September 25, 2018 a little fawn puppy four weeks old entered my life. His mom and dad were called bull mastiffs by their human parents. I think they were mastiff mixes as in two different breeds of mastiff. I think there was more English Mastiff in the DNA, but that didn’t change anything for me. This little puppy came to me a week earlier. I sat in the grass amongst his siblings and watched my stepsons play with all the pups. This one little loner ventured away from the pack and crawled in my lap. This little pup chose me, and I named him Mack. Like the Mack truck.

When he arrived four weeks earlier than he should have it was the middle of marching band season. Every moment of spare time I had was spent with Mack. We snuggled, nuzzled, and played, but thankfully our Mia was there to foster him. Mia was rescued from a bad breeding situation. We think she had two or three litters before being offered up for sale. Between the abuse and shoddy medical care we got her just in time. Mia was perfect with Mack. She loved him like her own. He loved her just as much.

This little boy grew up fast. He never stopped snuggling with Mia or I. He loved to connect with us.

When I would be sitting on the sofa with my feet up doing something on my computer Mack would hop up next to me. He always started out with his back to me. Then he would do a back flip across my arms. The bigger he got it required me to be a little faster on the rebound to avoid damaging the computer. He basically was saying my turn dad.

Mack has always been my “LAP” dog. If my wife is not sitting next to me, he is. Mack will snuggle with my wife on occasion, but he prefers me and at times he gets a little disagreeable with my wife. He doesn’t growl, but he does this passive aggressive loud sigh… repeatedly. It is like he is saying to my wife, “Mom it is my turn to snuggle with dad!” Now my wife’s English Mastiff is Ziva. Yes she is named for Cote de Pablo’s character on NCIS. She loves to snuggle with my wife. I have to chase her off my side of the bed when I arrive to sleep. She is bigger than Mack… It’s like a rugby scrum with her at night. Ziva is on the right below.

Mack isn’t small. He is 125 lbs (57kg.) Mack is about 34″ (86 cm) at the shoulder. He ended up being one of the largest pups in his litter. He is narrower in the shoulders and body than Ziva. Ziva was about two years old in the picture above. She has filled out more since mastiffs mature much more slowly than smaller breeds. Ziva weighs in about 165 lb (75kg) She is taller than Mack by two inches (5cm.) Despite their size both Mack and Ziva think they are lap dogs. Mack though takes it to a new level though. A few winters ago the temperature was -30F (-34C.) Mack has a light thin coat of hair. He gets cold. When that happens he tends to use me as his bioelectric blanket.

Mack has performed this maneuver many times. Mostly when it is cold. When we lost Mia to cancer four years ago, Mack did this very same maneuver a few times when I got home from work. He was grieving. We all were. Having him snuggle like this was comforting as much as it was uncomfortable. I’m just glad I am a big guy. I couldn’t imagine doing this with him if I were the average size man on this planet.

Mack is as funny as he is lovable. He puts himself in the strangest positions. AKA the broken mastiff.

The “dad is my headrest” position.

Or dad’s taking a break from sanding the hardwood floor, so I’m going to give him some moral support.

As I write this he has his head on my lap… snoring… My laptop is on the arm of the sofa precariously balanced so I can type. I don’t dare move him or I will have a keyboard full of muzzle within a couple of moments. He does not tolerate my computer hobbies. He wants his time with me. I don’t mind it at all. I wish we could do everything together. He would be a great therapy dog, but at seven years of age I don’t want to put him through it. If I had a truck, he would be riding in the center or at minimum the back seat with his head resting on one of my shoulders. He is my velcro dog. I love him. Every moment is a blessing.

I have always had an affinity for large dogs. It is their big love and awkwardness that make me smile. They can give a big hug back. Of course it may be a bit wet from slobber. I wouldn’t change a thing about my little man Mack. He is a great companion and I wish everyone could have that kind of relationship with their dogs. Yes… he is spoiled rotten… I want his life to be full of love, and his greatest worry to be when he gets his snuggle time.

Thanks for reading as I rhapsodize on about my canine buddy. He inspired this as he has been especially clingy this month… winter… cold… dad is his bioelectric blanket. I’m happy to be his service staff.

Just one more picture… a recent back flip…

Spoil your fur babies… They all need our love…

I will write about my little girl another time. Her name is Bubbles. She is a Neapolitan Mastiff… stay tuned…