August 2001

Comairc was born March 1990, one of a litter of 13. His mother, Beathag (�Life�), real name � Dark Crystal, was also well named. She produced 44 offspring in 3 litters. Beathag�s father, Huegenes Golden Apollo, was once Britain�s biggest dog at 17 � stone (245 lbs.) of bone and muscle.
Comairc�s first placement broke down and his owner returned him to me at 5 � months old, with tears in his eyes. Mrs. Prosser of Aicama bought him from me, but then let him go. Having spent a short time in a London pub, he ended up with the afore-mentioned gentleman in Wales.
I kept in touch with this gentleman and the first indication of Comer�s quality of spirit was the report of him having crashed through a �stock fence �consisting of 4� x 4� uprights, with �� thick planking fixed horizontally across, in pursuit of �something�.
Indication number two were the accounts of his three battles with a younger mastiff called Otis, a brother to Dawnbrook the Widget Man. Past his best, smaller and considerably out-weighed, Comairc always ensured that Otis had to be repaired by the vet. As it was told to me, he would always �find his way in� from underneath Otis.

Another tale testifying to his abilities was of his �mutton dinner�. Late one evening he was observed the front entrance of the cottage, ��his belly nearly touching the ground and bits of fleece around his mouth�.
Like any good mastiff, he was an escape artist and, being hungry, had departed the premises. This was a feat in itself, as it was something of a fortress, in order to prevent surprise visits by the police. He then located the nearest meal and carried back with as much as he could in his stomach. The scene of the �crime� was eventually located, with the remaining bits of the unfortunate sheep scattered about.

Since coming back here in 1997, Comairc has been of much interest to my observations on Mastiffs. He loves bones and will even finish demolishing one before considering a meal I have put down for him � a true Borophagine (�Hyaena-dog� or �Bone-cruncher�). Breagh, a teenage bitch was intent on availing herself of a bone Comairc had stashed away up in the garden. Comairc had chased her off several times and sat guarding it. Breagh made what was to be her final attempt to steal the bone and Comairc ensured that it was her final attempt. As she approached, he got up and lowered his whole aspect. Snarling and swiping with alternate front paws from the outside to the inside, he charged her. She retreated at speed backwards, totally forgetting the pool behind her, which duly extinguished any desire left for Comairc�s bone!

Finally, last year (2000 AD) I allowed Comairc to mate a newly matured virgin bitch. There were no pups, nor were there any expected as he had not been on a bitch for four almost four years. His performance, however, was highly creditable, even for a mastiff half his age � he was 10 years old. Even now, a year later, on his good days, (usually when the bitches are in season), he moves better than many I have seen in the show-ring.

Comairc is not a magnificent specimen. Maybe 30� at the shoulder, a little lacking in substance, a trifle short in the back and now slightly blind. His magnificence, however, is in his personality, strength of character and indomitable spirit, embodying all the best that distuinguishes the Mastiff.

Peter Cattanach-Chell

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