Training - Teach your dog the "down" command when he is in the sitting position

Teach your dog the "down" command when he is in the sitting position. Step to the side to give him room, then use your hand (with a piece of hot dog) to guide him down to the ground with a sweeping motion while you say "Down." He should follow the hot dog with his nose as you stretch your hand down to the ground and out in front of him. Push down between his shoulder blades to show him what you want him to do. Then reward him by dropping the treat between his front legs.

This will take a lot of repetition, but he will get it if you are consistent. This command comes with an "automatic stay," so he should stay in the down position until you release him with the command "OK!" Keep repeating the word "down" while he is in the position, so he will know you want him to stay until released. When you say "OK!" it should be in a very upbeat, happy voice.

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Training - Teach your Mastiff to walk nicely on a leash

Begin obedience training by teaching your Mastiff to walk nicely on a leash. Let him walk ahead of you a bit on the long lead. As he begins to pull, pop the leash firmly (using the slip chain collar) to get his attention. Say the word "Easy" loudly and firmly, then change your direction. The idea is to get him to stop, look at you and then change direction with you.

Be sure to praise him when he does this. This command also works in teaching him to walk slowly alongside you without pulling. Just use the same technique, but without changing your direction. It is important not to tug or haul him around with that leash. He should be learning to follow you with a very loose lead. Pulling will only cause more problems. The "Easy" command can also be used as a correction if he is acting aggressive towards a person or another animal. Be sure you keep your voice strong.

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Training - Use treats to teach the dog the basic commands

Use treats to teach the dog the basic commands. Sliced hot dogs are inexpensive and all dogs like them. Slice them into nickel sized pieces, and keep them in a pack around your waist for easy access. Have your Mastiff sit for you, and reward her when she is sitting calmly, close to you and looking up into your eyes. This is called "focused attention." Keep repeating the Sit" command until she does this correctly without you having to push her back end down. If she is hesitating to go down, raise your hand with the treat up over her head and slowly push it towards her back end. This will force her nose up and back, and make her much more likely to sit on her own.

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Training - Start socializing your dog

Start socializing your dog. The socialization process simply means that you take her into different environments and get her used to meeting people and other dogs on a regular basis. Some Mastiffs are very friendly towards strangers, and others are more standoffish. Do not force her to take affection from strangers. If she is uncomfortable, simply tell people it is not a good idea to pet her. The goal is to get your dog comfortable with you and with being in various surroundings before you begin to train her.

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Training - Establish yourself as the pack leader with your dog

Establish yourself as the pack leader with your dog, and make sure all members of the household do the same. The Mastiff can be a very affectionate dog, and may demand your affection by jumping up on you or barking. It is important that you do not allow this. You decide when he gets petted, when he is fed and when he goes outside.

When you do take him out, you should be the one who walks through the door first. Also, while you are training the dog, do not let him sleep in bed with you. The pack leader sleeps in the bed, and the dog sleeps in his bed on the floor or in a crate. Down the road, when your dominance has been established, you can bring your dog into the bed with you if you like.

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Training - Fit your dog with a slip chain collar

Fit your dog with a slip chain collar (found at pet supply stores). Make sure it is the one made for very large dogs. It should be snug enough so that it will not snag on things and get pulled off, but loose enough that you can fit about two fingers between the collar and your dog's neck. These collars do not hurt your dog, but merely give you the control you need so you can contain her and make sure she does not get away from you and get into a dangerous situation.

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Puppy care - Supervise your new dog's outdoor time

Supervise your new dog's outdoor time. Make sure he has lots of fresh water and shade. Mastiff dogs can get heat stroke if precautions are not taken. Other dangers to young pups left unobserved outdoors include theft, attacks from other animals, and chewing or swallowing something other than his food or approved toys. When buying your pet chew toys, check to see that he can't chew it into pieces that could be swallowed. Foreign bodies in his intestine could necessitate surgery to remove them, putting your dog's life in danger.

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Puppy care - Be patient

Be patient. The mastiff puppy will be a "pup" well into his second year, as it takes the very large breeds that long to completely mature physically. Be gentle and firm; insist that your puppy respect you.

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Puppy care - Monitor your mastiff puppy's social skills

Monitor your mastiff puppy's social skills. Because this breed is notorious for its serious attitude and stubbornness, you should not allow any rough play or biting, as this will be an enormous dog when grown. He could hurt you or others without intending to do so.

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Puppy care - Vaccinate and worm your pet

Vaccinate and worm your pet. Also, put your new puppy on heart worm preventative as soon as your veterinarian suggests it. Your breeder should have furnished you with his medical chart, which will be updated by your veterinarian on each visit.

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Puppy care - Feed your pup for optimal growth

Feed your puppy for optimal growth. Diet is vitally important to the growth of this breed of dog. A raw diet is recommended, consisting mostly of chicken, beef, bones, and eggs. It is important that the diet is balanced, and it's also important that your pup does not gain too much weight while he is growing, as that would create hip and joint problems.

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Owner guide - Mastiff’s can reach 200 pounds or more

Mastiff’s can reach 200 pounds or more, make sure you make the decision to purchase a Mastiff puppy wisely.

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Owner guide - Slobbering and passing gas

Mastiffs are known for both their slobbering and passing gas. Keep an old towel handy for wiping up the drools both on you and the furniture.

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Owner guide - Mastiff puppyhood lasts longer than for most dog breeds

Mastiff puppyhood lasts longer than for most dog breeds. A Mastiff isn’t considered an adult dog until he or she is 18 to 24 months old.

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Owner guide - Show patience with housebreaking

Show patience with housebreaking. Mastiffs want nothing more than to please their humans, so this is generally accomplished quickly.

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Owner guide - Train your puppy to a leash

Train your puppy to a leash as soon as possible. Mastiff’s can reach 200 pounds at adulthood and the last thing you want is to be pulled around by the grown dog.

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Owner guide - Dog toys

Give you puppy several heavy duty dog toys designed for big dogs. This will help keep him from chewing on things he’s not supposed too.

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Owner guide - Provide the Mastiff puppy with a bed of his own

Provide the Mastiff puppy with a bed of his own. This can be as simple as an old quilt on the floor or as elaborate as a high-end dog bed.

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Owner guide - Keep water available for your Mastiff puppy at all times

Keep water available for your Mastiff puppy at all times. Due to their slobbering nature, you will need to change the water several times a day.

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Owner guide - Divide the recommended amount of feed over three meals a day to start

Divide the recommended amount of feed over three meals a day to start. Mastiffs tend to gobble their food and by offering smaller amounts at each feeding, they are less liable to be attacked by bloat. Bloat can kill a Mastiff before you can reach your vet. After six months, you can split the feeding between two meals.

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Owner guide - Feed your Mastiff puppy a good quality puppy pet food until he is three or four months old

Feed your Mastiff puppy a good quality puppy pet food until he is three or four months old. After that, switch to an adult food. Mastiff’s should not be encouraged to grow too quickly as this can put stress on their bones and cause health problems later in life.

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Owner guide - Allow your new Mastiff puppy to get used to your home for a few days before training

Allow your new Mastiff puppy to get used to your home for a few days before trying to do any type of training. Many puppies are fearful after leaving their mothers for a new home.

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Owner guide - Buy your Mastiff puppy from a reputable breeder

Buy your Mastiff puppy from a reputable breeder. Be aware of all the conditions in the contract for purchase. Type Mastiff in a search engine to find the many sites devoted to this wonderful dog. Many sites also list breeders that have met the standard for AKC accreditation.

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DOG FAQ - Do mastiffs Shed?

Yes, like most breeds, Mastiffs shed approximately twice a year. But, the short, sleek Mastiff coat is less objectionable, when it sheds, than the coats of many long-haired breeds. A daily brushing will prevent accumulation of hair around the house.

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DOG FAQ - Do Mastiffs pass gas?

Yes. Actually, like humans, it depends on how the Mastiff reacts to the food it eats, so using a good dog food should minimize the problem. If a dog can digest its food properly, it shouldn't have gas. Different dogs do best on different foods. If a Mastiff should get gas in spite of your best efforts, watch out. It is overpowering.

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DOG FAQ - Do Mastiffs need a lot of exercise?

About as much as you do. Most Mastiffs are like most humans; they can manage a sedentary life reasonably well - but, also like most humans, they reach a physical peak with a moderate degree of exercise. It is important that you NOT over exercise any Mastiff under 2 years of age. Up until this age (and sometimes later) their skeleton is still developing.

Since Mastiffs tend to be stoic, and also will do just about anything to be with and please their people, they can easily end up with an inflamed joint or other problems like those that beset humans who run for exercise.

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DOG FAQ - Do Mastiffs make good obedience dogs?

By nature, Mastiffs are eager to please. This makes them good Obedience dogs. But like any other breed, temperaments vary between individuals, so some Mastiffs are better candidates for the Obedience ring than others.

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DOG FAQ - Do Mastiffs Dig?

Seriously, though, many Mastiffs do like to dig.

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DOG FAQ - Do Mastiffs Chew?

As for chewing, puppies of any breed need to be given durable toys that they know it is OK to chew. Any time you catch your Mastiff puppy chewing on anything except its own chew toys, take the forbidden item away from it, and give it a chew toy, and encourage the dog to chew on its own toy. Praise it when it DOES chew on its own toy. Repeat as necessary (remember, we told you these dogs are stubborn!)

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DOG FAQ - Do Mastiffs Bite?

Any dog bites if hurt, frightened, or threatened, but a Mastiff that is properly trained and socialized will typically not bite except as a very last resort. Do NOT let a puppy (of any age) bite anyone or anything (except its litter mates) in play, since they NEED to know that biting is not allowed. They will still bite if there is an absolute necessity, but will not try it any other times.

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DOG FAQ - Do Mastiffs Bark much?

Puppies are puppies in most breeds. Young Mastiffs tend to bark more than adults because of the excitement of play. Adult Mastiffs rarely bark except when you first arrive home, or they hear a sound they want you to investigate, like a doorbell. Most Mastiffs will howl if they hear a siren close by, since it sounds like a howl such as wild dogs would respond to.

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DOG FAQ - How about Weight of Mastiff?

Adult males Mastiff generally run about 160-230 pounds, females Mastiff are normally between 120-170 pounds. Males over 200 pounds are not too uncommon and a few females reach these weights.

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DOG FAQ - How much does a Mastiff eat?

Probably not as much as you think. Pound for pound, the larger the dog the less food it needs for each pound of body weight. Exactly how much food your Mastiff needs depends on many factors including its size, age and activity level. Feed your Mastiff a good quality dog food, balanced diet - low on table scraps - and don't let him get too fat.

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DOG FAQ - What are Mastiffs like in the house?

Clean, quiet, and undemanding. Heaven to a Mastiff is a rug beside his owner's chair. Mastiffs are naturally clean (except for slobber), and quick to housebreak. Most adult Mastiffs don't chew what they shouldn't, and they don't get on the furniture (unless you let them).

If you do let your young Mastiff on the sofa, just remember that they grow FAST, and it is unfair and quite unreasonable to let the dog learn to enjoy something, and then decide the dog is too big to get up there any more. Mastiffs have long memories, and are much easier to train correctly the first time than to retrain to get rid of bad habits.

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DOG FAQ - How much does a Mastiff cost?

The average asking price for a Mastiff puppy is $2000-2500.

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DOG FAQ - Can mastiff dogs be outside dogs?

The Mastiff is usually a quiet, calm dog. They rarely bark unless provoked. Mastiffs are great outside dogs that need exercise.

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DOG FAQ - What is the height of a mastiff?

Mastiff's can average 27 1/2 inches to 36 inches in height and weight 120-230 lbs.

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DOG FAQ - What is the biggest mastiff?

The largest dog ever is Hercules! He is a 282-pound English Mastiff with a 38-inch neck!

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DOG FAQ - Does the Mastiff Shy?

Because of their great sensitivity, Mastiffs who are not throughly socialized when young can very easily become shy of strange people, places, and animals.
Shyness can be both inherited and/or the result of inadequate socialization. This is why puppy kindergarten, obedience classes over an extended period of time,
and visits to parks are extremely important to the development of your Mastiff. If you do not have the time to do these things with and for your Mastiff, you need to think over whether you are in a position to do right by a dog, at least at this point in your life.

A shy dog is an uneasy, unhappy dog. If your dog is more shy than the average, then it is more important than ever to get the right amount of gentle, gradual socialization with lots of positive reinforcement for all its friendly, confident, non-shy actions.

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DOG FAQ - Are the Mastiffs protective?

Mastiffs are protective. However, many people do not understand the difference between protection and aggression. If a dog growls when there is no danger, that is aggression, NOT protection. A protective dog has the judgment to see when there is a real risk of danger, and therefore, if you have a truly protective dog, you may never know it till you are in danger.

The protective instinct is shown in subtle ways, such as the Mastiff tending to stand between their person and a stranger. Many people who have kids discover that they can't spank a kid in front of the Mastiff -- it looks worried and gets in between the parent and child! Couples who sometimes play-wrestle together have reported their Mastiff trying to stop them for fear it is a fight.

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DOG FAQ - Are Mastiffs good guard dogs?

Mastiffs are excellent guard dogs. They go to the door and bark, their hackles stand up, and they look formidable, but Mastiffs, as a breed, are not trigger-happy. They have a gentle, rather than an
aggressive, nature.

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DOG FAQ - Are Mastiff Fighters?

Mastiffs, with their gentle natures, do not have the instincts that dog fighters are looking for. Their
protective instincts make them actually the opposite to the aggressive fighting personality. However, Mastiffs will, at times, fight among themselves, or with other dogs, for the typical canine reasons such as pack dominance and sexual competition. Two 190 pound adult male Mastiffs in combat for pack leadership can be next to impossible, as well as exceedingly dangerous, to separate.

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DOG FAQ - Are the mastiff easy to train?

Both easy and difficult. Mastiffs are smart, and live to please. However, they go through phases where they are also stubborn, and these phases can last anywhere from a few weeks a couple of times in puppyhood to (in some cases) the lifetime of the dog.

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DOG FAQ - What are Mastiffs good for?

Mastiffs excel as companions, family members, therapy workers and as watch dogs. Mastiffs have also done well,when properly trained and conditioned, at carting, tracking, obedience, conformation showing, search andrescue, and weight pulling. They are also great foot warmers and couch potatoes.

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MASTIFF AND CHILDREN

Mastiffs are excellent dogs around children, and seem to have a special sense of the fragile nature of small children. Mastiffs are very tolerant of the abuse that small children can inflict upon them, including pulling their ears, sitting on them, tugging at the tails, etc.; and they love to lick the faces of children. They will become protective of children in the house; often wanting to place themselves between children and strangers that may come to the house. Mastiffs will never intentionally hurt a child, but because of their size you do need to be careful with small children that may get bumped by a Mastiff walking by, or swatted by a Mastiff’s wagging tail.

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TRAINING

The training of your Mastiff, you should begin as soon as you acquire the dog. You can do the training yourself, or you can hire a professional trainer to do the work. Local dog training classes are usually available; they will be listed in the newspaper, or your veterinarian can recommend a trainer.

Obedience training sessions should be short, but frequent; ten to fifteen minute sessions, two or three times a day will be sufficient. If your training sessions are too long, your Mastiff will become bored. The best training time is before meals. If you work with your dog before it eats, it will begin to associate it meal as a reward for the training sessions.

Before giving a word command to your Mastiff, speak its name to get its attention; then speak a one-word command such as sit, stay, or heel. Do not get impatient, you will probably have to repeat the command many times. Never use negative reinforcement; do not call your dog to come to you for punishment because this will teach your dog not to come on command.

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FEEDING

Feeding : The amount of food that Mastiff eats and the number of times per day that Mastiff is fed changes as it matures. As a puppy, it should be fed small portions frequently. While it is young, the puppy’s activity level is high and you will want to be sure that it is eating enough to develop properly and steadily gain weight. Basically, a Mastiff should be fed four times a day until it reaches three months of age. Between the ages of three to six months, give the puppy three meals a day, the portions being slightly larger than before. After six months, there should be two meals a day; and at one year of age, there should be only one meal. You could also feed your dog some dry biscuits in the morning and evening if it is having only one meal per day.

Once the Mastiff becomes an adult, it’s important to keep in mind that it does not need to be given as much food; obesity can be a problem if not monitored closely. When your Mastiff is a year old, you may decide to feed it in the evenings when your family has its meal. The Mastiff’s meal can also be divided into two smaller portions, one given in the morning and one at night. Never over-feed your dog; since it will not turn down food, it’s up to you to monitor its eating habits and provide a reasonable amount. Remember to keep a bowl of fresh clean water near your Mastiff’s food bowl at all times.

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HEALTH INFORMATION

Mastiff can be expected to live for only 6 to 10 years. These dogs have some health problems about hip dysplasia, heart defects, cancer, kidney disease and eyelid (entropion) disorders. Mastiffs should be fed 2 or 3 smaller meals per day as they are subject to bloat. They are subject to heat stroke in hot and humid weather.

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TEMPERAMENT

Temperament of Mastiff is a great family dog that is calm, dignified, good-natured, gentle, loyal, and very fond of children. Because of its giant size, toddlers are in danger of knock-down, and should always be supervised carefully. Mastiffs need a house with a large fenced yard. Some fully grown mastiffs can adapt to apartment living if given regular exercise.

This breed needs lots of companionship and should have early and on-going socialisation and obedience training. This intelligent and good-natured dog responds well to early obedience training and you must be able to control this giant breed with voice commends.

Mastiffs tend to drool and slobber a lot and will wheeze and snore loudly. This breed is naturally protective of its home and family and must be socialised early and often with other dogs to prevent it from becoming combative. Mastiffs make good watch dogs and guard dogs. They should have an experienced owner who knows how to manage them.

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GROOMING

Mastiffs require minimal grooming except when shedding and then brushing with a rubber brush will remove loose hairs.

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COAT AND COLOR

The Mastiff coat color is fawn, apricot, or brindle. The brindle should have fawn or apricot as a background color so that it appears striped. A small patch of white may appear on the chest.

The Mastiff has a double coat. The outer coat is straight, coarse and moderately short. The undercoat is dense, short, and lies close to the body. There should be no fringe on the belly, tail or legs.

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GENERAL APPEARANCE

All the Mastiffs are heavy-boned dogs with a massive head and well-developed muscles.
Though all the Mastiffs can boast a huge weight, English Mastiffs are leading. This breed is considered the heaviest dog known today. This fact is reflected in the Guinness Book of World Records. An English Mastiff weighing about 286 pounds became famous thanks to its outstanding size.

The Neapolitan Mastiff standard states that a dog should weigh about 110-150 pounds depending on the sex. However, this breed does not seem to be willing to get behind English Mastiffs. Larger dogs appear to be more awesome, which is highly valued by those wanting to have guard dogs in their homes. This feature is rather influential in the process of breeding. In fact, many breeders and owners prefer having Neapolitan Mastiffs that are over 150 pounds. Thus, they appear to be much larger than in the standard.

As for Dogue de Bordeaux, there is no significant weight difference in males and females. The Dogue de Bordeaux weighs usually 120-145 pounds.

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START TO KNOW

The Old English Mastiff is one of the heaviest breeds; a male Mastiff can exceed 200 pounds. This dog is very massive, powerful and muscular. The head is heavy and square with a short muzzle. There is a black mask around the eyes and nose no matter what the general coat color. The eyes are small, dark, and hazel. The small ears should also be dark-colored. The teeth should meet in a scissors or slightly undershot bite. The tail is set quite high, tapers to the tip, and reaches to the hocks. The short coat comes in golden fawn, light fawn, brindle, silver, tiger, and apricot and is easy to groom. In the eighteenth century it was described as follows:

"As a lion is to a cat, so is a mastiff compared to a dog."

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INTRODUCTION

Welcome to our Mastiff dog blog. Here you will learn about Mastiff health care, any tips and you can find good experiences from many people who love Mastiff.

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