Dave and Mary Sheely moved here from Cincinnati three years ago with their dog, a large breed called a Newfoundland. Then, sadly that dog passed away.

With their dog now gone, they would come home and it, "felt like someone stole our furniture." Mary said.

After swearing they would never get another large dog, on a trip to the pound two weeks later, they saw a large dog, called an English Mastiff with long hair, a variation of the breed sometimes called Fluffies, and they had to have him.

"We didn't know what he was when we first got him until Dave did some research," Mary said. Then it was time to decide what to call him.

"Dave said 'we should call him Sofa because it's like our furniture's back.' ", Mary explained.

He's almost the size of small couch weighing in at 180 pounds. Dahlia, while smaller is also a big dog.

They don't really jump on the furniture much since they are frankly too large for it.

Fluffy English Mastiffs are not common so owners tend to find one another online. Some friends in Austin, Texas told them about a Fluffy Mastiff, a puppy, 30 pounds underweight that was due to be put down. After seeing some photos they paid to rescue her and have her shipped to Seattle. She was promptly named Dahlia (sometimes now referred to as Dilly) and she was a great addition to the household.

The dogs get along well together but even though Sofa outweighs her by 50 pounds he knows who's boss. The Sheely's will be watching TV and hear him whimpering in the kitchen. When they look to see what is happening, they find Dahlia stretched across the doorway blocking the way. "He could totally step over her, but he won't" Mary offered.

Dahila has a funny behavior with the Sheelys too. When she wants them to get up, she will thump her tail on the wall, "so hard you you think the plaster is coming loose," Dave said, and emit a 'happy growl,' urging them to rise and shine.

Fluffy English Mastiffs, are so named because they have a recessive gene which produces the longer hair. This can lead them to being higher maintenance animals and might be the reason they are sometimes rescue dogs. Breeders don't show them because it is not breed standard.

Mary said of Dahlia, "She's just the sweetest,"

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