Holy Moly: My Neighbour just adopted a 14 mth old EM (Maybe Mix)

[Bailey's Mom]

WOW! I feel a bit responsible. My friend loves Bailey and her eager, sensible, in-offensive ways, and after Bailey's friend Seymour died suddenly early this month or late last month, they've been looking for another needy dog to adopt. So...Welcome to MAC. Mac is 14 months old, and looks to be about 140 lbs (ribs showing.) I told my friend he will go EASY 220lbs and she should get on Mastiff Forum for support. She seemed shocked.

Help! My EM buddies. She's going to need lots of good advice and I am So CC in my knowledge level. WISDOM PLEASE.

P.S: Bailey wasn't too happy with the gi-normous puppy that was trying to play with her. She wanted her Seymour back (he was smaller.) She's not happy with larger dogs (she likes being the big dog on deck), so she's particularly unhappy with the Danes when they come to the dog park and "literally" look down their noses at her, and stick their noses up her wassoo! without permission. It's a big dog thing.

What can I tell her that will have an immediate good effect, other than lots and lots of training...I've got her back for training, but...home-life, nightlife, walk life. IDEAS, I implore you... I don't want him re-homed again. He's already lost his sister who was surrendered at the same time, he's going to need love and support and training and FAMILY.

E.

 

[Smokeycat]

Honestly there really isn't anything major different about owning a giant than a smaller dog. It really is all about training. The things I discovered to be the most useful are wait, it's fine (stand down from guarding) and not to lean. It might help to have those near the start of the training process.
Wait is simply staying where he is until released. It differs from stay as stay means stay there until I get back to you.
It's fine means I see it and I've got it under control. I do have to acknowledge what it is first, i.e. It's just a person/car/snowflakes, it's fine.
Not to lean was one of the easiest things to teach him. If he put too much weight against me I moved directly away from him so that he fell over. He still leans against legs but just enough that he touches me without using you to hold himself up.
Everything he has learnt other than it's fine and not to lean Jiggers has also been taught. The only difference is that there are things I won't teach Kryten because of his size &/or elbows that Jiggers knows.

 

[Boxergirl]

My advice is structure and patience while he learns the rules. Also know that the dog he is now isn't going to be the dog he is in three weeks. And that dog won't be the same dog three months from now. Things change as a rescue settles in. Also be very observant and cautious in new situations and with new people while he unpacks any baggage he may have brought with him. Most rescues have some baggage of some kind. Do you know why he and his sister were relinquished?

 

[Nik]

Isn't there also a saying about mastiffs..... "Never take him on a walk further then you can carry him back home?" :-D
Never been an issue with my dogs as they love the walking but I have a recollection of others who had dogs that just decide halfway through the walk they are done and become giant boulders. Might be a thing to warn your neighbor about just in case she gets one of the less walk loving pups.

But my main bit of advise for a new dog owner of any breed is NILF. I just can't emphasize it enough. And when I started learning about NILF there was a youtube video (I don't have the link anymore sorry) about a guy who started out with NILF just with meals and didn't even give a command or anything just took the food away any time the dog went for it until the dog learned to sit and wait for a release command. I remember watching that video and thinking he was nuts and no way would that work because the dog needed a command. So I tried it with Diesel and I was shocked that not only it worked but worked quickly. I was doubly shocked that doing that one tiny little thing at every mealtime increased his obedience a million fold. So NILF, NILF, and more NILF. Best advice I ever got and best advice I can give.

Also what boxergirl said about the personality changing. Oh so very true. In my case it has all been for the good but you also have to be ready to deal with the new challenges that come up as they grow into their personalities.

Also Kahlua is the same as Bailey with larger dogs. She just gets a little intimidated or wary.. but to be honest she isn't much of a social butterfly anyways and is pretty much wary of anyone or anything that is not a part of our pack its just bigger seems to increase the waryness because she knows she has a worse chance of holding her own if it comes down to it.

 

[Bailey's Mom]

N.I.L.F. Yes, you are right. It's a foreign idea to the uninitiated. I am going to beg my neighbour to come on line with us....please help her.

So many good ideas from you my friends...I appreciate each and every one of you.

So, what I'd like to hear from all of you is the PLUS side of owning an English Mastiff. I mean, there is the history, the protection, the guarding ability, the well-known disinclination to bite. Heck, one Lord in England made a 500 pound bet on these dogs not biting and he won, oh, he pinned the loser to the ground without further damage, BUT...don't fool with this breed, they can literally bring the weight of the argument. Ouch!

There is so much good to report. LET'S REPORT IT!

P.S: Mac is such a squishy face...I just want to hug and kiss his muzzle. O.M.G.! He's a beaut!

 

[Bailey's Mom]

Meet MACK!

 

[Bailey's Mom]

This EM pup is visiting for the night...his New Mom is out of town. Our Bailey isn't amused.

He's a very good boy, BUT SUCH A HANDFUL!!

 

[Jarena]

Awww! I’ve been hoping you would post a picture of him I just want to smooch his big squishy face!

 

[Bailey's Mom]

Such a kissable face!!!

 

[Bailey's Mom]

Wow...EM's flood the floor when they drink. Massive clean up.

Poor pup couldn't stand being separated from his new mom...cried his heart out for her and wouldn't settle. We had to arrange for his human uncle to.pick him up and take him home. At least at home he felt safe.

We visited him today and Bailey played with him for a while, but someone yelped and then she was all teeth and mean to him. Silly pup doesn't know when to back off. He's bigger than her and somewhat clumsy...she just put him in his place. Poor Mack, us females can be fickle.

 

[Smokeycat]

I learnt it's best to use a small bowl and do frequent changes/fills to minimize the amount of water that gets picked up in that saggy face and the massive splash over.

 

[Sheila Braund]

This EM pup is visiting for the night...his New Mom is out of town. Our Bailey isn't amused.

He's a very good boy, BUT SUCH A HANDFUL!!

So how is Mack making out in his new home? He looks so handsome .... I would be kissing his face every couple minutes lol

 

[Nik]

Somehow I missed these updates. Yes he is soooo cute.

 

[glen]

As anyone heard from baileys mum hope alls ok

 

[Sheila Braund]

View attachment 59865
Such a kissable face!!!

He is adorable... If Mack's mommy finds him too much I'll come get him in a heart beat!

 

[Boxergirl]

As anyone heard from baileys mum hope alls ok

I did a few days ago. She's been pretty busy with life. I hope we see more of her soon. I miss her.

 

[Bailey's Mom]

Hello friends, sorry...I've been navel gazing...life is at times a rollercoaster, but it's time to get off and deal with real life.

Poor Mac had a tumultuous time with his new family. He has severe separation anxiety, and my friend works two jobs, and drives out-of-town every week for her daughter's skating club. Mac was just too much to incorporate into their busy lives. It broke their hearts, but they worked to find him another home.

Mac had been returned to the shelter several times before. He had been surrendered with his sister, but she was adopted quickly. I know he missed her and he was eager for dog companionship. In the end my friend interviewed a family that wanted to add another large dog to their family. Their dog wanted a friend, too, so, playdates were arranged, and they were very successful. Mac was welcomed into their hearts and home.

My friend is keeping in touch with Mac's new mom and dad. They are sharing pictures and the big boy seems happy, especially to have a 4-legged fur friend to cuddle with again. I'll. try to get a photo to share.

Hugs to Mac, and a big Mastiff thank you to his new mom and dad.

 

[Sheila Braund]

Hello friends, sorry...I've been navel gazing...life is at times a rollercoaster, but it's time to get off and deal with real life.

Poor Mac had a tumultuous time with his new family. He has severe separation anxiety, and my friend works two jobs, and drives out-of-town every week for her daughter's skating club. Mac was just too much to incorporate into their busy lives. It broke their hearts, but they worked to find him another home.

Mac had been returned to the shelter several times before. He had been surrendered with his sister, but she was adopted quickly. I know he missed her and he was eager for dog companionship. In the end my friend interviewed a family that wanted to add another large dog to their family. Their dog wanted a friend, too, so, playdates were arranged, and they were very successful. Mac was welcomed into their hearts and home.

My friend is keeping in touch with Mac's new mom and dad. They are sharing pictures and the big boy seems happy, especially to have a 4-legged fur friend to cuddle with again. I'll. try to get a photo to share.

Hugs to Mac, and a big Mastiff thank you to his new mom and dad.

That's awesome! So glad Mac has found his forever home!
Thanks for the update Baily's Mom.