English mastiff puppies are unlike any other puppy you may have encountered – starting from their looks. They are generally very calm and easy to manage when they are babies, but mastiff temperament varies depending on breed and pedigree.
Mastiffs are quick learners and get used to the house rules fairly quickly. The owner needs to be patient and willing to spend time with them and teach them the basics – in a loving and understanding manner. They are super sensitive and do not react well to yelling or hitting.
As with any other pup, the mastiff dog requires a lot of affection and time during their life span, and loves to sleep through the day as well.
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Mastiff Puppies Care
Mastiffs are generally lazy and like to relax all day, but you can keep them engaged and happy by taking them out for regular exercise or playing with them throughout the day, whenever time permits.
Like any dog, a mastiff is no different and requires daily walks to utilize all the stored energy – physical as well as mental.
When walking, always make sure that he is behind or beside you, to let him know that you are the leader and in command of him.
Mastiffs can also live in smaller houses or apartments provided they get sufficient amounts of exercise on a daily basis. They do not show much activity when taken outdoors and hence, do not require heaps of space to move around or stay active.
This breed is quite prone to hip dysplasia. They are also susceptible to bloating and hence you have to manage their meals (at least twice every day), rather than giving them one big meal every day.
They can also develop gastric torsion, vaginal hyperplasia, life-threatening coronary heart conditions, and progressive retinal atrophy.
They do not do great health-wise and hence you have to keep a close eye on them and various symptoms that may lead to any of these conditions.
For the same reason, do not make them walk for longer durations as they can easily develop joint and hip issues.
Always use a firm brush for their grooming purposes, given they are short-haired, but have a dense coat.
They must be bathed and their eyes and ears cleaned on a regular basis. The coat needs to be free of tangles, dead hear and debris for healthy and supple skin.
The old English mastiff is one of the largest dogs you can find in the world and hence has a lot of physical demands that you must be prepared to meet.
They need to be fed well given their big appetite and need reasonable exercise on a daily basis, at the same time.
All of the above will ensure that they are loved and feel secure with their owner at all times.
Mastiff Puppy Training
If you are contemplating getting an English Mastiff, there are training aspects you need to be aware of. Let us consider them in detail so you are well informed before his arrival.
1. Crate Training
Crate training works well with all breeds of dogs including mastiff pups. When introduced to a crate at an early age, they should get accustomed to staying in one place, rather than the whole house.
That is the easiest and simplest way to house train them for potty purposes, primarily relying on the outdoors for them to get relieved.
The crate should be of reasonable size so they can use it for potty and lying around on the other side.
You should never keep their food and water inside or near the crate, which will increase their frequency of urinating and potty, which may not be convenient for you, as you cannot run with them outside every now and then.
Having said that, they should have some sort of potty breaks routine, so they understand the importance of ‘holding it’ until they are meant to go outside.
2. Feeding
Mastiff dogs eat in a rushed manner when they are fed and this can lead to tummy bloating.
It is vital that you develop good and portion-sized eating habits at a very early age to avoid this condition.
Always spread the portion of their meals throughout the day (3 times is good), rather than bulk feeding.
3. Leash Training
Put them on a leash from the very start, particularly on walks, so they are used to it and are happy wearing it.
This can get very difficult as the mastiff grows in size and can then be hard to control, as they didn’t develop good behaviour early on.
Moreover, this can also be dangerous if they start chasing people or other dogs around them when outside and you certainly do not want that for a variety of obvious reasons.
4. Avoid Jumping
Puppies need to be trained at an early age as to how they should behave and interact with those around them.
This is even more important for mastiffs that can grow into very large dogs and hence, pose danger to their owners and those around them.
Always try to bend down to them, rather than permitting them to jump to you or towards your face. This is a bad habit and needs to be avoided at all times.
5. Socialization
Socializing a mastiff is important (as it is for any dog breed) so that they get used to seeing and interacting safely with people around them, and in all conditions.
This will ensure that you are calm and composed and there are no nerves or anxiety on part of your mastiff either when you are out and about.
You should take them to dog parks on a frequent basis so they get to see people and other animals around them.
This will require a good amount of time on your part as you expose them to variety of environments and people around him, which he should learn as a normal part of his life growing up.
6. Never Over Exercise Your Mastiff Pup
It is always exciting and tempting to play with your pup for long hours during the early days of getting him, but this is not recommended for a mastiff pup.
You should keep the exercise and gentle playing to simple routines that are spread out to reasonable time periods every day, particularly during the first 9 months.
7. No Yelling or Hitting
Never hit or yell at your mastiff. They do not react well to it and get scared or dissuaded easily. Always adopt a firm and corrective tone with them during the training period to get the best behavior out of them.
They will never learn to obey or follow instructions if you are loud with them or threaten to or actually hit them.
This is counterproductive and will only make them more nervous and edgy, which will completely stop the learning process.
Make sure you give them heaps of praise and offer them treats as an incentive when they do obey your command.
Once again, patience and consistency are key factors whilst training and for you to train a well-behaved mastiff dog that is confident and lovable.
Do’s and Don’ts to Raising a Mastiff Puppy
It is your responsibility as a pet owner to help your mastiff learn all the tricks and behavioral traits as he grows older to become an adult mastiff.
The first year is crucial for a mastiff pup in terms of developing good and healthy habits and staying fit for life.
Do not make them work around physically too much as they develop all sorts of health conditions and health problems and you do not want them to continue with the same level of activity when they get older.
Try talking to them on calm and relaxed walks whilst they have soft webbing collars on, which is good healthy behaviour and also lets them mingle with people and pets around them.
Do not make them run or walk on slippery surfaces. This can cause them injuries, which they are already prone to genetically anyway.
You should expose them to public places so they get accustomed to loud noises and people’s voices, so they could get properly socialized.
This socialization should start as soon as they finish all their vaccinations. Always praise them for their bravery as they experience these new places and tackle new environments.
Do not let them run up and down the stairs or within the car. Similarly, always discourage them from jumping around or on you.
When playing with a ball, always use a ball that is larger than your mastiff’s head.
Do not overfeed them with unhealthy food or too many treats. When using treats, opt for healthier options like cheese or dried liver.
The food quality should always be monitored and should be tailor-made for mastiffs or larger dog breeds.
Loose stools will suggest that you are overfeeding them and you should modify their portion size immediately. If they are constipated then you need to increase their portion size. Whenever in doubt, always consult a vet.
One thing that should always be at their disposal is fresh drinking water. You will need to change it frequently as it gets dirty with their saliva quite frequently.
Toilet training starts from day 1. You will need to be persistent and vigilant as to when he needs to go and relieve himself – usually when they wake up, after playtime or immediately after meal times as well.
Some of the basic commands including ‘heel’, ‘sit’, ‘stay’, ‘lie down and ‘recall’ are important to practice and will establish a great bond between you and him.
You can use a simple ‘no’ (or in a harsher tone if required) when disciplining him for something he should not have done. They have short memories so it is best to remind them of the wrong there and then.
FAQs
When do Mastiff puppies calm down?
Mastiff puppies are notorious for being rambunctious and wild. It is often said that they don’t calm down until they are at least two years old.
While this may be the case for some mastiffs, it is not true for all of them. There are many mastiffs who start to calm down by the time they are six months old.
One reason why mastiff puppies may seem so wild is that they are still growing and developing. Their energy levels tend to peak around six to nine months of age, and then they start to calm down.
Another reason is that mastiffs are bred to be guard dogs, so they naturally have a lot of energy.
It is important to remember that every mastiff is different, so there is no set timeline for when they will calm down.
When do Mastiff puppies stop growing?
Mastiff puppies are a giant breed and they continue to grow until they reach maturity. The average Mastiff puppy will reach their full size by the time they are two years old.
Some Mastiffs may take until they are three years old to reach their full grown size, but this is rare. During the growth process, it is important that mastiff puppies have a balanced diet and plenty of exercises.
However, there are some instances in which your puppy’s growth may slow down even further. For example, if your pup has Hypothyroidism (an underactive thyroid), or if he is experiencing other health problems, he may not grow as quickly as he should.
Similarly, if your pup is coming from an underprivileged environment (when food resources are limited or nonexistent), his growth may slow down even more due to limited food availability and poor nutrition.
Overfeeding or underfeeding can lead to health problems as the puppy grows. Puppy mills often do not properly care for their puppies, which can lead to growth problems.
If you are considering purchasing a Mastiff puppy, be sure to do your research and find a reputable breeder who will ensure that your puppy grows up healthy and strong.
When does a Mastiff mature?
Mastiffs are considered a mature breed at around two years old. However, their puppy phase can last up to 2 and half years.
Are Mastiff puppies lazy?
Mastiff puppies are often thought to be lazy because of their laid-back demeanor. However, this is not always the case. Mastiffs can be energetic and playful when they want to be. In fact, some puppies may be hyperactive.
There are a number of reasons why mastiff puppies are lazy. The most obvious reason is that they are very large and heavy, making it difficult for them to move around.
If they become overweight, they may also have trouble moving around, which can cause them to become even lazier.
Another reason mastiffs maybe lazy is that they are often not well-socialized as puppies. This means they do not get the chance to play with other dogs or other people, which can make it difficult for them to learn how to interact with other animals and people.
Other problems include hip dysplasia, which causes pain in the hips. This can make it harder for dogs to move around and run around, causing them to become even lazier.
Finally, some mastiff puppies may be born with a genetic condition called hip dislocation, which causes their hips to dislocate from their pelvis. This can make it harder for them to move around and can cause them to become even lazier than normal.
When do Mastiff puppies stop biting?
Different Mastiff puppies stop biting at different ages however the usual age at which they stop nipping and biting is around 4-6 months.
Part of this is due to the fact that biting is a sign of frustration, so by then, they’re no longer upset and just want to play.
Another reason is that as they get bigger, their jaw strength increases which mean that they can no longer bite so hard.
This may be why some Mastiff puppies continue to bite even after they’ve reached this mature age, as it’s a way for them to show dominance.
One thing to keep in mind is that some Mastiff puppies will continue to bite for many different reasons.
So if your puppy continues to bite well past the age when others usually stop, take this into account when deciding whether it’s okay or not.
Closing Thoughts About Raising A Mastiff Puppy
Mastiff puppies are impressive pets – muscular, powerful, and huge sized. Their size can be deceptive as they are generally not aggressive and super friendly with children when introduced to them at the right age.
They are keen observers and show a lot of intelligence in their day to day behaviour. They can be calm and composed and practice a lot of patience when dealing with their owners – on the condition that they have been trained well from a very early age.
Puppyhood is an interesting period and the pet owner needs to show authority at all times during the training process, to ensure that they retain control over them at all times.
These cute little babies grow up very quickly – so enjoy them to the fullest.
