What's new
Mastiff Forum

This is a sample guest message. Register a free account today to become a member! Once signed in, you'll be able to participate on this site by adding your own topics and posts, as well as connect with other members through your own private inbox!

  • Welcome back!

    We decided to spruce things up and fix some things under the hood. If you notice any issues, feel free to contact us as we're sure there are a few things here or there that we might have missed in our upgrade.

6 month bullmastiff

janfree

Member
Hi anyone out there training a bullie puppy? My guy is 6 mon. and will do most things pretty well although I've noticed this training is a lot more time consuming than my doodle. She's hopping to train with us but my bullie is distracted easily and has to be taught over and over. He gets treats about half the time and often he's not really interested in a treat...he just wants a stick to chew on a stick. I'm better trained than he is! My trainer said not to worry he is still young but that I will find it harder to train him than my doodle. Has anyone found this?
 
Hi:) we have Cas,his 3.5months. We go to training classes and all he wants to do is play with the other dogs! Yet when we're at home he does everything during training sessions.
Sometimes he does lose interest in treat so i'll hide it and play 'find it' which gets him interested again.
He totally lost interest in treats at training so DennasMom suggested we up the treat level and try chicken...so maybe try that?
 

LizB

Well-Known Member
This sounds about right! They are independent thinkers and it is in their genes to make decisions for themselves. You still need to train them and be a leader, but they are not eagerly sitting at your feet waiting for instruction like some other breeds. Be consistent, keep it simple at first, and take your time. My very best trained dogs have been BMs, and it pays to recognize their nature and work with it.

We currently have a Dane/GSD mix that is DESPERATE to please and learns everything in a flash, hoping he got it right so you'll be proud, lol, and we're just bowled over, lol. We have never had a dog like this so it takes getting used to. We need another BM ASAP!
 

Smokeycat

Well-Known Member
My EM is far harder to train than my setter mix. He does get it, it just takes a lot longer.
 

musicdeb

Well-Known Member
Start basic commands. Train for about 5 minutes per day and slowy increase the training time. Teach one command at a time. Once they master one command, move onto another command.


Number one command is sit. Teach the pup to sit, by placing a treat in front of his head and move it to the back causing him to sit to get the treat. When the pup sits, tell them good sit and give them the treat.

Second command should be "focus/look" This will help you tremendously when the pup is over 100 lbs. Put the pup into sit. With a treat in your hand (let the pup smell it), put the treat up to your eyes and tell the pup to look or focus. They may only do this for about 1-2 seconds. As soon as they look at your eyes, tell them good look or good focus and give the treat. Some mastiffs (DDBs generally) do not like to look anyone in the eyes for long because that means a challenge to them. Titan is up to 35 seconds of looking at me.

Other commands are stay, come, leave it and drop it.

When you are training and when the pup does not do as you ask, then tell him no no no and redirect back to command in a normal voice. The only time a stern and somewhat loud NO should be used is when they are doing something that can cause harm to themselves or others.

For example, when I'm doing the look at me training with Titan. He will look at me and then his eyes will move to the left or right. I say, "no no no, look at me" and he returns to the look to my eyes.

When they do what you want them to do, get all giddy and excited and say, "Yes, good look!" I clap, giggle, and sometimes do a little dance. My dog looks at me like, really woman?

Mastiffs can be extremely stubborn and if you get frustrated with them, they will shut down. Mastiffs do not do well with yelling or hitting. Hitting can result in some unwanted mastiff behavior meaning fear aggression, which equals biting.
 

janfree

Member
Thanks for the great advice. I do get frustrated but I don't really feel angry with him. He's so cute. I've also learned that trying to force him to do something is an exercise in futility. He's already very strong. Trying to get him out of the yard on his lead is always an event. Once we get about a block away he's fine. I resorted to throwing treats ahead of him and as he moved forward I praised him. It actually worked! Now he gets one treat when we leave the house. And yes I had to up the appeal of the treat.
 

Effie

Active Member
Second command should be "focus/look" This will help you tremendously when the pup is over 100 lbs. Put the pup into sit. With a treat in your hand (let the pup smell it), put the treat up to your eyes and tell the pup to look or focus. They may only do this for about 1-2 seconds. As soon as they look at your eyes, tell them good look or good focus and give the treat. Some mastiffs (DDBs generally) do not like to look anyone in the eyes for long because that means a challenge to them. Titan is up to 35 seconds of looking at me.

This is really great advice, Musicdeb! Years ago we took our out of control 6 month old Bloodhound to a really great trainer in our state, and this was the FIRST thing he said everyone should do with their puppies. Once you can get them to look lovingly and trustingly into your eyes, you have their attention and from then on, training is a lot easier. It made all the difference with our Bloodhound, and I've always felt it was important to teach our dogs that looking into anyone's eyes is not a challenge, and means only good things!