A few Breed Specific Questions

[Ohaern]

Hi Gang! I've been looking into a Canine companion for awhile now, from what I have read the Bullmastiff is the right dog. I am looking to pick up my new friend in the spring, so I have time- I just want to make sure the BM is a good fit, I do have a few questions about them though-1. I've seen it mentioned more than once that these dogs are not very vocal, this is a good thing. In my neighborhood however there are several " bark machines " they bark for hours on end, I don't blame the dogs, I do blame their owners. Is the BM prone to sympathy barking? Or are they more likely to discount it as a normal sound of the night? I assume it's something that can be trained out if it does begin, and that if I do not react to it, then my dog will most likely ignore it as well? The dog in question starts barking at 2am and keeps it up until I leave for work at 6am.2. I've also been reading that they may be a handful for a 1st time dog owner in regards to training them. I have never had a dog, what am I getting myself into? I know I have the time to put into the training, my boss has ok'd me popping in and out of work during the early puppy/potty training stages since I live very close to work. I have even gotten the ok to bring the dog in a few times a week to hang out once they are housebroken.3. Not a question, but more of a logic check. I'm gone M-F 6am to 4ish pm for work, I can and will be stopping in to care for my dog puppy through the week. I have a medium sized house and fenced in yard, no roommates or children to worry about. I am an insomniac , so I'm asleep maaaaybe 5 hours a night, if I sleep. With these conditions in mind, what do you BM owners say, is the breed a good fit? Thanks for taking the time to read and/or reply -I will be paying attention throughout the day, but as I mentioned in my Introduction post, I have no internet at home ( helps keep the work/life balance), so don't think your input is being ignored!Thanks again, have the best day possible folks.

 

[Ohaern]

Ok,I have no idea how that ended up as a wall of text! It looked fine in preview, spaced and everything, my bad!

 

[tmricciuto]

The forum is having issues with spacing. If you want to separate it use < p >. I own EM's so couldn't answer your questions but Mastiffs are people dogs so the more you pop in and interact the better. I work from home and my dogs are at my feet all day long.

 

[Joao M]

Hi Jason,
Let me start by saying that I do not have my BM at home yet, so my answers have to been seen as "second hand experience". A very close friend of mine has 3 BM (!M; 2F) and I spend a lot of time with them (2x a week at least).Having said that:
Q1 - The ones I know are not prone to sympathy barking. I have only heard them barking at a "face off" with a very annoyaing neighbour dog;
Q2-They are not advised for a 1st time dog owner. However, IMO if you are commited enough and ready to accept advise/training, etc you may overcome the lack of experience. But prepare yourself and try to spend some time with BMs before gatting one.
Q3-It would be better if it had company in the house. They need "their people" around. But that goes to all mastiff breeds (amoung them perhaps more to the latin breeds: Cane Corso, DDB - Dogue de Bordeaux, etc). I don´t believe your schedule alone excludes the possibility of keeping a BM but adding Q2 and Q3,i.e., not being able to be around so many hours with your first dog.... makes it more complicated to do things right
Others, more experience (direct experience) will chime in to help you.

 

[Joao M]

sorry for the typos... not being able to edit the messages to correct them is not cool.

 

[Joao M]

and read this:
The Right Breed?

 

[EverythingEnglishMastiff]

IMO don't get a mastiff for your first dog. Especially if you have never even spent time with any type of mastiff before. If you are determined to get one. Commit to obedience classes.

 

[DennasMom]

My question would be what makes you think the BM is the right dog for you? What about the mastiff attracted you??

For us, we chose an EM due to their couch potato reputation, along with being a good social dog and a guardian... but mainly... the low-energy big couch potato part. BM's from my understanding can be couch potatoes, but may be a bit higher on the energy scale than the EM (depending on nature and nurture, both).

The rest, it sounds like you have some good plans - a puppy can be a lot of work for a single person. Be prepared for lots of laundry early on if you can't get home every 2 hours to let them out of the crate during the day (you WILL be crate training, right??). You might also look for a dog-walker to help for those times you get stuck in a meeting and can't be home in time - a second person you trust to help with a puppy in your home can be a life-saver.

And the more you can keep the puppy with you - taking in to work is awesome - the better for both of you. Mastiffs do love to be with their people! They can learn to be fine home alone, but they also can get bored and then destructive if they don't get enough exercise (both mentally and physically). Another reason to find a good dog-walker!

Our first dog was a guardian breed (mutt: Rott/GSD/Pyrn)... and we did just fine... at the behest of the shelter, we DID crate train and also turned our dog into an inside dog from day one - the crate was in the bedroom with us... I would never do it any other way, now. We also did all the obedience classes available as early as possible, and kept everything as positive as possible (although back then, it wasn't nearly as positive/rewards based as it is now). He was an awesome dog and really solidified my love of all things canine.

Let us know how it all goes!!

 

[Molossers R Us]

Wow, I would NEVER recommend a Bullmastiff for somebody's 1st dog!! Maybe not even their second dog! This breed isnt exactly the easiest to train, and will test your patience like you wouldnt believe. As they are extraordinarily physically strong, they require a lot of background knowledge in dog handling skills, especially if you plan on taking them out in public where they will be around distractions such as other dogs, strange people, noises, etc. Also, they are VERY family oriented, and being away/separated from their people and/or family for that length of time is likely to cause adverse & problematic behaviors. These are working dogs, and they "need" a job and lots of interaction with their human family in order to be well settled & adjusted. If you do decide to get a Bullmastiff anyway, I strongly encourage you to work with a professional dog trainer to make up for your lack of prior canine behavioral experience.

 

[Ohaern]

tmricciuto - Thanks for the heads up on the forum spacing issues

Joao M. - The article you linked was an excellent read, it was one of the 1st things I read once I found the BM breed. It just made them sound even more appealing to me. I would love to spend time around them, but everyone I know with dogs has little ankle biters of one sort or another, and none of them were trained beyond housebreaking.

EverythingEnglishMastiff - If I do end up going the BM route, I will definetly be looking into a proffessional trainer for assistance.

Molossers R Us- Thank you for the response, I do appreciate the honesty. Patience shouldn't be a problem for me, nor will the strength. I used to take care of my Ex's St.Bernard he would give her hell, but me, i got hugs , the ball and a well behaved pretty boy. I understand that the BM are a working breed, and as soon as possible my plan is to get said dog certified as a therapy dog, that way I can take him or her with me to work EVERY day. Once at work, his or her job will be to guard the warehouse and hang out with me at my desk. I do plan on doing the Dog training classes offered by Petsmart as well as a professional obedience trainer to work with me and the dog.

DennasMom- I decided on the BM breed for a few reasons. In no particular order they are, out of the dogs that came up in the " what breed is right for me " quizzes I found it the most appealing, much like you I like the couch potatoe / guardian role they have. A dog should be scaled to its owner, I would just not be comfortable walking a Corgi...as cool as they are it just wouldn't feel right. When reading about BM's I kept thinking, wow, that sounds like ME, large, quiet and protective, PERFECT its a couch potatoe too. I've got a niece who I would trust to step in if I needed a 2nd set of hands. I do plan on crate training. I plan on using my vacation time up when I find the right puppy, so for his or her 1st week in their new home they won't be alone and we can begin the crate training right away. In regards to the exercise they need, I have to take walks myself twice a day for physical therapy, it'd be nice to have company.

From the responses it seems the major issue here is my lack of dog handling experience. I'd thought about addressing that by rescuing a BM from a shelter, but that same lack of experience leads me to believe that a 1st timer , with a BM from a traumatic past may not be the best way to go. Where a few months of research and reading on training prior to finding the right breeder and puppy may just work out for us both. Thanks again everyone, have the best day possible.

 

[dpenning]

My EM lived with a pomeranian and so she barked like the dam little yapper. My BM not so. Emma (BM) is much quieter than my EM was but I think it is up to the individual dog. She is smart but stubborn. As long as you are consistent in your training it should be fine. They are STRONG! Emma is about 7 months now and she forgets her manners sometimes and her puppy enthusiasms take over. When out in public you need to always be ready for anything. If you get complacent they can get away from you. Not sure what you are doing physical therapy for with your walks but these guys get big and strong FAST, so be aware of any physical limitations. I know you said you are a big guy but if your puppy gets excited and happy to see you they may run full tilt at you and body slam you by way of greeting. Don't ask me how i know. I recently sprained my ankle and Ms. Emma was less than concerned, she still "greeted" me as usual. lol Remember a tired dog is a well behaved dog! When they get bored things start getting damaged. If you have an opportunity to interact with any between now and when you get your pup I highly recommend it. I fell in love with the mastiff breed by going to dog shows. Oh, one other thing, the temperament of the dog is going to be important if you want to do "therapy dog" work. My EM was super sweet but super protective. She would let loose with her big girl bark and warm up to people slowly. She always did warm up, but on her own schedule. Emma loves everyone. Depending on the individual dog and your work environment, taking them to work may or may not work.

 

[Ohaern]

dpenning- Thanks for the response. You mentioned being consistent and I should be fine, that's good. I am a creature of habit so that shouldn't pose any problems, once I find something that works I see no reason to change it. The walks I take are to maintain range of motion, 2 years ago I was in a car wreck, shattered my pelvis and broke my spine, Doctors told me I would not walk unaided again. They were wrong, determination, physical therapy and determination got me up and out on my own again. Complacency will not be an issue, I literally think about every step I take, when I take it.

As for the " therapy " dog title, that's something I would like to do just so I could take him or her to work with me, leaving my boss no option but to roll with it. I work with my family, and Mom is not a fan of dogs, to be fair her only experience with dogs is with my sister's untrained cock-a-poo's, who bark, yip snap and chase after anyone who isn't my sister. The therapy dog certification will trump any issues mom has. We do commercial construction and flooring, there is not too much traffic in our work space, it's primarily the same 9 people in the office daily.

You mentioned temperament, in my reading it's come up that some breeders choose the puppy for you based on what you are looking for, that's the way I plan on going. Find the breeder, discuss my wants and needs wait for the word, and drive on out and pick up the pup. I'm planning on driving out to whomever I go with and retrieving the dog. I'll drive anyplace up to 600 miles. I don't want to start the new puppy's life with a stressful plane trip to a new home, I think a car ride with plenty of stops along the way will be an easier transition for him or her. I am in no rush, since winter has hit, I plan on doing this in the spring/summer of 2016. I just like to research the heck out of any big decision, dog ownership, that's a biiiig decision, life altering, for everyone involved. If I am not 100% sure I can provide a healthy stable home for the dog, I will not buy one, it's unfair to the animal and just plain cruel.
Thanks again for the reply, have the best day possible.

 

[Molossers R Us]

if your puppy gets excited and happy to see you they may run full tilt at you and body slam you by way of greeting. Don't ask me how i know. I recently sprained my ankle and Ms. Emma was less than concerned, she still "greeted" me as usual. Oh, one other thing, the temperament of the dog is going to be important if you want to do "therapy dog" work. My EM was super sweet but super protective. She would let loose with her big girl bark and warm up to people slowly. She always did warm up, but on her own schedule. Emma loves everyone. Depending on the individual dog and your work environment, taking them to work may or may not work.

Your posts are so "relate-able", as a fellow Bullmastiff owner, I too, have been the unwilling recipient of a full-on tackle by an overly enthused dog that was very happy to see me! I also agree with you on the issue that some dogs will have a temperament that may or not be conducive to what your original goals were. It helps greatly to meet the parents of the pup you are thinking of purchasing, to get a good idea of what kind of temperament the pup *should have* as an adult, although of course there are no guarantees.

 

[Molossers R Us]

Molossers R Us- Thank you for the response, I do appreciate the honesty. Patience shouldn't be a problem for me, nor will the strength. I used to take care of my Ex's St.Bernard he would give her hell, but me, i got hugs , the ball and a well behaved pretty boy. I understand that the BM are a working breed, and as soon as possible my plan is to get said dog certified as a therapy dog, that way I can take him or her with me to work EVERY day. Once at work, his or her job will be to guard the warehouse and hang out with me at my desk. I do plan on doing the Dog training classes offered by Petsmart as well as a professional obedience trainer to work with me and the dog. From the responses it seems the major issue here is my lack of dog handling experience. I'd thought about addressing that by rescuing a BM from a shelter, but that same lack of experience leads me to believe that a 1st timer , with a BM from a traumatic past may not be the best way to go. Where a few months of research and reading on training prior to finding the right breeder and puppy may just work out for us both. Thanks again everyone, have the best day possible.

Wow, a broken pelvis AND spine??? Jeez, either one of those makes for a life changing experience, but to have suffered both and overcame the odds, I salute you for your perseverance! I hope I did not come off too crass, sometimes the written word can be interpreted several different ways, and tone is sometimes impossible to tell in print, as compared to spoken words. I guess I wanted to make absolutely certain that you know what you are getting yourself in for, by owning such a headstrong (and just plain STRONG) breed. I have seen too many instances of people attracted to these dogs but then being unable or unwilling to put in the amount of time to properly train the dog & then it ultimately ends up at the pound where it will likely be euthanized because of its size and lack of adopt-ability due to behavioral issues. You seem to be a pretty determined person just by reading your responses, and so I think that puts you at an advantage over the average person just getting into this. If you are 100% sure you need a Bullmastiff in your life and have the patience of a Saint, love in your heart and a firm hand for setting limits & disciplinary issues that may arise, you will likely be rewarded for all your efforts. They really are a magnificent breed once you do all the basic work and get them settled in your specific lifestyle and living conditions. I wish you all the luck in your future!

 

[Ohaern]

Wow, a broken pelvis AND spine??? Jeez, either one of those makes for a life changing experience, but to have suffered both and overcame the odds, I salute you for your perseverance! I hope I did not come off too cr$#@!, sometimes the written word can be interpreted several different ways, and tone is sometimes impossible to tell in print, as compared to spoken words. I guess I wanted to make absolutely certain that you know what you are getting yourself in for, by owning such a headstrong (and just plain STRONG) breed. I have seen too many instances of people attracted to these dogs but then being unable or unwilling to put in the amount of time to properly train the dog & then it ultimately ends up at the pound where it will likely be euthanized because of its size and lack of adopt-ability due to behavioral issues. You seem to be a pretty determined person just by reading your responses, and so I think that puts you at an advantage over the average person just getting into this. If you are 100% sure you need a Bullmastiff in your life and have the patience of a Saint, love in your heart and a firm hand for setting limits & disciplinary issues that may arise, you will likely be rewarded for all your efforts. They really are a magnificent breed once you do all the basic work and get them settled in your specific lifestyle and living conditions. I wish you all the luck in your future!

Thanks for the encouragement Molossers R Us it was a looong road back, I'm still not there, but I am soooo close. I walk really funny now but I AM walking. Your tone was nowhere even close to crass or rude or anything of the sort, I do appreciate the clarification though. It is hard to get the tone of a text across sometimes. In all honesty I read it as an impassioned plea to be 100% certain before doing this.

The concerns you expressed are exactly the reason I decided to stop lurking and start posting. I wasn't sure what was meant by hard to train, so... Correct me if I am wrong, but it seems to me if I am willing and able to put the time and effort into the training and keep up on my reading, I should be good.

I am 100% sure I need a BM in my life, thanks very much for the encouragement and insights it is appreciated.

-EverythingEnglishMastiff- I forgot to thank you for the tips on what questons to ask the breeder, I've got it printed out to refer to once a breeder is located.

Have the best day possible folks.

 

[JamieHalverson]

I currently have a BM puppy, 7 mos old. My first BM, my first puppy, but not my first large, guardian breed dog. Previously owned Rottweilers, both shelter adoptions and currently also own an Am Staff/Mastiff X, also a shelter rescue.

Being that Rottweilers were my first ever dog, I can't really say you should or shouldn't get any particular breed as a first time dog owner. I see people with labs and springers (for example) in obedience class that they absolutely can not control, so... There is a level of dedication and patience that I have learned is necessary with my BM pup, but again, she's the one and only puppy I've had, so I don't have much history there.

What I would consider very seriously for your first BM or other large breed dog is a dog through a rescue group, not necessarily the shelter. Although shelter rescues can be great, of course. In fact, the American Bullmastiff Association has it's own rescue - ABARS and they have some fantastic dogs. They have known temperments, they are vetted, and have lived with a foster family. ABARS will help select the best dog for you. Rescue - AMERICAN BULLMASTIFF ASSOCIATION

There are other rescues as well that are really great. Personally, I would have NEVER been ready for this puppy if I had not gotten my feet wet with my young adult rescues. And honestly, my VERY reputable breeder would never have considered me for one of her pups without my experience with my other dogs.

Just an FYI, a therapy dog is not a service dog, and does not have rights of access above that of any regular dog. My Yogi is a certified therapy dog, he goes on therapy visits to schools and libraries. Therapy dogs provide pet assisted therapy to the people they visit, not to their owners, well they do, but not in an official capacity. If you are disabled and need a dog, you would need a service dog.

 

[JamieHalverson]

Oh, something else you might consider, is that reputable breeders sometimes have young adult dogs that they need to rehome. A reputable breeder takes back any dog they've bred if the owner can no longer care for them. I know a Rottweiler breeder who currently has 2 dogs she's bred and is looking to rehome. They both have multiple obedience, tracking and agility titles. Just a thought.

 

[dpenning]

Snip - I walk really funny now but I AM walking.

Based on the injuries you describe, that is AWESOME! It does give me a moment of hesitation tho based on the puppy exuberance and sheer size and strength of these dogs. I would hate to see you get injured because your dog body slammed you or accidentally knocked you over or whatever.

That being said, a true service dog could possibly be something to work toward, balance issues are something for which a service dog may be helpful, large and stable. Dunno how wise it would be to train your own tho. LOL Best of luck, I learned oodles and oodles on this forum, still do in fact.

 

[EverythingEnglishMastiff]

Just want to clear a little misconception. Just because a dog is in a shelter doesn't mean it's had a traumatic past. People surrender dogs for all sorts of reasons. You might find a highly trained well tempered dog that was surrendered by the family of someone deceased. You never know. People surrender their dogs when they move because they can't have a pet where they are going etc. Not all pound dogs have problems, other than the fact that they will most likely be put down if not adopted. Most of my pet dogs growing up were pound dogs or dogs that I found on the side of the interstate, while camping, hunting, etc. Dogs that get lost and are not claimed are often found in pounds. Rescue's are a great alternative. Don't count them out, but don't adopt the first BM that comes along if it isn't the right dog for you either. Dogs are as individual as people are, even within their breed standards.

 

[EverythingEnglishMastiff]

Also I just wanted to state that I had to google crass cause I didn't know what it meant lol. People of the forum. Please point out if I am ever crass :lol: I have a thick skin you aren't going to hurt my feelers.