Health & Genetic Testing: The Foundation of Longevity

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At Monumental Mastiffs, health isn’t left to chance—it’s an intentional pursuit rooted in science, veterinary experience, and a deep personal passion for genetics. What started as standard health testing has grown into a full-scale exploration of each dog’s individual genome.

Driven by curiosity and a commitment to doing better, we’ve gone beyond breed panels and surface-level screening. Every decision is backed by data, observation, and a desire to unlock the full story written in each dog’s DNA.

We don’t just breed dogs. We build legacies.

Our fascination with genetics has taken us far beyond the basics. Every dog in our program undergoes full-genome sequencing—not just for clear/affected status, but to map out the deeper markers that influence health, structure, and temperament.

We evaluate:

• Hidden recessive conditions
• Polygenic risk markers for hips, elbows, immune disease, and behavior
• Modifier genes that alter disease expression
• Rare disease variants and mitochondrial markers
• Breed-specific vulnerabilities in Mastiff-type dogs

This genome-level insight gives us the power to strategically pair dogs who complement each other genetically, reducing risk and maximizing health. It’s about more than passing a test—it’s about knowing what’s under the surface.

A structurally sound dog isn’t just born—it’s built through smart pairings and intentional evaluation. We study the full picture of orthopedic health through both clinical screening and genetic interpretation.

Our process includes:

• X-ray evaluations of hips, elbows, spine, and shoulders
• Collagen gene analysis and markers of joint laxity
• Growth tracking and conformation scoring from puppyhood onward
• Review of polygenic hip/elbow risk profiles across family lines

This integrated approach lets us breed dogs who move well, mature cleanly, and avoid the chronic orthopedic issues that plague many large and giant breeds.

At Monumental Mastiffs, temperament is just as critical as health. A sound mind is part of a sound body—and the groundwork for both is often laid in the genome.

We evaluate:

• Genetic markers for anxiety, reactivity, and sensitivity
• Trainability and handler focus through polygenic traits
• Neurodevelopmental and behavioral indicators
• Real-world behavior tracking in structured environments

Our dogs are selected not just for what they can do—but for how they feel, process, and respond. Genetics set the stage, and we build on that foundation through training, environment, and experience.

Genetics tell us where to look. But lived experience tells us what works.

We constantly evaluate:

• Reproductive performance (fertility, whelping, milk production)
• Immune and hematologic markers via routine bloodwork
• Longitudinal health patterns across litters and generations
• Temperament outcomes in working, companion, and public environments

As a former veterinary technician, observation and documentation come second nature. We track outcomes and refine our program based on what’s truly happening—not what trends suggest.

This program was born from the belief that we could do better. That dogs deserve more than impressive pedigrees and clean surface tests. That genetic insight—combined with structure, temperament, and performance—can lead to something greater.

This is Monumental Mastiffs.

Where hybrid vigor meets science.

Where structure meets purpose.

Where every litter is a step forward.

We breed mastiffs to be more than beautiful—they’re balanced, resilient, and intentionally designed for long, fulfilling lives.