activities: Drax seems to enjoy hikes in the woods, as long as he is surrounded by trees. He is also starting to learn to enjoy going in the car. But for the most part, his favorite activity is to throw himself down at your feet for belly rubs. Drax LOVES a good belly rub! Good with cats, dogs, and kids (over 6)?: Drax has done well with other dogs, even dogs who are significantly smaller in size. He has not engaged in off leash play yet, but will be trying that very soon, and an update will be provided at that time. He is very tolerant of his foster brother, who likes to play by whacking Drax in the face with his paw. Drax has not been exposed to cats or young children yet, but that will be upcoming in the near future as well.
Not good with: Shelter staff reported Drax did not get along well with one of his two sisters. However, his sister was entering her first heat cycle, so it is possible that might have been part of the issue.
Housetrained: Drax is working on this, he promises! Sometimes there are scary noises in the yard that keep him from wanting to go potty, and he will occasionally have an accident in the house, but he wants everyone to know he is making great progress! Crate trained: Drax is crate trained, but he does not appreciate being crated alone. He will rip any bedding to shreds and has already demonstrated he is not afraid of swallowing stuffed toys (he passed one shortly after coming to his foster home). He will also bite and paw at the bars. It is recommended Drax be crated in something stronger than a basic wire crate, or he will break out of it, potentially hurting himself in the process. He currently uses an Empire Pro Select large crate, and that has been working well.
Requires a fenced yard (physical fence and/or invisible fence)?Drax absolutely needs a fenced yard, more specifically a six foot or higher, completely secure fence. Due to his issues with fear, Drax is going to be a flight risk, especially prior to becoming fully familiar with his new surroundings. He also is very fearful of walks, so it is critical he have a safe space for potty breaks while he works up to becoming more comfortable on walks.
Walks well on a leash? Drax is very comfortable wearing a leash and harness, but going on walks is a different story altogether. Please see previous comments related to his insecurity with walks other than in the woods. When walking in the woods, he does pull a bit, but is otherwise very gentlemanly. It is recommended though that Drax has a harness that is not going to be a risk for him to slip out of, because if something startles him, his reaction will be to try to run and back out of the harness, and he could escape and become lost. Drax currently walks using a 2 Hounds Freedom no-pull harness with a double ended leash. His harness also has a backup tether connected to his collar in the event he would ever break out of his harness. This has been working well, and provides him with additional safety when he is out in unfamiliar areas. When he is fearful and walking, he panics and pulls very hard. Drax will need an experienced handler who will be very dilligent in ensuring he is kept secure, as well as someone who is physically able to withstand his pulling if he is going to be walked. Ideally, his future home will include a fenced yard he can use to potty, and his new family will commit the time and effort to taking their time to working with him on walking on leash, and avoid pushing him too hard too quickly. Challenges: Once Drax is fully comfortable, he is a very laid back, easygoing boy! He needs plenty of time, patience, and training to get comfortable though. By far the biggest challenge has been walks. Drax does show signs of separation anxiety also, and he is currently on medication to help with these challenges. If he is uncomfortable, he will either shut down entirely, or try to run/escape, so extreme diligence needs to be used to keep him safe and to avoid his escaping. He also needs to be confined physically when in the car, either in a crate or with a barrier to ensure his safety as well as the safety of those in the car, as he becomes panicked easily at times, particularly in heavy traffic, as he is very fearful of other cars. He also is very unsure of stairs, and currently is living in a ranch home, so he would need someone to dedicate a lot of time and patience to helping him learn to use and be comfortable on stairs.
Any Medical issues? Drax has been gaining weight steadily while in his foster home, and appears to be very close to a healthy weight for his age and size. He eats four times a day to space out his meals properly, as he is being weaned down from the original six times a day he was being fed at the shelter. His shelter paperwork also indicates he was examined in early February and at the time, he was found to have 1/6 heart murmur. Shortly after arriving at his foster home, Drax passed a stuffed candy cane toy assumed to have been given to him and ingested while he was in the shelter. He appears to have passed the full toy successfully and has shown no symptoms concerning of blockages.
What would be the best kind of home? Drax is a sweet, special boy whose ideal home would be one where his family is understanding of the fact that he is easily overwhelmed and will have realistic expectations regarding the time he will need to build trust to feel comfortable in a new home. He will need a family who is able to be patient with him and dedicate the time and effort to helping him become more comfortable so that he is set up for success in the future. Drax also needs a family who is willing to invest time in basic training, as he does not yet know any basic commands and at times lacks manners like most puppies (counter surfing and jumping up). He also needs a family who will be committed to ensuring that he stays safe and does not escape while also allowing him adequate decompression time, as his transition from the familiarity and security of his foster home is going to be difficult for him.
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 Drax
Good with Dogs
Drax's sister, Wanda (adopted) can also be seen on our website.
Drax's sister, Wanda (adopted) can also be seen on our website.
Drax's sister, Pepper (adopted) can also be seen on our website.
Drax's sister, Pepper (adopted) can also be seen on our website.
Drax's mother, Duchess (adopted) can also be seen on our website.
Drax's baby girl, Duchess (adopted) can also be seen on our website.
Drax's brother, Rufus (adopted) can also be seen on our website.
Drax's brother, 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
Other Pictures of Drax (click to see larger version):
