How Long will it Take to House Train my Mastiff Puppy?
by admin ~ October 8th, 2008Q: I have a 10 week old great dane-mastiff mix puppy. How long should I realistically expect it to take to house train my puppy?
A: Housebreaking a new dog or puppy depends largely on how diligent you are about watching your puppy and working with him or her. I housetrained my last mastiff puppy in just a few weeks, but I basically take vacation time when we bring home a new dog so I can put in the time it takes to get them house trained right off the bat.
The key is to watch your great dane-mastiff puppy constantly and take them out to potty every 20-30 minutes, offering treats for going in the right spot. Puppies will also have to go outside right after waking up from a nap and 10-20 minutes after eating. Be proactive and take your puppy outside before he or she goes in the house, then give praise for going in the right spot.
Never hit a dog or a puppy, and don’t rub their nose in accidents as this does nothing but confuse and scare puppies. When you catch your puppy in the act of pottying inside, say “no” then take him or her immediately outside. Give a command, like “do your business,” then praise your puppy for going in the right spot by giving a treat immediately. Your puppy will soon associate pottying outside with getting treats and will want to do it more often. If you’re careful about watching your puppy at all times, you shouldn’t have a problem housebreaking in just a few weeks. If you let your puppy roam around the house unsupervised while you watch TV, you’re probably going to find it takes much longer to house train.
If you are able to install a doggie door, it may reduce the time it takes to house train your mastiff puppy. If your puppy is left alone while you’re at work, you can bump a crate up to the doggie door so your puppy can come in to sleep but must go out to potty. If you can’t install a doggie door or don’t have a fenced yard, you can train your dog to ring a bell that hangs from the door whenever he or she has to go out. Ask your obedience instructor for tips on training your puppy to do this.
This puppy care sheet also has some great tips on potty training that work for any breed: great dane puppy care sheet
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Introducing a New Puppy to Your Older Dog
by admin ~ September 23rd, 2008Bringing home a new puppy will change the atmosphere in your home. Here are a few steps you can take when introducing a new puppy to your older dog to make the transition a little smoother for everyone:
- Introduce your dog to the new puppy in a neutral place, like a friend or family member’s house. This will give your dog a chance to get to know the puppy without feeling like his territory has been invaded.
- Take a short walk with your dog and the new puppy each day, even if it’s around your front porch or backyard. Walking together reinforces the pack bond, and can help your dog to understand that the puppy is now a member of the family.
- Set boundaries. Don’t allow the puppy to chew on your dog’s ears or tail, and don’t allow your dog to growl at the puppy or play too roughly. By reinforcing your role as the “alpha dog” or “pack leader,” you will be letting them know that you set the rules and they must get along and follow your direction.
- It’s tempting to give the new puppy all of the attention, and often older dogs can be left out. Make sure you divide your time equally, giving your dog the tummy rubs and playtime he’s accustom to.
- Your puppy may try to keep up with your dog while playing, so make sure you set limits and don’t let him over-do it. Don’t let your giant breed puppy play on slippery surfaces or run on hard or slippery surfaces.
- Until you’re sure your dog gets along well with the new puppy, don’t leave them alone together.
- Get the puppy his own bed and food bowl so your dog doesn’t feel like all his “stuff” is being taken over.
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What is the Difference Between a Great Dane and a Mastiff?
by admin ~ June 4th, 2008
Great Danes and Mastiffs are very similar in many ways, and quite different in others. Both of these giant breeds make great companions but do require a huge committment of time, energy, love and money.
The Similarities Between Great Danes and Mastiffs
The Great Dane was created hundreds of years ago by crossing English Mastiffs with Greyhounds. As a result, great danes and mastiffs share many characteristics. Both breeds are usually outgoing and friendly, yet make great watchdogs. Great danes and mastiffs are typically good with children and are excellent indoor pets as they tend to be calm, relaxed breeds; not hyperactive. They share similar health issues including a high risk of bloat, and nutrition is especially important with both breeds.
Both great danes and mastiffs are in the working class category of dogs. It’s important to keep their minds engaged and take them on daily walks. They do like having jobs, even if the job is to learn tricks like putting away their toys. Great Danes and Mastiffs are intelligent and very easy to train. They should learn a few basic obedience commands and house training in a few weeks with consistent training.
Neither breed does well as an outdoor only dog. Great Danes and Mastiffs establish a strong bond with their family and need to be a “part of the pack”. Boredom and loneliness in any dog can lead to destructive behavior, but with giant breeds, destruction happens on a larger scale; like digging up an entire yard full of trees and plants in an afternoon.
Many people mistakenly assume these giant dogs are aggressive attack dogs, which is not the case. Though they may playfully tackle you, once pinned down you’ll probably find yourself covered in slobbery kisses.
The Differences Between Great Danes and Mastiffs
Great Danes tend to be lighter, faster and more agile than mastiffs, and many great dane owners successfully compete in agility. Mastiffs are the heaviest (largest) breed of dog, weighing up to 270lbs, but typically average around 200lbs. Mastiffs tend to be more muscular and powerful than great danes, but both breeds can easily overpower their owners on walks so obedience training is a must. In my experience, our great danes are a little more light-hearted, while our mastiff is a bit more intense.
Great Danes were originally bred for hunting, Mastiffs for guarding and accompanying men into battle. Today, both are usually bred to be loyal and loving companions. Some great danes have varying degrees of prey drive, and may chase smaller pets and animals, but this is not always the case as many great danes do well with smaller animals. Great Danes tend to be taller than Mastiffs, but Mastiffs can be twice as wide as a Great Dane and as a result will probably eat a few more cups of food each day.
Deciding Which Giant Breed is Right for You
If you’re considering a giant breed dog, start out by reading the AKC breed standards, which should help you narrow it down to two or three breeds. If you’re looking for a great dane or mastiff puppy, the best way to fully understand the differences between the breeds is to visit several breeders and spend some time with their dogs.
Breeding/bloodlines play a huge role in determining the temperament, personality, health and size of these giant breeds, so if you’re looking for a puppy, take your time interviewing breeders and meet several dogs before deciding which is right for you. Most breeders are happy to chat with you about the personalities of their dogs and are willing to help you in making the decision regarding which breed would suit your family best.
If you’re looking to adopt an adult dog, you can check with your local breed clubs for a referral to a local breed rescue. Breed specific rescue organizations should be well versed on their breed, and will want to place dogs in homes that are the best match. They should be able to provide you with information about the history of the dog, the dog’s personality and temperament, whether or not the dog is OK with kids or pets, and other details to aid in your decision making process.
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Mastiff Personality?
by admin ~ March 27th, 2008Q: I am getting ready to take a job at a youth camp and was wondering if that setting would be good for a mastiff. First, will a mastiff ever be content to be outside a lot (i will be and would love to have a big dog with me) and maybe even sleep outside. Second, will a mastiff do well with a constantly changing huge group of 200 kids every week and the resulting attention? Can they easiily be trained to heel without a collar and obey?
A: Mastiffs are a fun-loving, easy going, social breed. They love to be around people and typically do well around kids (other than the occasional tail whack or accidentally knocking over small children).
1. Assuming the weather is nice in the area you will be (they don’t do well in hot or cold temperatures) a mastiff probably wouldn’t mind the time outdoors, as long as they are interacting with you and not left alone in a dog run all day. English mastiffs do have a reputation for being a bit lazy, so their energy level is probably not up for daily jogging or 5 mile hikes - a more athletic type dog would be a better choice if that is the case. Make sure your mastiff has a soft place to rest outside.
2. Your mastiff would prefer to sleep on your bed, or on top of you on your bed, or on your pillow. This doesn’t leave much room for youRemember that dogs are pack animals, so it is not in their nature to be separated from their pack, even for the night. Rather than leaving him/her outside, a better choice would be to have a dog bed or a large crate in your bedroom where your dog can sleep near you.
3. The typical mastiff loves being the center of attention. As long as you begin socializing your puppy to children, commotion, and change, or choose an adult that likes kids and crowds, you shouldn’t have a problem. Every dog has a unique personality, so ask your breeder/adoption counselor to help you choose a dog or puppy with an outgoing personality, and make sure your dog has a place to rest away from the commotion that is off limits to kids in case he/she needs a break.
4. My great danes and mastiffs are all voice trained. It takes time and you have to be committed to enrolling in a good obedience class and sticking with it. Mastiffs are intelligent and very trainable, but they can have a bit of a stubborn streak so consistency is key and frequent practicing is a must.
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Clicker Training for Puppies
by admin ~ February 25th, 2008I’ve trained many dogs over the years, typically using the standard method of giving a command, like “sit,” pushing gently on the puppy’s rear end to help them into a sitting position, then giving a treat. This seemed to work pretty well.
I recently began taking a beginner’s obedience class with a new puppy. The class is based on clicker training. The theory behind clicker training is that you are able to click (a small metal “clicker” can be purchased at pet supply stores) at exactly the moment the dog performs the desired action, then follow the click with a treat. This provides a more precisely timed reward for the desired behavior (the click), helping the puppy to understand what it is you want faster. Clicker training provides positive reinforcement which seems to work really well with dogs and puppies.
I must admit, I was skeptical at first. We were instructed to stand with the clicker in one hand and a treat in the other, look at our puppy’s backside and wait for them to sit without giving commands or assisting with motion. I was suprised when it worked! But sure enough, after just a few seconds of making eye contact with my puppy’s backside, he sat down and and looked at me, trying to figure out what I was doing and what I wanted. Immediately upon contact between the puppy’s rear and the ground, the clicker is clicked, then a treat follows.
A few weeks into the classes, I’ve found I’m getting a more rapid response to commands. My puppy seems to be grasping new concepts after just a few repetitions of commands with the clicker, vs. the few weeks it would typically take to learn commands the old way. He definitely associates that click with a positive response and a treat. Clicker training receives a thumbs up!
