Belvoir Castle
We are AKC Breeders of Merit!!
AKC Bred With Heart



e-piph-a-ny (noun) [Middle English. Date: 14th century]
(1) : a usually sudden manifestation or perception of the essential nature or meaning of something
(2) : an intuitive grasp of reality through something (as an event) usually simple and striking
(3) : (a) an illuminating discovery, realization, or disclosure, (b) a revealing scene or moment
From Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary, Eleventh Edition



"What the Lion is to the Cat
the Mastiff is to the Dog,
the noblest of the family;
he stands alone,
and all others sink before him.
His courage does not exceed
his temper and generosity,
and in attachment he equals
the kindest of his race."
Cynographia Britannica - 1800


We are Candi Thore and Tracy Thore. We live on 7 acres that is mostly wooded in the small farming community of Waverly in Southeast Virginia which is located half way between Richmond and Virginia Beach where you see lots of cows, pigs, chickens, goats, corn fields and peanut fields. Waverly is located in Virginia's world famous peanut region and is the home of the first Peanut Museum in the USA. It is also across the river from historic Williamsburg!


We enjoy showing our Mastiffs and occasionally breed them for the betterment of the breed only, averaging approximately one litter per year. In addition to the Mastiffs that we own, we also own two mini pigs, chickens and Guineas. We also raise bees that we harvest the honey they make. Our Mastiffs live in the house, but are confined to a fenced in area when outside in the fenced yard.

We got our first Mastiff in 2001 a few days after the Twin Towers were attacked in New York City, we fell in love with the breed and knew there had to be more Mastiffs in our lives. Candi used to breed Persian cats many years ago before she married Tracy, and together we used to breed German Shepherds. We mutually agreed that we wanted to breed only Mastiffs since they are the best breed of dogs in the world. You could say we had an "Epiphany". There is a saying heard in the Mastiff world that "Mastiffs are like potato chips...you can't have just one!" We found that to be true rather quickly. We wanted to breed them so that one day we would produce the best Mastiff ever!

Candi is at home nearly all the time so she can play with, nurture and take care of the puppies/dogs. Tracy is a software developer by day, he helps Candi by doing all the hard jobs needed to keep the operation running smoothly here at our home and he sometimes assists Candi with the website. He plays electric guitar and sings in a local band a few times a month, and yet incredibly somehow he manages to find the time to be our dog show handler too!

All of our Mastiffs are registered with the AKC (American Kennel Club), and come from excellent Championship bloodlines. Some of the sires/dams and grandsires/granddams which are in our pedigrees are CH Avalon Tucson Warrior, BISS CH Iron Hills Warwagon, CH Iron Hills Warwagon, BISS CH Regal Hills Sudden Impact, BISS CH Matts Joshua-Dogwood Knoll, BIS/BISS CH Old Schools Primo Remo Major, CH Creekview's King Henry of Safe Haven, CH Iron Hills Portfolio, CH Iron Hills Earned Interest, BIS CH Southports Prime Impact, CH Southports Slick Willie, Ch Southports Deeper Impact, CH Night Stalker Enchantress, CH Night Stalker KD Brandybuck, CH Lionhearted Maximum Power, Lionhearted Man In Black, Lionhearted King of Midnight, CGC and many other Best In Show winners, Best in Specialty Show winners, and many MCOA Hall of Fame winners. You don't have to go very far back in the pedigrees to see these dogs since they are all closely related to dogs we own. Go to our pedigree page to view our bloodlines.

At Epiphany Mastiffs we strive to breed for health, longevity, gentle temperaments, true breed type, excellent conformation, companionship, and courage to ensure that your pet will be great with children, adults and other animals. We have never used our Mastiffs or puppies to supplement our incomes, and never would! We have spent quite a fortune on our animals for their happiness, comfort, health and not to mention their food. We are privileged to have these Gentle Giants in our lives and we wouldn't have it any other way!

Raising our four legged "children" is our hobby and what a wonderful hobby it is! They are a part of our family and we treat them as such! We are not a kennel and our Mastiffs live in the house with us, go outside to play every day (weather permitting) and come inside every night to sleep wherever they please. On hot days they like to stay indoors where it is cool. On cold days they like to stay indoors where it is warm. We do not keep them in kennels or crates except when it is absolutely necessary.

All puppies are born and raised in the house. We crate train all puppies that we raise for their safety. They are given supplemental bottle feedings along with receiving their own mother's milk to assist in their human socialization. They are raised with continuous human bonding and socializing provided by both Candi and her wonderfully patient husband, Tracy. We are there with them when they take their first breath, when they open their eyes, when they begin to walk, and when they eat their first puppy "mush" meal. When you receive one of our puppies you will know that your new best friend has known nothing but love from day one! They are taught how to play with toys and are socialized as much as possible before leaving to go to their new homes at 8 weeks of age. They are all Puppy Aptitude Tested to ensure each puppy is placed in the home that is suitable for its temperament. We know each puppy's temperament and disposition and know how each of them will react in different situations because we have been there with them from the day they were born.

To help in our puppy's early development and socialization we use a Neurological stimulation method published by Dr. Carmen L. Battaglia. We start using this method on our puppies shortly after birth and it helps us to raise better puppies. In using these methods we aim to produce life long lasting effects that are positive for the Mastiff breed. Since we have started using this method our puppies are "bomb proof". Our goal is to create Mastiffs that have more stable temperaments and are less disturbed or upset by new situations. The other benefits to using this method is that they have improved cardio vascular performance (heart rate), stronger heart beats, stronger adrenal glands, more tolerance to stress and greater resistance to disease. We try to give newborn puppies a head start on life and a life long advantage over others who were not stimulated by these methods.

We do not breed often, and when we do we will have the parents to our puppies on our grounds so they can be checked out by any potential new owners. There are occasions when we do an outside breeding and that parent will not be on site, but we will be able to provide information about the absent parent if requested.

We believe in the importance of pedigrees and genetic health testing on the Mastiffs used in our breeding program. Our dogs are OFA (Orthopedic Foundation for Animals) tested for hips, elbows, patellas, and Cardiac. DNA genetic tested for DM (Degenerative Myelopathy), CMR (Canine Multifocal Retinopathy), PRA (Progressive Retinal Atrophy), and Cystinuria.

Each puppy that is placed by us comes with a written health guarantee for 2 years for hips and elbows that is included in our contract. All shots and wormings are current and up to date at the time of placement. Show puppies will be placed with full registration on a co-ownership basis. Companion/pet puppies will be placed with a spay/neuter contract and limited registration.

We are very selective about where our Mastiffs are placed, and who we breed to. Before we consider any breeding, we will require the minimum following OFA health tests: hips, elbows, DM, and PRA. We will also require proof of AKC registration. We will not place or breed any Mastiff without the signing of our contract first. By signing one of our contracts, the new owner guarantees Epiphany Mastiffs that no animal placed by us will ever be sold, placed, have ownership transferred, abandoned or turned over to any type of rescue group, animal shelter or pound. We require that an online questionnaire be submitted before the placement of any of our puppies. The purpose of the questionnaire is to ensure that our pets go to a home that is suitable for the animal.

Thank you for taking the time to learn about who we are, our goals and information about our contracts.



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