My husband
Chris Alexander and I have been breeding and showing Mastiffs for 20 years under the kennel name of Ironclad Mastiffs.
We are breeders
of multiple Best in Show, Best in Specialty show winning Mastiffs.
Including multiple Westminster Dog Show Best of breeds,
and Westminster Group 3. Only three Mastiffs in history
of the Westminster dog show has taken a group placement.
Learn more about our Mastiffs Here
Some of our Mastiffs that we have bred have gone onto earn not only championship titles, but have also earned (CD) obedience (CGC) canine good citizens and (TDI) registered therapy dog International, working dog abilities in Carting, five star health tested and a MCOA Gold Health Awards.
Mary with three generations of
Mastiffs
Our
Therapy work in Hospitals and educational
programs for children...
The story of Coastie starts with our pet Mastiff a registered therapy dog we had named Promise.
Promise had an injury as a puppy and I was told she
would never be able to show. But I knew there is much more to a dog than any show title and I had to find what that was.
Promise is known for more than just being the
matriarch around here. She is
known and loved by thousands of children as "Coastie the Coast Guard Safety
Dog."
Still looking and thinking of ways to share with the world the great gift our dog had, we came up with a educational safety program which was devised to help keep kids safe through the use of the Promise (aka Coastie)
and a new coloring book.
My husband, an Officer and Pilot for the Coast Guard, and I created the "Coastie"
character to teach children the importance of safety. We created a safety
coloring book which was adopted by the U.S. Coast Guard and Promise brought the
"Coastie" character to life. She saw over 3700 children at 7 different New
England schools and at the Boston Children's Museum as part of an outreach
program with the Coast Guard. She also had a role in a Coast Guard produced
public Safety Announcement (commercial) stressing water safety which was aired
in the Boston and Washington DC media markets. Coastie and all who worked in her
Safety Program all received a "Meritorious Team Commendation Award". Coastie and
her coloring book have gone around the world and has touched the hearts of
thousands of children.
I personally trained Promise to earn her Canine Good Citizen Test (CGC certification) and (TDI certification) with Therapy Dog International, Inc. We started visiting nursing homes and we met with much
enthusiasm by the residents..
P
romise never did earn her Champion title from the AKC, but she did earn the love and respect of everyone who knew her and she taught me so much about life.
She taught me more about life and the true meaning of
what "winning" is really all about. It's not
always about what you get, but what you give in life.
Promise is no longer with us. She has passed over the rainbow bridge into doggie heaven and we still miss her very much.
My husband,
Chris Alexander visiting a local nursing home with Promise.
Promise was trained by Mary Alexander and received her
Canine Good Citizen Test (CGC certification) and
(TDI certification) with Therapy Dog International, In
Promise & Chris Alexander teaching
children
how to be safe
Promise & Chris Alexander visiting a friend
at a local nursing home
Promise & Mary Alexander pictured helping
the girl Scouts earn their educational pet care badge.
My husband
Chris...
Chris was born and raised on a farm in southwestern Ohio. He was accepted into the United States Coast Guard Academy in Groton, CT in 1984 and graduated with a bachelor of science in electrical engineering. He served on a cutter for his first 3 years of duty until he was accepted into flight school. He attended Naval Flight Training in Pensacola, FL.
After two years of flight training he was qualified and assigned to fly the Falcon Jet, HU-25 at Coast Guard Air Station Cape Cod, MA. Chris has served 15 yrs of service has attained the rank as a full Commander.
Chris's routinely flies on homeland security missions and fisheries law enforcement, and Search and Rescue (SAR) flights.
Chris retired
from the USGC in 2007 as a full commander, and now works
protecting our homelands national intelligence.
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Chris was born and raised on a farm in southwestern Ohio. He was accepted into the United States Coast Guard Academy in Groton, CT in 1984 and graduated with a bachelor of science in electrical engineering. He served on a cutter for his first 3 years of duty until he was accepted into flight school. He attended Naval Flight Training in Pensacola, FL. 
