Terra de Castro-Castalia

First of all, like I’ve often said, what makes us different is the fact that I understand and feel my dogs as my everyday companions, my mates, my friends, my family. This goes without saying how terribly demanding and exacting I am in terms of quality, knowing only too well that there are plenty Bullmastiffs and dogs in general everywhere… dogs that can mate by themselves without our intervention and produce puppies alone, because that is no secret to anyone! And because it is so, I firmly believe that when somebody decides to go into breeding, it must be with just one purpose; that of intervening and interfering to improve what is there already. To ensure that the dogs they breed are not just “a few more dogs”, ordinary dogs, coarse dogs, common dogs, mediocre dogs, but the result of a careful, reasonable, reasoned, weighted, balanced, studied and controlled breeding, where nothing is left to sheer chance. Only then will the puppies become excellent, ideal, optimum adults; animals one can feel proud about, dogs that are worthy of admiration and the genuine representatives of their breed and their pedigree.

With all these preliminaries and keeping the standard always in mind, I have been breeding typical, sound and balanced Bullmastiffs for the past two decades. Dogs that I share with those who understand and value my steely and strict principles, my compromise with the Breed, with my dogs and with myself, my tight level of demand, my work, my effort and my sacrifice.

Oh-Oh y Xerxes de Castro-Castalia

It goes without saying that just as there are many different types of cars --big and small, sportive or station wagons, all carrying a steering wheel and a gearbox, an engine and four wheels, seats, dashboard and doors--… and one is free to chose anything from a Logan, a Kia, a Toyota or a Fiat, a Renault or an Audi, a Volkswagen, a Volvo, a Mercedes, a Jaguar, a Cadillac or better a Rolls Royce or an Aston Martin, depending always on each one’s criteria, assets and requirements… one is also free to chose a “CASTRO-CASTALIA” Bullmastiff or any other Bullmastiff in the world, depending only on personal belief and on what is important to the owner to be.

The funny part is that my opponents, accuse me of bragging too much about my background and my dogs and yet, just like a Classic said some 3,000 years ago “better it is to cause envy than compassion”.  And being totally honest, if I do brag and I may, I am just bragging about being highly proud of the quality of my dogs, whom I adore, but most of all, I will always brag about them being the sweetest, dearest, kindest, most faithful and obedient, devoted, sympathetic, well-meaning souls; dogs that are truly devoted to their families and who conquer anyone with their easygoing personalities, other than being perfectly typical and personifying the true nature of an exceptional quality Bullmastiff.

So, why should I feel ashamed of that? Why should I deny evidence? False modesty does not go with me. I am proud of my dogs and what they represent, as a result of a conscious, honest work where a lot of effort and sacrifice has been put into for quite some years. And as long as I can go to sleep quiet every night, knowing that what I have done has been done as best as I possibly can, I will go on feeling proud of my Bullmastiffs and my Breeding Programme. And I will continue thinking that only the fools and the ignorant spend their time reviling a job well done by another, instead of trying to follow it up.

(Original text written by Christina of Lima-Netto and Federico Baudin specifically for this web page and protected with Copyright. Not even whole can be reproduced not partially by any way, without Castro-Castalia's express assent in writing).