Behaviour issues and nervousness

[Seona90]

So, we just bought a English Mastiff recently. She has the most beautiful temperament inside around us, however we do have two cats. She has just turned two, so pretty young and still learning which we understand, appreciate and are working with. However she does have a tendency to chase them. If they're walking slow, by her she is fine, if they scarper she lunges ( 70 Kilos of lunge!).
We don't think she would hurt them, her nose has been pressed up against them, but we would like to stop the chase element. As she is so new, and we know little about her, the only motivator seems to pizza ( Yes- I know- a no no), she isn't eating her biscuits ( which were recommended by her previous owner) so is on chicken for now. She doesn't seem to have any other motivator for positive reinforcement. She doesn't chase balls, not interested in toys, and most treats she spits out- so she's a little hard to work with ( Although she is learning quick to "Leave").

We know very little about her, other than she lived with her mother and aunt, on biscuits and was "ok" with cats. We have been taking her out three-four times a day and she is incredibly nervous. She's been barked at by smaller dogs and jumps back away petrified. Walk over drains she jumps back terrified. She is lacking confidence out, but hasn't showed any aggression, so with this i've just been encouraging her to remain calm around strange noises.
It could be the settling in period, and new surroundings, but she seems very unfamiliar with the most basic things out door.

Is there any advise about how to reinforce good behaviour, boost a bit of confidence? She has so much potential but I know so little about her to know how to make her more comfortable. We've set up a routine for her which she seems to be enjoying

 

[glen]

Mastiffs can take a while to settle, slow steady steps, start with basic training as if you have got her at 12 weeks old, use the chicken as a treat to praise, shes also been used to eating her meals with other dogs, everything is a big change for her, mastiffs also go through fear stages.
She probably hasnt been taken out on walk a great deal, take it slow, let her get used to her new areas you take her, she may not like strangers aproaching, they can be aloof, she just needs time to get to know you and feel comfortable,
Im sure she will eat once settled, put her food down after a set time pick it up then feed later, as long as shes at a good weight i wouldnt worry about that just now.
You dont want to end with a picky eater.
Id try and keep the cats at a distance to start with, let them get used to her also, if she stomps on them by accident in rhe chase it could hurt them, she needs ro learn ro be calm around them.
Mastiffs are the most loyal breed, they love routine, train everyday,

 

[Seona90]

I thought it could be aloofness with strangers. Trying to integrate slowly. We now have two sacks of biscuits and both she isn't eating. Just chicken, which is something I guess. We're keeping her routine and walking her a bit further every other day so she gets to know the area a bit well.
Our previous Mastiff was X so I haven't dealt with a full pedigree English mastiff, although he thought he was a lap dog, her too. Massive lap dogs. We will continue to take it slow and see how it goes. I shall upload a picture soon of her.

 

[glen]

I dont think any of them realise how big they are, they are so loving, they just want to be close.
Are you putting the chicken in with her biscuits,
All of mine couldnt have chicken based kibble, a lot of mastiffs dont.
May i ask whay kibble shes on

 

[Seona90]

It's called Pedigree Chicken complete biscuits. Ah, poo! I didn't realise they couldn't eat Chicken. She has been eating fresh boiled chicken for now, but not the biscuits- I believe she was on Dr John Golds complete biscuits previously, but they were out of those in our local pet store, and I didn't want her to starve- Can you recommend any good biscuits? She will eventually go on to raw food, with a side of biscuits, but for now she needs to eat something( Other than pizza)- Getting a little worried now.

 

[glen]

It's called Pedigree Chicken complete biscuits. Ah, poo! I didn't realise they couldn't eat Chicken. She has been eating fresh boiled chicken for now, but not the biscuits- I believe she was on Dr John Golds complete biscuits previously, but they were out of those in our local pet store, and I didn't want her to starve- Can you recommend any good biscuits? She will eventually go on to raw food, with a side of biscuits, but for now she needs to eat something( Other than pizza)- Getting a little worried now.

Im in the uk i feed eden over here , the biscuits dont swell, i worry about bloat, i dont know what foods you have available to you, mines 80 percent meat no grain, its similar to taste of the wild.