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Hey, New to the forum, Just wanted to introduce Loki!

Loverboy Skyline

Well-Known Member
I have just came back from a weekend in the countryside, and the estate where I was staying had a lot of people/familys.

Loki was barking and growling when she spotted people in the distance, other familys or kids playing, etc.

Sometimes just people walking past, and this confused me a little as I was made to believe their guarding instinct doesn't develop until a much later date.

She didn't seem to be picky about who she barked/growled/grumbled at either, will she become better as she ages in terms of being selective with who she warns to keep away, or is there soemthing I should be doing to lessen the barking?
You said before that she likes people, so she probably doesn't have an irrational fear of them. She is just being alert. A fearful dog cowers when people approach. This breed is not supposed to be instant friends with everyone, not like a lab or a golden. They are supposed to be reserved. Mine did this at a young age too. He goes out when there is lightning and thunder, he goes out when there are fireworks, he followed me into the water his first time at the beach, and he approaches dogs bigger than him at the dog park and hangs out with them. He barks when the neighbor next to me walks his dog, but when the neighbor comes up to the fence to pet him, he wags his tail and licks his hand because he knows him and likes him. He is not afraid of either of them. He probably just barks in excitement. I would just call it alertness.

You can count your blessings because she will continue to be a good watchdog. Other Bullmastiffs don't display this until later, and some never display it at all. You don't have to train her to be a watchdog. Just continue to socialize her so she can properly judge situations.
 

Loverboy Skyline

Well-Known Member
I also want to mention, fear is not all bad. It helps keep us alive. If I had to say which dog was more fearless, my Bullmastiff I have now or the American Bulldog I had years ago, I'd say my American Bulldog was more fearless for sure. I don't think I ever saw him run from anything, and he caught wild hogs 3 times his size. Then again, he never considered anyone a threat, so he was a terrible watchdog. I think a dog needs a certain amount of fear to know he should alert you of something. I know my BM has some fear in him, but I think it's a healthy fear and I definitely don't think of him as a coward among dogs.
 

Elizabeth Balcomb

Well-Known Member
I have a cane corso, a rather jumpy boy of 2, and I just cant state enough how going to training every weekend is just such a positive thing. I use a clicker to teach new behaviors, and he knows when I say Yes, hes doing what I ask. During hard lockdown we obviously didn't get much socializing in, and he started lunging at other dogs and was more nervous around strangers than he was before lockdown. I went back to training (I signed up for a 7 week scent course, and then started field trials) and I just cant Express the difference,, we also love training..
 

LOKI-EFC

Well-Known Member
It seems its been a while since my last post on the forum, I had my hands full with a BM pup . I now believe that Loki was exhibiting a fear response due to an incident where a springer spaniel attacked her when she was a puppy. Since that day she has barked and lunged at dogs and pedestrians walking by albeit not in aggressive mannar although to some it may not seem that way. See also started to exhibit other behaviours such as chasing joggers and bikers . As you can imagine this behaviour is very stressful, but thanks to persevering with training, specifically developing a great off leash recall and establishing a myself as the leader, and using body language during leash work I have managed to dramatically improve all undesired behaviours, there is still kroe work to do but walls are becoming enjoyable once again.

A lesson I have learned is that alot of information on training on the Internet is clearly nonsense and does not work but is often repeated by novices who haven't trained dogs at all.

No update on weight as she is now to hevay for my scales, but I plan to get her weighed at my next vet appointment, she is 8 months and I believe around 80ish pounds, 22 and half inches at the withers.

This morning she began her first heat cycle, so any advice on walking her during this period would be great.

I am now mapping out the purchase of my next dog, and have been looking at dandk boerboels, let me know if any of you have heard of them before and what you think of their breeding programme.
 

Dstack

Well-Known Member
It seems its been a while since my last post on the forum, I had my hands full with a BM pup . I now believe that Loki was exhibiting a fear response due to an incident where a springer spaniel attacked her when she was a puppy. Since that day she has barked and lunged at dogs and pedestrians walking by albeit not in aggressive mannar although to some it may not seem that way. See also started to exhibit other behaviours such as chasing joggers and bikers . As you can imagine this behaviour is very stressful, but thanks to persevering with training, specifically developing a great off leash recall and establishing a myself as the leader, and using body language during leash work I have managed to dramatically improve all undesired behaviours, there is still kroe work to do but walls are becoming enjoyable once again.

A lesson I have learned is that alot of information on training on the Internet is clearly nonsense and does not work but is often repeated by novices who haven't trained dogs at all.

No update on weight as she is now to hevay for my scales, but I plan to get her weighed at my next vet appointment, she is 8 months and I believe around 80ish pounds, 22 and half inches at the withers.

This morning she began her first heat cycle, so any advice on walking her during this period would be great.

I am now mapping out the purchase of my next dog, and have been looking at dandk boerboels, let me know if any of you have heard of them before and what you think of their breeding programme.
I agree whole heartedly about some Internet Training nonsense and some businesses that “guarantee they can train your dog in 2 weeks”. I was downtown last weekend and watched a woman being videotaped by her business partner shock the hell out someone’s pup every time the poor thing wanted to look up/sideways etc. It was sickening to watch and I can’t imagine the ramifications 14 days of shock therapy will place on that pup. I’m sure there are many people that will disagree with me but it just doesn’t seem right or even natural. Lots of gimmicks out there. Good luck with the Boerboel search. I’ve seen D and K on the web but unfortunately I don’t know anything about them. Our Kennel went into retirement after 20 years- Daisy was from their last litter.
 

Loverboy Skyline

Well-Known Member
She is beautiful! I agree, it really helps to be an experienced trainer. The best training instruction I ever got was when I joined a local Schutzhund club several years ago. The head of the club was a guy who took his dog to nationals. Schutzhund obedience is very high level, too high honestly for most people and especially pet owners. Most people just want a dog that sits on command, but a Schutzhund dog has to do it quickly, he can't be sloppy, his body has to align with the handler, and he has to stay in that position until the handler gives him another command. There is nothing like getting several hours of hands on instruction from highly accomplished trainers and also listening to them instruct other handlers, and all I had to pay for was club dues of about $50 a month! I was really lucky to find such a good club, and they are very rare. It got me in the right mindset so I could apply their principles to my own style of training and use my time more effectively.
 

LOKI-EFC

Well-Known Member
I have just rehomed Lokis sister I thought I would update the thread with some photos.
 

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