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1. Will Runestone Neapolitan Mastiffs guarantee you a "Show Quality" puppy?
2. Will Runestone Neapolitan Mastiffs guarantee you a "Show Potential" puppy?
3. Why?
A puppy may look like "show quality" when you see it at 9 weeks old. Then, at 12 weeks old, 16 weeks old, 6 months old,
12 months old, 18 months old, and 2-3 years old, it can and will look very different. Some Neapolitan Mastiffs do not hit
maturity until 3 years old. Others blossom rather early. When you buy these guys, be prepared for ugly stages.
I've seen some pretty wimpy pups turn into really nice adults at 2-3 years old. (example: RuneStone Elentari Magneto,
Rare Breed CH. RuneStone Aradia) I've seen some really gorgeous pups (ours and other breeders') turn out to be much
less than what I thought they would be. Sometimes the puppies start out amazing like RuneStone Grimoire, RuneStone
De Artemis and RuneStone Druid of Pantheon, etc. They started out great then went through some ugly stages and
then "came back" to look like the beautiful dogs that they are. Yes, even Grim went through the "uglies".
If you want a Show Dog, BUY a Show Dog (ADULT). I cannot give you any guarantees that a puppy will be the show
dog that you (or I ) want. I study the pedigrees, use excellent breeding stock and go for it.
An older puppy or an adult dog would be a safer bet if you want a guarantee of "Show Quality".
If it looks great as a puppy, hopefully it will continue on that path. We only use the best pedigrees and breeding stock,
but it's still a "wait and see" situation.
If the puppy/dog doesn't have any disqualifying faults, and it's AKC registered, it can be shown in AKC shows.
If it has a disqualifying fault when I sell it to you, it will be sold as a "pet only - non breeding" and AKC Limited Registration,
with the appropriate contract to have it spayed-neutered. Then, the puppy/dog cannot be shown in Conformation
Shows. Conformation Shows are held to evaluate breeding stock. But it will be eligible to compete in Obedience Shows. If
a puppy/dog has a fault that can be outgrown - like an overbite - then the "Limited Registration" can be changed later by
the breeder only.
3. If it turns out to be a Show Dog, will it win?
I don't know; there are too many variables - it depends on the quality of the other puppies/dogs that you show against,
the judge, and the growing stage the pup is in. It depends on how the dog "shows" that day. It could win one day and
not the next against the same dogs.
4. Can RuneStone Puppies be shown at AKC Shows?
Yes - they are fully registerable with the AKC and will be registered at the time you take over ownership, according to your
contract. To enter you need the AKC number that was assigned to the dog. A puppy can be shown starting at 6
months old.
5. I want to show my dog for the sport of it. I'm not sure if I want to be a breeder and I don't care if it
wins, I just want to love it and show it for fun. (Although if it does win, I'll be thrilled of course!) Can I
show my pet?
Yes, if the pet doesn't have any disqualifying faults and if the pet is intact (not spayed or neutered).
Note: If you become a breeder, you naturally get attached to some dogs and not others. If you fall in love with a dog
and it shouldn't be bred, you must neuter/spay it. Don't breed it just because you love it. You need to stay objective.
Neuter/spay it and keep it for a pet. Don't buy a puppy with the intention of breeding it. You won't know for sure until
that dog is at least 16 months for females and 12-14 months for males and sometimes much longer.
- No
2. Will Runestone Neapolitan Mastiffs guarantee you a "Show Potential" puppy?
- No
3. Why?
A puppy may look like "show quality" when you see it at 9 weeks old. Then, at 12 weeks old, 16 weeks old, 6 months old,
12 months old, 18 months old, and 2-3 years old, it can and will look very different. Some Neapolitan Mastiffs do not hit
maturity until 3 years old. Others blossom rather early. When you buy these guys, be prepared for ugly stages.
I've seen some pretty wimpy pups turn into really nice adults at 2-3 years old. (example: RuneStone Elentari Magneto,
Rare Breed CH. RuneStone Aradia) I've seen some really gorgeous pups (ours and other breeders') turn out to be much
less than what I thought they would be. Sometimes the puppies start out amazing like RuneStone Grimoire, RuneStone
De Artemis and RuneStone Druid of Pantheon, etc. They started out great then went through some ugly stages and
then "came back" to look like the beautiful dogs that they are. Yes, even Grim went through the "uglies".
If you want a Show Dog, BUY a Show Dog (ADULT). I cannot give you any guarantees that a puppy will be the show
dog that you (or I ) want. I study the pedigrees, use excellent breeding stock and go for it.
An older puppy or an adult dog would be a safer bet if you want a guarantee of "Show Quality".
If it looks great as a puppy, hopefully it will continue on that path. We only use the best pedigrees and breeding stock,
but it's still a "wait and see" situation.
If the puppy/dog doesn't have any disqualifying faults, and it's AKC registered, it can be shown in AKC shows.
If it has a disqualifying fault when I sell it to you, it will be sold as a "pet only - non breeding" and AKC Limited Registration,
with the appropriate contract to have it spayed-neutered. Then, the puppy/dog cannot be shown in Conformation
Shows. Conformation Shows are held to evaluate breeding stock. But it will be eligible to compete in Obedience Shows. If
a puppy/dog has a fault that can be outgrown - like an overbite - then the "Limited Registration" can be changed later by
the breeder only.
3. If it turns out to be a Show Dog, will it win?
I don't know; there are too many variables - it depends on the quality of the other puppies/dogs that you show against,
the judge, and the growing stage the pup is in. It depends on how the dog "shows" that day. It could win one day and
not the next against the same dogs.
4. Can RuneStone Puppies be shown at AKC Shows?
Yes - they are fully registerable with the AKC and will be registered at the time you take over ownership, according to your
contract. To enter you need the AKC number that was assigned to the dog. A puppy can be shown starting at 6
months old.
5. I want to show my dog for the sport of it. I'm not sure if I want to be a breeder and I don't care if it
wins, I just want to love it and show it for fun. (Although if it does win, I'll be thrilled of course!) Can I
show my pet?
Yes, if the pet doesn't have any disqualifying faults and if the pet is intact (not spayed or neutered).
Note: If you become a breeder, you naturally get attached to some dogs and not others. If you fall in love with a dog
and it shouldn't be bred, you must neuter/spay it. Don't breed it just because you love it. You need to stay objective.
Neuter/spay it and keep it for a pet. Don't buy a puppy with the intention of breeding it. You won't know for sure until
that dog is at least 16 months for females and 12-14 months for males and sometimes much longer.
| Our thoughts on Show Quality, Show Potential and Pet Quality |
| Age Progression Pictures - RuneStone Aradia (I kept Aradia because I fell in love with her - I didn't know at the time how she would turn out.) Unfortunately, we've never been able to get her pregnant. |
 | Grim at 6-7 months! |
 | Aradia at 6-7 months - no wrinkle | |
| on her nose and it's a little long. Ugly stage... |
One of my favorite pictures...
| About 95 degrees here, outside show Aradia wins Best In Show - Rare Breed at an IABCA Show She was pretty droopy by the time the pic was taken and the judge was ??? - probably cooling off somewhere - I didn't want to wait for him so we had the pic taken and took off for home. |
| Here she has set herself up incorrectly - her front legs are too far forward. |
| This is just comical - she does this all the time LOL |
| Aradia looking droopey and Aradia looking alert - same weekend - different days. |
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| Page Updated 2-23-11 |