Helllo!

[pam2000]

Hi I have 2 bullmastiffs I love dearly. Both are 7 months old and really growing! Both were born with broken yails due to large litters .My vet advised cropping the tails as it could be painful as arthritis in thier older years. And they actually look good with thier tails cropped! Rudy was from a litter of 15 and Missy from a litter of 12!I did not think they had such huge litters! lol Both are the deep red color with beautiful black faces.Rudy has a perfect bite but Missy has a big underbite. Sometimes she is almost scary to look at. But neither have a mean bone in thier bodies.
My question is When I got them was when I should have been asserting myself as pack leader BUT I had unexpected back surgery and it was all I could do just to care for them let alone obience train.I have a huge fenced back yard so they got lots of exercise playing and running but now of course they are hard to teach to lead etc. I am now back on my feet but they want to lead me instead. Do I need to hire a professional trainer? Cant really afford that but I dont want to give them up/ I believe when you bring a pet into your home you have them thier lifetime. I love my big brats.I thought of trying a pinch collar but afraid of hurting them. Any suggestions please!Thankyou

 

[NeSaxena]

I recommend starting small - what commands are they good with already? Do they respond to treats or toys? How are they while playing with you? Normally, a trainer is recommended in these situations, however, if you've had dogs before, you should be able to teach them yourself.

The first command I'd ever taught Boone (my bullie) is "Off". This basically means stop whatever it is that you're doing (including climbing furniture, trying to chew something he shouldn't etc etc). I'm telling ya, the rest of the training came super easy because with "Off", he freezes and looks at me. How I did it is simple - caught him doing something he should have, said off, and showed him a treat. The second he left it and came after the treat, rewarded him with it and gave him loads and loads of praise and play time and what not! It took about a day of constant "off" for him to get it. You can use a "leave it" variation as well, for them to remove whatever junk they pick up off the ground to eat.

I recommend also teaching the "focus" or "look at me" command. Again, I showed him a treat, made him sit, said "look at me" and moved the treat towards my nose, making him follow it and look in my eyes. This one was easier than "off". Eventually, I didn't move the treat, just said look at me without showing him a treat and as soon as he did, rewarded him again.

Once your pups focus well, then you can teach them to walk with you (heel) slowly. Boone's lazy, so anyways he walked slow. I used treats again here. Showed him a treat, closed my fist around it, stood up, made him stand, and kept my arm relaxed next to my body, so he could sniff it. Then I walked slowly and kept saying "walk with me" while he sniffed my hand. If he got distracted, or jumped, or came in front of me, a short sharp "No" followed by taking my hand away helped. When he settled down again, we tried the walk again. When we got to a predetermined point (maybe about 6 to 8 feet away), I praised him like he saved my life and gave him the treat. All this, of course, at home without any distractions.

Eventually (about 3 days later), he understood the point, which is when I introduced him to his collar and leash. I waited until he was good with walking around with these at home (about a week) and took him out. Initially (for 2 days methinks), I had to keep saying "walk with me" because of all the distractions. Since then he normally walks by my side (even at home). If he tries to pull me, I stop and make him sit down. Only once he's calm do we resume the walk.

Hope this helps! If you face a challenge, please go ahead and ask anyone. And yeah, we're addicted to pictures, so show us your babies soon!

 

[musicdeb]

Welcome aboard~ Pics?

 

[pam2000]

 

[pam2000]

The pic lying down in the sun is Rudy at 5 monthsthen here is Missy. Underbite but loveable!!

 

[Smart_Family]

Welcome!

 

[pam2000]

I had a DDB and lovede him so very much. I have a huge fenced in yard and he was outside. He loved the sun! Duke had been my best friend for almost 8 yrs. A neighbors pitbull came over my fence and before I could stop it he had injured my Duke fatally. Did not even have time to go the mile and a half to my vet.He died last May and I still miss him so much.The people I originally got Duke from sent me Rudy and Missy as they felt I needed them to help heal my heart. I will forever miss and love my Duke but Missy and Rudy have helped to bring back my smile.

 

[pam2000]

Thankyou! So great to find other Bull parents.lol My 2 are my babies

 

[pam2000]

hi sorry still trying to figure out how this reply works.lol

 

[trixie28]

Hi and Welcome, your bully babies are very cute. Sorry to hear what happened to Duke it must have been awfull. I'm glad Missy and Rudy are a comfort

 

[DennasMom]

Sorry to hear about Duke. That's terrible. I'm glad you jumped back in to dog companionship, dogs are a blessing, for sure!
And I Love that underbite!

I'd recommend you take one pup for a walk at a time and see if that helps. At 7 months, they're still completely trainable (I'd say that for any age, but they're still 'babies' - and you probably out-weigh them individually). You can use treats, or just the 'pull & stop' method (if dog pulls, human stops... call dog back to you, sit, wait, praise, then proceed).

Once they each see you as in charge of the walk 1-on-1, you can see how they do together and it should be easier to communicate what you want, since they've practiced it before.

And the recommendations above, too.

You can use the pinch collars if they don't listen... but hopefully 1-on-1 you can communicate with a gentle reminder now and then - and lots of treats for doing what YOU want, too.
We always train Denna with treats. She's a softy. If we get to harsh (including just putting a pinch collar on her), she shuts down, collapses on the floor and throws a 'sit-down-strike' tantrum.

 

[musicdeb]

I'm sorry to hear about Duke. He was extremely handsome! Your 2 new babies are adorable. Love Missy's underbite, so cute!

 

[pam2000]

Hi I have a question. My 2 are 7 months old and until now have been good eaters. This past week each time I feed them I have noticed that they are only eatting about half of thier norm. They are not losing weight abnd are not sick. Just not eatting.is that normal maybe at thier age?

 

[NeSaxena]

A lot of dogs have gone through this phase. What are you feeding them?

 

[Mooshi's Mummy]

Training to heal takes time, it doesnt happen over night but it can be done without a pinch or prong or choke. Get a good Martingale collar and ensure it is fitted correctly. Start in the home by walking one dog at a time on lead, when they pull ahead of you sharply turn around and walk the other way, once following you rather than pulling you treat and praise. Once you have got this down in the home take it to the garden. You lead, when the dog pulls you turn sharply and go the other way, once following rather than leading praise and reward. Once this is down you can move it to the street, as soon as the dog pulls you turn sharply and lead the other way. Basically you are teaching the dog that you are the leader and he must follow. It takes time, it takes patients and you will think you look like an idiot walking up and down your street going back and forth, back and forth but you are teaching the dog to follow you and walk with you respectfully as its leader. IMHO a pinch collar is a quick fix which is like putting a bandage on the wound rather that fixing the cause. Please do not get me wrong, I wouldnt ever tell someone who is using one that they shouldnt, its up to them completely. You will also like to start ensuring that the 'kids' are following the Nothing in Life is Free rule, they have to work for everything they get. Even if its something as simple as sitting quietly before being told ok to eat their dinner.

 

[Dakota Kid]

Hi I have a question. My 2 are 7 months old and until now have been good eaters. This past week each time I feed them I have noticed that they are only eatting about half of thier norm. They are not losing weight abnd are not sick. Just not eatting.is that normal maybe at thier age?

How many treats are you feeding them? If you have already started training with treats, you probably fed them plenty so they didn't need as much of their normal food. Or it could be the phase they are in. If they are not sick or lethargic and still look healthy and having regular bowels, I wouldn't worry.

 

[pam2000]

pedigree puppy and they usually eat it well. thinking maybe they could be tired of the same ol thing.lol

 

[pam2000]

Got a new question. Wish I wasnt so bulll illiterate. Recently took in a Bull female. Did not have any idea she was in season. Was evidently in the standing stage when she arrived. She and my 2 10 month olds took to each other right off the bat.Went in to grab my tea and answer the phone and came back and the dirty deed was in the making. My question is. Do I allow her to have the puppies or abort. Reason being my male is only 10 months old and his sperm will be immature. I would not want the babies to have future health problems or deformities because of that. Anyone else have that situation arise?

 

[AKBull]

Can only post real quick. They don't need to be on Pedigree puppy foog. I'm sure someone will suggest some decent adult stage food. Pedigree is pretty much garbage. Sorry.

Next, how old is the female?