Dog Breed Reviews > Old English Mastiff, Old English Mastiff temperament, personality, training, behavior, pros and cons, advice, and information, by Michele Welton, Dog Trainer, Behavioral Consultant, Author of 15 Dog Books, The AKC Standard says, "A combination of grandeur and good nature, courage and docility. We should involve the entire household by letting them know that the Mastiff in training is going to undergo a socialization process. Socialization is essential with dogs of any size, but it is especially important with ones that grow up to be really huge. Some English Mastiffs are naturally friendly, but most tend to be a little standoffish with strangers, and some individuals have protective instincts. Training Your Spanish Mastiff. When the protective Mastiff begins showing enthusiasm by wagging its tail at the sight, sound, and smell of our relatives, we can opt to hold the harness and leash close to our bodies as we give our dogs belly rubs; while doing this, our relatives can gently stroke the coat of our dogs as we carefully guide their head towards the food bowls placed near our relatives. They are similar in personality and are both loving gentle giants, who both make great family companions. Is there anything I can do? But there are some slight differences in character.The English Mastiff, despite his impressive stature, is a couch potato and loves nothing more than jumping on the sofa with his family for cuddles. $59.90. Mastiffs are good-natured and intelligent, but they need extensive training to overcome their stubbornness. Having guard dog roots they are likely to be suspicious of strangers and … Once we take home our puppy Mastiffs, it’s when our part in their socialization process begins. $59.00. Mastiffs are not recommended for first time dog owners because their confusion, anxiety, and mood swings get the best of them at times, making it difficult to direct them. English mastiffs are also naturally protective, though they actually rank pretty low when compared to some other mastiff breeds. Socialization is critical in shaping dogs’ behavior especially during these two “fear periods”. Read more about Old English Mastiff Training. That poor animal , is always on a 3-4 ft. Leash. New. Additionally, the breed tends to be gentle and calm, even to the point of seeming a bit lazy. They never take the dog in car, he is never exercised like a run around the neighborhood to check out the inhabitants. The ideal situation is of course to bring up the puppy with the “human puppies”. Keep in mind that the inheritance of temperament is less predictable than the inheritance of physical traits such as size or shedding. They are the type of dogs that need socialization to become fully integrated family members. English Mastiffs are Great Service Dogs, Therapy Dogs, Home and Farm Protection, Companion Dogs, & are Gentle Giants We have strong History of Greiner Hall, Lionhearted & Iron Hills Blood Lines House Broke and well started on about 30 Obedience Commands, Verbal w/ Hand Signals, & Come to a Whistle. Massive and powerful, the French Mastiff is a perfect guard dog. Originally from England, this large-sized and medium-energy breed can grow to between 175-190 pounds and lives an average of 9-11 years. About the author: Michele Welton has over 40 years of experience as a Dog Trainer, Dog Breed Consultant, and founder of three Dog Training Centers. Puppies go through various stages of development during which there are periods when they are prone to developing fear. Always supervise young people around Spanish Mastiffs as these dogs can accidentally knock down toddlers. English Mastiffs are shy and highly protective by nature, and these instincts need to be subdued or suppressed by training from an early age. … I have had a mastiff and he was probably one of the most fun loving dog I had. Though it still has a protective nature, the English Mastiff we know today … A much more common response to a perceived threat from someone will be the physical imposition of their body between the two people. Dignity, rather than gaiety, is the Mastiff's correct demeanor.". These courses will be held by skilled trainers to ensure the safety and enjoyment of dogs and people alike. Gradual and sufficient socialization can help our puppies associate various kinds of sights, smells, and sounds with positive feelings. The Old English Mastiff is calm and quiet (as an adult!) Expose them to a wide variety of friendly dogs and people to diminish any aggressive tendencies. Temperament and behavior are also shaped by raising and training. How To Pick The Perfect Crate For Your Mastiff & Train Them To Use & Not Pee In It. Just as with puppies, this trick will work with adult Mastiffs who may have behavioral issues. It's essential to socialize your English Mastiff very thoroughly when he is young, so that he learns to recognize the normal behaviors of "good guys." By nature Mastiffs are gentle and protective with young children providing that they have been raised with children and are accustomed to them. Without proper training during their formative years, they wouldn’t become their best selves when they become adults; in comparison, they will be closer to a wolf picked out from the wild than to a docile house pet that children can play with. The problem is that most dog training videos on the internet are worthless, because they use the wrong training method. A gamekeeper’s job was to protect hunting reserves and vast county estates of the English upper class. We should try to turn our homes into sensory museums where our puppies can expose themselves to various sounds, smells, and textures in their own time. This DogAppy article presents information about the characteristic features, personality traits, and common health issues of this popular breed. See All of Michele's Best-Selling Dog Books, 11 Things You Must Do Right To Keep Your Dog Healthy and Happy, Homemade Dog Food Delivered To Your House, homemade diet of real meat and vegetables, Puppy Training Schedule: What To Teach, and When, Solve Behavior Problems By Teaching Your Dog To Respect You, Is usually mild-mannered, yet makes an imposing watchdog because of his size and self-assurance, A huge dog who takes up a lot of space in your house and car, A heavy dog who wants to sit on your feet and lean his weight against your leg, Destructiveness when bored or left alone too much, Potential aggression or fearfulness toward people if not chosen carefully and socialized enough, Potential aggression toward other animals, Strong-willed mind of his own, requiring a confident owner who can take charge, Snorting, snuffling, wheezing, grunting, loud snoring, Serious health problems and a short lifespan, Legal liabilities (public perception, insurance problems, increased chance of lawsuits), You can avoid some negative traits by choosing an ADULT dog from an, If you want a puppy, you can avoid some negative traits by choosing the, Finally, you can avoid some negative traits by. Outside of socialization courses conducted by dog trainers, we can gently expose our Mastiffs to a wide variety of people and places to train them to be adaptable and appreciative of changes. Mastiff. American Bandogges are a rare mix breed. Days after, the protective nature of our dogs against the relatives will decrease. If they experience negative instead of positive interactions with humans and other dogs during these periods, they may develop fear which they will carry until adulthood. I use the name Old English Mastiff  to distinguish this breed from all the other Mastiffs: the French Mastiff (Dogue de Bordeaux), Italian Mastiff (Cane Corso), Argentine Mastiff (Dogo Argentino), Brazilian Mastiff (Fila Brasileiro), Neapolitan Mastiff, Tibetan Mastiff, Bullmastiff, and others. A mastiff reportedly came to America on the Mayflower. I thought of mailing them a book on how to raise a Mastiff. Some Old English Mastiffs are peaceful with other animals, while others are dominant (even combative) with dogs of the same sex. Watchfulness should be discouraged, as it's best for all concerned if a Mastiff intimidates by his presence alone, rather than by his behavior. Are English mastiffs protective? Top 10 Mastiff Breeds You Should Know About - The Dogs Journal Some dogs don’t have the same respect for children as they have for adults. With this in mind, the Mastiff makes an excellent companion, one that is very loyal and protective to family members. It is also important to supervise our new pups’ interactions with other dogs to make sure that they’re safe and that the experience is pleasant for them. Proper socialization can prevent our Mastiffs from biting children and feeling nervous in moving vehicles. To ensure a stable temperament, English Mastiffs need earlier and more frequent socialization than many other breeds. While talking about these dogs, we should not confuse them with the mastiff breeds that are a term to refer to most large and sturdy canines. We do our best to research articles that meet a high editorial standard and provide reliable information – however, the content on this blog is not a substitute for veterinary guidance. This breed has been bred in England for many centuries where it has long served as a property guardian and personal protection animal. This means that we should watch our puppy Mastiff attentively and make sure that it’s getting positive responses in every corner of our homes. Socialization is cannot be discussed without relating it to puppy development. His size alone is enough to deter troublemakers. Most English Mastiffs are polite with everyone, but there is timidity (even extreme shyness) in some lines, and aggression in others. English Mastiffs can turn out to be aggressive due to irresponsible training practices and lack of socialization. Once they’re settled, we can begin introducing them to various people who differ in height, appearance, age, and voice. All rights reserved. The Mastiff, or English Mastiff, is a very large and powerful breed. Model: H1###1024 perfect Large harness. The last-recorded heaviest dog in the world was an English mastiff named Aicama Zorba of La Susa, weighing 343 pounds and standing 37 inches at the shoulder, as recorded in the 1989 "Guinness Book of Records." Mastiffs that were not socialized properly. The Mastiff is the classic gentle giant, loving but sometimes stubborn. Since poachers didn’t pay much attention to the gamekeepers, the gamekeepers came up with another solution to the problem. Top 10 Strongest Breeds:- How Does Your Mastiff Compare? However, English Mastiffs are not the sort of dog that will typically “protect” by attacking. Mastiffs that were not socialized properly as puppies or were acquired later in life can still be aided in associating unfamiliar situations with positive experiences. Generally, these dogs are protective. Early socialization and training is essential for such a large breed with natural protective instincts. Copyright © 2000-2020 by Michele Welton. The English Mastiff temperament is one that takes well to training. The breed is known for its massive size and for its sweet, protective nature. An Old English Mastiff may be right for you. They don’t pick up a fight unless they feel threatened. This will encourage association between positive feelings and various objects, pets, and people. As with many purebred dogs, the members of … Socialization courses for both puppy Mastiffs and adult ones are available in many neighborhoods, and can easily be found online. This is one breed that is not overly aggressive but can be a bit clumsy due to poor dressage. I recommend these dog training videos that are based on respect and leadership. Even though they are innately good-natured, dogs who weren’t socialized may end up becoming stubborn and at times, hostile. To stay fit, he needs daily walks (whether he seems to want them or not), but he isn't a jogging partner. We have never seen them petting , praising or playing with him. These courses will expose our Mastiffs to other dogs and people after teaching them basic commands. Mastiffs are protective, good-natured, and calm large sized dogs that originated in England. The breed is referred to as the old English mastiff, the English mastiff, or simply the mastiff. Without careful socialization, they may be suspicious of everyone – obviously not a good situation! Anonymous. "riding the horsey" because it can permanently traumatize a Mastiff puppy. Children as they have been raised well puppies actually begins with breeders who should handle them with utmost.. 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