Below are pictures and updates from Ari's new family in Jessup, MD. Click here to see pictures of Ari during her first 8 weeks at Deepwood Acres. Pictured below at 5 years. Ari is doing well and we just adore her.  We are part of a rescue organization called Dogs XL (for big dogs of course) and have had a couple fosters in our home; she has welcomed them into our home and helped nurse them back to health.  She is so spoiled, I'm happy she has to share sometimes!  She "helps" me with everything, always by my side when I'm cleaning, outside in the garden.  Sometimes we put her backpack on and have her pull branches and she loves flexing her working dog side.  When I work night shift at work, she is happy to help me nap right by my side.  In fact when I have to get up to go to work she moans and groans like a lazy teenager to get out of bed and get going...it is hilarious. Hope you are well, Whitney     Pictured below at 2 years.     Hi Sandy, Attached are our family photos with Ari.  The photographer said "I was so nervous when you said you had a mastiff because they're so big, but she's the best behaved dog or human I've ever worked with!" Hope you had a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! Whitney, Jacob, and of course Ari :)

Update received October 2010 - Pictured below over the past year.

10/28/10 Hi Sandy! Ari is doing wonderful, and we enjoy spending time with her.  We take her everywhere we can!  She traveled with us across the country to New Mexico for our wedding as she was the flower girl :)  She's been with us to Ashville, NC to tour the Biltmore house, camping in Virginia, Outer Banks NC to see the ocean and lots of other local trips in Maryland for hiking.  She is a wonderful companion and we love her to pieces.  She loves roadtrips, well she actually loves just about anything as long as it involves going with us!  We can't imagine our lives before her, because she has enriched it so much. She completed her intermediate training with flying colors and we're waiting to take the advanced class when she is closer to 2 years old so it will correspond to the Canine Good Citizen test.  I can't wait to take her the hospital with me; I know everyone will love her.  Everyone usually guesses that she is a "great dane mix" but Jacob and I enjoy telling them about our beautiful and sweet natured American Mastiff. I've enclosed some pictures.  I had alot of trouble picking because we have SO many pictures of her.  I picked some highlights of our travels in the past year. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for our girl, we just love her! Whitney and Jacob

Sandy,

I want to start by saying how thankful we are to you for the wonderful treasure that is now a part of our family!  Having Ari has been such a blessing, she is so much fun.  We have both been talking about having our own dog for so long, imagine my surprise when I came home to Jacob holding our new puppy!  Everyone comments the same things, first they say "Wow, look at those huge paws!" then they say "wow she is such a chill and relaxed puppy".  She truly is the gentle giant for which the breed is known for.  She follows Jacob and I everywhere and is very calm whenever new things happen... even the unexpected!  Car alarms, things dropping on the floor, thunderstorms, water... she takes it all in stride and doesn't let it stress her out one bit.  We're just so grateful to have her, she has been such a joy.  We finally feel like we're a family now :)

She went to the vet today for another round of puppy shots; and she weighed 46 lbs!  She has pretty consistently gained about 5 lb/week since we got her.  Ari also started puppy kindergarten on Monday; she is learning all kinds of new things and enjoys playing with the other dogs.  She already knows "sit" "look here" "crate" and some release commands, very smart puppy indeed!  We pretty much take her everywhere she is allowed with us, she loves car rides and trying new things.  We are just truly grateful for this wonderful addition to our family, she is a wonderful dog.  Attached are some pictures of her first couple months here!

Whitney and Jacob

Sandy,

Whitney was REALLY shocked and so excited.  She had NO idea!  It was really neat and Ari took to her quickly... though she takes to everybody pretty quick.

We took Ari with us to see some friends and help them move some furniture and they both just hung out, Ari loved going up to all the new people.  She met a little girl (who ran up at her - yikes) but she was sooo calm about it, it was great.  She was on the leash (though that was mostly for looks, she doesn't need it hardly, just follows us around) and is doing better with resisting.  She also met another dog who scared her at first but a minute later she was back and happy.

She slept downstairs last night and it went well.  Some crying but 2 potty breaks and she was OK.  I am going to enforce the 1 break a night though (Whitney wants to take her out whenever she hears crying) and I make sure she isn't crying anymore when I do go get her.  She has had two accidents in the house but those were definintely my fault - circling / sniffing means take me outside!

EVERYONE comments how relaxed and well behaved she is and it's great to have such a loving pup.

Jacob