A year can be a long time. And sometimes all it takes are the first familiar faces to make it feel as though you only said goodbye yesterday.
That was exactly how it felt yesterday when we met again for our second Mastiff and Pug meetup at the barbecue shelter in Rascheid. That familiar feeling returned with the very first greetings – and with each new arrival, it became clearer how much we had all been looking forward to this day.
These were not unfamiliar visitors to us. We knew every one of our guests personally. Each was already connected to us through a dog, a shared experience or many conversations. That is why the day did not feel like an event with hosts and guests. It was simply a reunion with people who feel connected to us and our Mastiffs.
We Did Not Have to Start All Over Again
At our first Mastiff and Pug meetup in 2023, we did not yet know what might grow from the idea. This time, the question did not even cross our minds.
Many conversations simply continued where they had left off the previous time. There were stories, laughter and, of course, plenty of conversation about the dogs. No one needed to be entertained, and there was no need for an elaborate programme. What made it so enjoyable was simply that everyone had time for one another.
Sometimes people sat together at the tables; at other times, a small group gathered on the meadow. There always seemed to be something to talk about somewhere. The day found its own rhythm – relaxed, warm and without any sense that something particular had to happen.
The Reason This Community Exists
While we sat together, the dogs found their own places. Some explored the meadow, while others stayed with their families or quietly watched what was happening around them.
The Mastiffs were not an item on the day’s programme. They were the reason this group came together in the first place.
Through them, we came to know one another. They have given us countless reasons to stay in touch. And because of them, people come together who might otherwise never have met.
Once again, the Pugs moved among the large Mastiffs with impressive confidence. Large and small simply belonged together – just like their people.
We introduce our own Mastiffs and their different personalities on the Our English Mastiffs page.
A Meetup Everyone Helped to Make Possible
We were especially touched by how many people did more than simply attend and contributed something of their own. Cakes, drinks, dog treats, monetary donations and helping hands turned our invitation into a day that many people helped to shape together.
At some point, it no longer felt like our meetup to which others had been invited. It was a day that belonged to all of us.
We would also like to offer our heartfelt thanks to zookauf Nonnweiler-Otzenhausen for the wonderful discovery boxes, and to Josera Heimtier for the carrier bags containing toys and food samples. You gave our guests and their four-legged companions an additional reason to smile.
More Than a Date in the Calendar
To us, from the Celtic Mountain does not end at our own garden gate. It lives on in the connections that grow through our dogs and remain for many years.
Yesterday, that was something everyone could feel. An idea for a day together has grown into a reunion that many people look forward to and to which everyone contributes something of their own. A feeling like that can hardly be planned – and perhaps that is exactly what makes it so valuable.
If you would like to learn more about us and the story behind our breeding programme, you can find further insights on our About Us page.
As we said goodbye that evening, one thing already seemed certain: we would like to see you all again next year. Hopefully once more in beautiful weather, but above all in equally wonderful company.
Thank you for sharing this day with us.
Until we meet again – your Celtic Mountain family.
You can find more impressions of our Mastiffs and the experiences we share in our Gallery. If you would like to meet the dogs who live with us, you can find them on the Our English Mastiffs page.
Mastiff and Pug Meetup 2024 – Impressions from Rascheid
