Shelter puppy. looks mastiff

[Distaff]

Hello everyone.
I found a puppy at the shelter, and took her home about a week ago. Sorry, no pics (I am computer tech. illiterate - can't spell either). She looks mastiff to me based on aloof temperment, bone structure, head shape, and skin folds. Based on a comparison with my 55 lb lab mix, I'd say the puppy is at least 45 pounds. She seems to have all her teeth, but the back molars are still small, so, maybe 5 months?

That weight and age ruled out English mastiff for me. Based on looking at countless internet pics, she looks to me like Bullmastiff. Expect for too much white on her neck and a lot on her paws, she is the spitting image of several Bullmastiff pics I've found of brindle colored older puppies. It is a guess, I know. Everyone else says pit, or pit/Boxer. I actually like many pits, but she it not a pit! too much skin, and she has those mastiff slightly droopyish eyes, plus too much bone, esp in the hind legs. I really don't see Boxer (another of my favorites), except for the way she uses her paws when playing with the lab.

One peculiarity: she has a distinct curl at the end of her tail. The tail is mostly held down, but the lower 1/4, or so curls up.

I very much enjoy reading the mastiff forum.
Thanks,
Distaff

 

[BeckyN]

I rescued a pup from the local shelter. Had no idea what she was. As she grew I realized she was not a pit mix. So I ordered a doggie DNA test from Wisdom Panel. My puppy ended up being mastiff/bullmastiff cross. This was not the first time I have used the test. I highly recommend the test. It's easy to do. Busch Gardens has used the test before.

 

[musicdeb]

Welcome aboard and thank you for rescuing the pup.

Would love to help you but a pic would help us to give you our feedback about the breed.

 

[Distaff]

BF took a photo with his phone, but I can't figure out how to get the pic here. Probably just as well, that one pic is poor, and it makes her look cow-hocked (well she is) and ugly. She is actually beautiful - she has this lovely squarish "bully" face. Great personality too. Sweet as pie.

If she is not napping (she seems to sleep about 16 hrs a day!) she is out wrestling with the Lab. Hope that is not too much exercize. I'm carefull to not let her jump to and from the pick-up tailgate. For now, I can still lift her.

When she first came home, she was crazy about food. The shelter only fed twice a day, and I think she needed the food spread out more. I feed 3X a day plus a couple biscuts. I also hand feed her, and she has to sit for each handfull. At first she was lunging and gulping. One of the first mornings she promptly threw up breakfast. Taste of the Wild is too expensive to waste! She is getting calmer at mealtimes. She is leaner than a week ago, and I can see the rib cage as defined from the waist, but nothing is sticking out. Everything I've read so far, cautions against letting the pups get fat.

Will try to get some pics up soon.

 

[musicdeb]

Here is a great body chart to check her body condition:

Pups can exercise 5 minutes for every month of age for every exercise event. It is best avoid excessive running, jumping, walking, jogging and navigating stairs until the pup reaches 12 months of age. Start the pup on glucosamine to keep the joints healthy. Titan and I take the same glucosamine supplement made by Schiff. Using Glucosamine to Prevent Canine Osteoarthritis - Whole Dog Journal Article

Slow transition to the new food is as follows to prevent diarrhea. If at any time during the transition, the pup has diarrhea return to previous amounts of food per feeding. If you are switching flavors made by the same manufacturer, you should not have to do a slow transition.

Amount per feeding:

Day 1-4 ¾ cup of old food and ¼ cup of new food.

Day 5-9 ½ cup of old food and ½ cup of new food.

Day 10-14 ¾ cup of new food and ¼ cup of old food

Day 15 Start 100% of new food

Generally, mastiffs are allergic to grain and chicken found in kibble. You can check www.dogfoodadvisor.com for dog food ratings and customer feedback. Mastiff puppies should eat Large Breed adult food because puppy food has too much calcium which causes fast growth. Slow and steady growth for a healthy mastiff. Protein in the food is not an issue unless the pup has kidney issues.

http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?c=2+1659&aid=652

Dog Food FAQs: Protein

Check out Acana Regionals, Wellness Core, Castor & Pollux Grain Free, Earthborn Holistics, Fromm*s, Innova Natures Table or Taste of the Wild grain free. Chewy.com is a great place to order dog food and they offer free shipping.

You may want to check out the raw diet for your pup. Raw diet can be fed to young pups. Check out the sub forum on raw diet that has a wealth of information. It is not recommended to feed the pup kibble (one with grains) and raw food. Do your research re: raw diet and form your own opinion.

 

[Distaff]

Thank you for those guidelines. I bookmarked that glucosamine link.

According to the chart, I'd say the pup is a high three, close to four - so, she could use a few more calories.

We've had her a little over a week, and I've probably already screwed things up. BF and I live in town, but we socialize so little, we are practically hermits. I had the dogs out for their walk this morning, and stopped to chat with a neighbor. The older Lab-mix knows and likes this lady, but the pup thought otherwise. The neighbor gave the pup plenty of space - we approached her (and not close, either).

I got the Lab to sit, and tried to get the pup to not bark any more, and to sit herself. The pup knows "sit" when food is involved! But, this time, no good. Not sure how I could have handeled it better. Admittedly, I should have been greeting people all along, but it is a small town, and not many people I know are just out in the street at any given time to briefly chat with and introduce her to. I expect my dogs to sit and calmly wait if I meet with an acquaintance during the walk.

There is a video on Youtube where a lady (who seems to be a BM breeder) is being interviewed for several minutes about the characteristics of the breed. Meanwhile, her dog is down on the ground not paying obvious attention to anyone, just looking handsome and contented for the duration.
I want that.

 

[musicdeb]

If she's close to 4, I'd say she's probably ok. You've only had the pup for a week and she could be stressed due to the environmental change. It is going to take her at least a couple of months to totally relax and trust you. Patience is key here.

Teach her what you want her to do but it requires consistency with motivational rewards (take treats with you on walks) and LOTS of patience. Avoid allowing the pup to feel your frustration as this causes her to shut down and stop listening. Avoid yelling or hitting the pup as this can cause fear aggression which is a behavior you do not want to deal with, it's a long and tedious process. I've been dealing with fear aggression with Titan for 2 1/2 years because his past owner hit him when he did not do a command immediately, therefore, Titan dislikes men. He's getting better but it's a work in progress.

She may be in the fear stage which occurs until about 6 months and another fear stage starts at about 10 months. You then hit the teenage stage around 11 months which requires returning to basic training and adopting NILF, meaning they receive nothing without working for it. She must sit and do some commands before receiving food, cuddles, treats or toys. The teenage stage is a very testy time period for you because the pup is testing the waters to see what they can get away with. It does pass, so again patience is key.

 

[Distaff]

Thanks!
If its not one thing, its another.
That's puppies for you!

We have been trying to get pics every day. She is so cute, but she is not photogenic! The photos so far don't even look that much like her. She has this oversized blocky head, just like everyone's else's BM puppy, but the photos never show it. The camera never catches her cute facial expressions, nor her huge cat paws, nor her heavy boned structure.

It may be that BF just can't take a pic. I have my own camera - I just hate trying to use it. They make those things way too complicated, but I may have to resort to doing so.

Cheers.