This article was originally published in Showsight Magazine, June 2011 issue.
I tell everyone that calls about or purchases a puppy from us that this breed is like no other. They get into your very soul. Once you own one you will always want one. They are the clowns of the dog world, if you laugh at them you are doomed. For example Mike was showing our late Bree and she was acting up in the ring. Kathy and I started laughing at ringside, Bree saw us and the behaviour exulted. Needless to say Mike was not pleased with us, yet we couldn’t help it. They like children, but they can pack a powerful punch and not even know they did it. They do a behaviour we call hucklebutting. That is where they will take off running for no reason at full speed and will crash into anything that is in their way. I was picking up toys in the living room and Bree started hucklebutting around the room, jumped up and hit me in the mouth, busted my mouth open and chipped my front tooth, she kept right on going. She didn’t have a clue she busted my lip and chipped my tooth.
They are very loving dogs, I wouldn’t say they are very loyal dogs. They will go with whoever, in their opinion, has the best treats, food, toys etc… They are highly intelligent yet not very obedient. Bree knew basic obedience; when asked to sit she would down and vice versa. I would go get treats and all of a sudden she knew the commands perfectly. I feel it takes a highly intelligent animal to reverse commands. Jessie plays deaf and she is very good at it. You can yell and yell for her to come. She will not even flinch not even a tiny twitch of an ear, yet can hear the refrigerator open from four rooms away or a whisper of want to go bye bye? They would rather ask for forgiveness than permission. They enjoy walks and activity, yet also like to curl up on the sofa or bed with you. Although they enjoy the water they do not swim well. They have so much muscle they tend to sink. Never let your MBT near water unsupervised. If you’re looking for a big dog in a small package, that will own you and train you then the MBT may be the breed for you.
