Personal Space...

[KateJ]

I just adopted a female Bullmastiff who has some serious physical health recovering to do. I am used to big dogs having had a Great Dane who recently passed away. My question is, are Bullmastiffs typically wanting to be glued to your side or your lap? She is a big lovebug but it is difficult to get her to not push into me physically. She has little training but has learned sit and come well. With her health issues I don't want to push her hard on training. Thank you for any insight!

 

[Smokeycat]

I have an EM not a BM but I did have to train him not to lean heavily on people. I did it by simply stepping away from him whenever he leaned against my leg. After falling over a few times he figured out that he could touch my leg but had to hold his own weight up. He does always want to be touching me though.

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[Oscar'sMom]

Our EM is a lovers. He wants to be near someone at all times and as close as possible. I love it

 

[season]

Solo loves to be close by as well. Which I'm cool with. But I also have times when I need my space to do things so I work a lot with place command. I've posted many vids on the topic. It's a great tool and way to help your dog in many ways. Impulse control. Duration work. Independence. Confidence. The list goes on.


Carpe Diem

 

[KateJ]

Being new to this forum, where would I find the videos mentioned? And thank you for the help!

 

[tmricciuto]

You can type Place Command in the search bar at the top and it should come up. Otherwise I would search in training and behavior.

 

[DennasMom]

We had a dane/lab mix that was a leaner... he was only 100lbs, though, so he didn't push people over. Denna (EM) will curl up and lean into people for greetings, but once she settles down, she's better at staying close, but not TOO close.

 

[DennasMom]

...sleeping is a whole 'nother story, though... she has NO concept of personal space when she's up on the bed... I often have to tell her to MOVE so I can breathe. Her head is HEAVY.

 

[KateJ]

Yes!!! On the couch is where Stella has no concept of personal space!

 

[DMikeM]

I think most of the mastiffs have the need to be close. I am always pushing one away on the couch or even when i walk through the house. They are always getting up on the bed too and they push me to the edge. I have started kneeing them (pretty hard) to force them to move. After doing this a few times they are starting to not push on me or against me. Boerboels are related to the BM and they are very clingy indeed.

 

[spiritDDB]

Spirit doesn't lean, but she is a space hog. She has to be right be me, at least most of the time. Someone on here mentioned a place command, which I use with her in the kitchen, and she does fairly well with. I've had dogs that were very cuddly, but I think she's the most snuggly I've ever had!

 

[Yamizuma]

I think it's often their version of claiming and hugging you at the same time. I love how physical Tali likes to be...except at 3 a.m. when she decides to sleep on me. Not so cute.


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[teodora]

All mine are clingy - jack is on the top of the list.

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[Bob Felts]

Thane tends to sit on my foot, then lean on my leg(s). Just a trait of Mastiffs I think.

 

[Winter's Cinder]

Even though I'm a noob to the mastiff breed... our pup seems to be a leaner ... from what I've read this seems to be a trait... here is a photo to show her trying out her leaning powers against her buddy...

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[Winter's Cinder]

And here is what happened when she thought leaning wasn't enough.... LOL!!!

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[ruby55]

I've never met a bullmastiff yet who didn't lean. It's a pain to try & get anything done when they're all awake; 5 bm's trying to get as close as possible. Cobi has learned the fine art of anticipating my every move, so that no matter where I need to go, he's right in the way, trying to put his big slobbery lips & face on my legs.

 

[season]

And here is what happened when she thought leaning wasn't enough.... LOL!!!

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Cute pic, but I wouldn't be allowing the puppy to claim your infant child's space like that. That's how kids end up getting bit and dogs end up getting put down. I'm not too concerned with how u take this. I'm more concerned with the safety of your child and pup.


Carpe Diem

 

[season]

This article says "adult" but relates just the same with puppies. I hope u take my advice and read it. Especially the part about children and dogs. Both need rules and groundwork to ensure the safety of both. Too many owners with children fail to establish consistent boundaries with their dogs. Then u see articles and posts about dogs biting kids, dogs being put down and owners claiming "they never saw it coming." I'm posting this to help.
Leerburg | The Groundwork to Establishing Pack Structure with Adult Dogs


Carpe Diem

 

[cinnamon roll]

Here is a pic of Mystic playing nurse when my son was sick.