Bullmastiff Puppy Care Tips

How Well Prepared Are You for Your New Bullmastiff Puppy?

If you have cute Bullmastiff puppies as pets, it’s necessary to set about the right educational measures. Pet owners must teach Bullmastiff puppies to obey and recognize their voice when they call them, not only to have them well trained and educated but also for their safety. Follow these steps and soon you’ll have your puppy coming to you whenever you want; It is just a matter of them paying attention to the instructions.

Where Do You Start?

First collect all the things you need for swimming, bathing and decide if you want to shower your small bullmastiff in your kitchen sink or bathtub. The kitchen sink is always better for the Bullmastiff puppies back, but if you think the dog will sink a jump and fall to the ground then the bath is better. Try to pay attention to detail to avoid any sorts of problems with them. If you want bullmastiff puppies to learn to come to you when you call them, name them first- give them a short name and distinctive sound which is easy to recognize to avoid confusion and make your training easy.

Do you have everything you need?  Here is a list of some of the essentials that you will need before you bring home your Bullmastiff puppy.

1. Crate and suitable bedding e.g..towels blankets (you will find this invaluable)
2. Bowls (two one for water the other for food)
3. A lead and a suitable collar or check chain (be prepared to have to buy quite a few until your puppy has grown into an adult.
4. Food Your breeder will advise you what they have been feeding your puppy.
5. Nail clippers (puppies nails do grow quickly if you are not sure as to how to cut nails go to grooming
6. Toys (be careful choosing toys that your Bullmastiff will grow out of quickly)
7. Soft bristle brush for grooming
8. Make sure you have cleaners and cloth just in case of accidents.

Bullmastiff Puppies – Patience

To train these Bullmastiff Puppies, you’ll need a lot of patience since they will not learn overnight. First, you will need to teach them through games. Draw them to you with a dog toy that is striking and call them by their name. Have them follow you a few minutes and then give the toy as a reward.

When you give the meal, call them by name to approach the dish. Similarly, do it every chance you can. Your bullmastiff will learn to recognize the sound through constant repetition. Remember that whenever you respond positively reward him with loving words and gestures or special biscuits for dogs.

It’s a good idea to accompany the name of your puppy with a specific whistle every time you call, especially when you know admit it. In this way, both sounds and their associated response will be faster! These dogs are smart and they love to play. You might as well add some other sounds that they will remember. Do not change the whistle and make it distinctive, the Bullmastiff will know how to recognize the specific sound even among a multitude of sounds.

Toilet Training

A few simple measures can be taken to teach your Bullmastiff that it is better to do his business outside. As soon as puppy wakes or has just finished his meal take them straight outside if he does go to the toilet outside give him plenty of praise. If your puppy does accidentally go to the toilet inside and you have caught him in the act a firm growling no and place the dog straight outside. If you have not caught the dog in the act DO NOT punish him as this will only confuse him or he will think he is being punished for something else. Please refrain from smacking or using a rolled up newspaper, this will only cause your puppy to become nervous and it will also delay proper house training.

Vaccinations and Worming

The breeder of your puppy would have wormed your puppy and have vaccinations kept up to date. If you do have another dog when you bring home your puppy make sure the other dog has also been wormed or two weeks after you have brought home your new puppy worm both dogs at the same time to reduce the risk of either re-infecting each other. Puppies are wormed every two weeks from the age of 2 weeks to 12 weeks if your puppy is 8 weeks remember to worm them every second week until they have reached the age of 12 weeks, then once every three months. Your breeder should have also provided a vaccination certificate which will also give details as to when your puppy will need to be vaccinated again. Usually, two vaccinations are giving one at 6 weeks the following at 12 weeks then annually. refer to the importance of vaccinations and deworming

Your Puppy’s Needs

A few points that also need to be considered when your puppy arrives home with you is to allow your puppy plenty of rest make sure that children respect the puppy and teach them the right way of responsible dog ownership.

Kids and Dogs Safety Tip Sheet

1. Do not allow your children or visiting children to annoy tease or torment your puppy. Never leave a child with your puppy or dog unattended.
2. Never allow an adult dog to play or exercise with a young pup unattended.
3. Do not over exercise your growing puppy!
4. A puppy will play at random thus giving him enough exercise he will not require further exercise. Please refer to Hip Dysplasia

How Much Exercise Is Recommended?

Over-exercising a puppy Bullmastiff can ruin the growing bones and developing joints with irreversible effects. I have seen perfectly healthy puppies and within two weeks, due to lack of knowledge of Bullmastiff puppy rearing the puppies hip joints had been almost turned to mush. Unfortunately to be kind to their Bullmastiff puppy the owners had to put the dog to sleep. I cannot stress the importance about over exercising a Bullmastiff. Be patient you will have plenty of years of enjoying walking your dog. Also avoid your puppy walking up and down stairs and restrain them from jumping and standing on their hind legs.

Raising a Bullmastiff properly is almost a form of art. We have found the best way to raise a puppy Bullmastiff successfully is to build an enclosure of about 2m by 3m and safe from any dangers, a draft-free kennel, and ample clean water. Place safe toys in the enclosure with them, a plastic bottle without the lid is always hours of fun and there are many other good toys out on the market, but be sure that they are not too small for your puppy to try and swallow. Using toys the Bullmastiff puppy will exercise at random, and when he has had enough he will rest. If you play with a Bullmastiff and because he is a loyal breed and he tries to please his master he will have a tendency of exerting himself to the point of exhaustion. This does not mean don’t play with him at all, make playtime and training time short about ten minutes at a time and allow plenty of rest time in between.

Enclosures may seem cruel but in fact, it has been proven that dogs prefer an enclosure as they feel safe and have a place of their own. A large raw marrow bone will not only provide hours of enjoyment but it will also help teething and muscle development in his jaws, chest, and legs. If you are planning on having concrete in your enclosure it is wise to use a raised platform for him to sit on this will help towards a healthy aged Bullmastiff and prevent arthritis. After the age of about 15 months increase his walking duration slowly. Other activities that can be of great benefit are swimming.

Do Not Overfeed Your Puppy!

1. An overweight puppy can cause just as many problems as to much exercise.
2. If you are unsure of anything talk to the breeder of your puppy, most breeders are only more than happy to help.

16 More Dos and Don’ts

The main thing to remember at all times is that as big as he or she is . . . they are still a baby.

1. Don’t ever allow your puppy to jump off or over things until he/she is at least one year old, as this could cripple him/her and your Breeders guaranty will be null and void.
2. Don’t ever put any weight on his/her back – they are not a HORSE.
3. Don’t ever feed or water him/her immediately before or after exercise.
4. Don’t ever force him/her to exercise until at least one year old.
5. Don’t ever let him play with dogs larger than he is.
6. Don’t ever give bones to dogs in the same enclosure.
7. Don’t ever give your puppy anything that splinters, i.e. chicken bones.
8. Don’t allow your puppy on the furniture.
9. Don’t ever attempt to attack train your Mastiff.
10. Don’t ever tie up your Mastiff.
11. Don’t ever allow your Mastiff to run loose. Tragedies often happen this way.
12. Don’t encourage your Mastiff to fight with other dogs. Unprovoked growling or aggressiveness towards other dogs should be severely penalized. Usually a sharp “NO” will do it.
13. Don’t encourage your Mastiff to jump on you.
14. Don’t be lax about disciplining your Mastiff. A firm “NO” can work wonders with a Mastiff, they love to please you.
15. Don’t EVER hit your Mastiff with a newspaper or rattle penny-filled cans at him/her.
16. Don’t leave temptation around your Mastiff, remember when he/she chews something valuable it is YOUR FAULT.