Hello New English Mastiff Mom from London Ontario

[Aries]

Hi thought joining this forum would be a great idea. Our family was finally able to welcome home our 11 week old male English Mastiff pup "Aries". After losing our senior Boxer/Pitbull cross to cancer in 2014 I needed time for my heart to heal, so I researched breeds and after deciding on the English Mastiff I spent the next two years learning as much about them as I could. Now after finding a fabulous breeder, passing their screening, waiting a year and half for his arrival he's finally home and snuggled up across my lap. I couldn't be more thrilled. I have started him on Acana large breed puppy food and have been giving him a cup in the morning, a heaping 1/2 cup at lunch and a cup for supper. Wondering if this sounds good to experienced Mastiff owners. Also wondering about giving him a glucosamine supplement should I or is high end food enough?

 

[Boxergirl]

Ah, he's gorgeous! Welcome to you both. I use the guidelines on the bag as a starting point for feeding and then go by body condition. If he looks good then keep doing what you're doing and adjust as necessary. Slim is better than chubby for our giants.

 

[Michele]

Welcome!!

 

[DennasMom]

I'd recommend adding some joint supplements... but I'm not sure what the best age is to start those... hopefully someone else will chime in here soon on that question.
Fish oil is another good adder when feeding a dry kibble. No matter how much they try to put in a food, the dry stuff can't hold enough omega 3's without them going rancid before you're done with the bag.

 

[Nik]

Welcome to the forum! He is so cute!

 

[Bailey's Mom]

I'd recommend adding some joint supplements... but I'm not sure what the best age is to start those... hopefully someone else will chime in here soon on that question.
Fish oil is another good adder when feeding a dry kibble. No matter how much they try to put in a food, the dry stuff can't hold enough omega 3's without them going rancid before you're done with the bag.

I'm with DeannasMom on this one, I fed Acana large breed puppy at the beginning, but I also supplemented with fish oil/stock and eventually all other meats (except pork) Large Breeds can develop problems with their joints and fish oils and glucosimine (ph) are a good additive. I have a CC, so I'd be more inclined with an EM to make sure those supplements are there and that growth is adjusted for with the supplements.

He's a charmer. Oh, puppy days...how happy and joyful they were! Take lots of pictures and love on your little one. Generous amounts of Love helps grow good, well balanced dogs. Get him out meeting other dogs and let him make friends (BUT, not before he has his shots up-to-date.) Encourage him to be a good dog citizen and to like and appreciate other dogs. His size will scare people off, but, if they have the opportunity while he's little to make friends, he'll be the star of the neighbourhood.

 

[Aries]

Thank you so much for the comments. I thought I would give a little update on Aries he is now 5 months old and weighs 61 lbs. I have taken the advice given and have been giving him wild Alaska salmon oil ( 10.5 ml a day split into his three feedings), we have also taken him off the puppy large breed Acana and have him on Acana Grasslands. So far he has learned down, sit, drop it , shake a paw and sit pretty. We are working on stay but its tricky for him, staying in the same spot for more than a second makes him lay down and laying down for a nap is not truly the same thing as staying and waiting till it's ok to come. I don't know if 1/2 should be given or not. Lol The pic attached is him with the same toy in almost the same position, I thought the size difference between the two photos was cute.

 

[TylerDurden]

View attachment 59907 Thank you so much for the comments. I thought I would give a little update on Aries he is now 5 months old and weighs 61 lbs. I have taken the advice given and have been giving him wild Alaska salmon oil ( 10.5 ml a day split into his three feedings), we have also taken him off the puppy large breed Acana and have him on Acana Grasslands. So far he has learned down, sit, drop it , shake a paw and sit pretty. We are working on stay but its tricky for him, staying in the same spot for more than a second makes him lay down and laying down for a nap is not truly the same thing as staying and waiting till it's ok to come. I don't know if 1/2 should be given or not. Lol The pic attached is him with the same toy in almost the same position, I thought the size difference between the two photos was cute.

Awesome picture! He reminds me a lot of our boy (EM who turned 5 months this week). He weighs almost 90 pounds.

 

[Aries]

Thanks Tyler
What a great pic of your boy, so handsome. Gotta love baby pictures!

 

[TylerDurden]

Thank you, Aries. I agree with your comment on the growth rate. Even when I look at pictures from a couple of weeks ago, I can tell the drastic difference in growth. I can‘t believe that our boy will weigh over 100 pounds before even reaching the 6 months mark.

 

[Bailey's Mom]

We actually give Bailey wild Alaskan Salmon as a topper to her Acana Classic Red. I'm old school...dogs get human leftovers if those are breed specific; ie., Salmon, Tuna (occasionally), and beef and chicken. YUP, I cook for my dog. She owns the crock pot. But, she loves her Acana, too. She's a grazer...so we leave a cup in her bowl at all times. If she gets snacky...a little late night snack and back to bed.

This doesn't work for all dogs...it's just our way.

We practised "stay" with carefully backing off...giving the order repeatedly and then hiding. Once hidden, we call out to find us. Great game! Dog loves it, and there is always a liver treat at the end of finding us.

Dogs love treats...even those that are...picky, like my girl. TRY IT. Show the treat....order stay...if they move, repeat...hide...call...when your dog finds you, reward. Fun for the whole family.

 

[Aries]

Thank you for the advice, we will give that a try this weekend. I know my 8 year & 10 year old daughters would love for him to learn hide & go seek, I'm 6'1 so hiding anywhere is tricky for me but I can be the one to make sure he stays and waits and that he doesn't just lay down for a nap. Lol

 

[Smokeycat]

One thing that found helpful to have separate stay and wait commands. For us "stay" means stay as you are until I come back and release you. "Wait" means stay as you are until released. I taught wait first and slowly increased distance and time before they were released. Wait also gets used for almost everything so they both caught on fast to that one. Transitioning that into stay took a bit of work but they had already knew the basics. I've found that having them know how they will be released means they break the command far less often than I've seen with dogs that only have a stay command.

 

[Bailey's Mom]

I can't believe I didn't notice this, you are from London, Ontario?..WOW! Well, stretch out a paw.... We're local!

Pups want to meet and greet. Dog Park? Let's go.

Drop a PM. , We are usually at Pottersburg Dog Park...mostly great people. Let's chat.

E.

 

[April Nicole]

What an adorable pup!

 

[Pastor Dave]

Welcome to the forum !! As my mastiff was growing, and they do grow fast, sometimes the dog gets a bit strained...glucosomine is good for those times when your dog is showing a little limpness, sometimes called Paino..something like that. I give my EM "For Health" from Tractor Supply, and the motion suppliments from Chewy.com. Anyway, growing pups is an interesting adventure. Were I you, (other dogs might goad your pup into too much running and roughhousing...and that can lead to some limpness, too) I would carefully monitor his running activities with other canines while he grows. Have a great day. This pic was from last summer...no flowers blooming in PA in March !!