Are you a new owner of a Mastiff puppy? Or do you need to train the Mastiff you’ve been having at home? The last thing you want is your 198-pound Mastiff to jump on your guests and frighten them.

English Mastiffs are fantastic dogs to own. They love their owners and are loyal pets. With the proper training techniques, you’re well on your way to having an obedient Mastiff.

Training Mastiff dogs will be easier once you read this article on Patmypets follow the tips.

Why Should You Train An English Mastiff?

Training an English Mastiff is vital because of their natural instinct to guard. If you don’t teach them properly, their size, strength, temperament, and intuition to protect their owners can be dangerous.

However, training Mastiffs is a straightforward process. Once they bond deeply with their family, they want to protect their owners to their best level. That is why you must focus on behavior training without teaching it how to guard.

English Mastiffs are also very stubborn dog breed. Therefore, you must focus on training it from a very young age.

Are English Mastiffs Easy To Train?

Although Mastiffs are large dogs, their loyal attitude makes training a great experience. However, there are a few things you must focus on when training a Mastiff.

Its instincts are those of a guard dog. Therefore, if they are not adequately trained, it could potentially be a danger to your family and others. That is why you must focus on behavior training.
Treat it with respect. If you are aggressive with it, it will react similarly toward you.
A Mastiff is a sensitive dog, so don’t use negative reinforcement, as it could affect your relationship with it.
Mastiffs are stubborn and quite lazy, so keep training sessions short. A maximum of 10 to 15 minutes should be enough.
It should understand that you have control, so use a confident but calm tone during training.

When Should You Start Training An English Mastiff?

The earlier you start training your Mastiff, the better it is. However, your puppy should be of an appropriate age to understand what’s going on during training and grasp the commands.

Professionals recommend starting training when Mastiff puppies are between 8 to 10 weeks old. It’s best to keep them littering with their mothers until 8 weeks.

Once they’ve had that time, they’ll be ready to start training. Every puppy takes time to grasp what’s going on during training. You must be patient with your puppy and not give up if your attempts seem to fail at the beginning.

Training Mastiff Guide

Here are the things to remember and follow when training an English Mastiff. If you do these correctly, you’ll have an obedient dog quickly.

1) Socialize Your English Mastiff

You should get your dog used to being around people and other dogs, starting from a very young age.

This kind of socializing helps mold your dog into a well-behaved adult later in life. Introducing your dog to family, friends, other dogs, and neighbors will allow its socializing aspect.

Your Mastiff will observe other dogs and realize how a well-behaved dog should act. Introducing them to people you know will help separate them from intruders. Therefore, your Mastiff will not be a danger to them.

2) Make Training A Positive Experience

You must make training a positive experience for your English Mastiff. It should consider training to be a fun experience. Mastiffs are guard dogs and are not into taking orders from others. They need a different technique for training.

Training has to be enjoyable and provide motivation for them to continue. Praise your dog with words like “good job” and “fantastic.” You can also use treats to motivate your dog. Notice what makes your Mastiff happy, and do that often.

3) Keep Training Sessions Short

Mastiffs are lazy dogs and don’t want to do something for very long. That is why you must keep training sessions as short as possible—limit training sessions to about 10 to 15 minutes, which should be fine.

You can have several short sessions within the day to make training effective. Breaking up training is more effective for your lazy English Mastiff.

4) Give Your Mastiff Attention

Similar to other dogs, Mastiffs love to get attention. They want to be praised and appreciated. It motivates them to do something that gives them the love and affection it wants.

When you start training, call your Mastiff’s name lovingly. Give it attention, love, and a treat. You’ll notice that your Mastiff starts reacting positively and will be more interested and focused during training sessions.

Other Things To Consider When Training An English Mastiff

Here are a few other things to keep in mind when training an English Mastiff:

Lead it through house training.
Show respect early on and show that you control your home.
Use positive reinforcement throughout training.
Keep Them Groomed

Apart from these, you should also start training them to walk on a leash. However, use a GPS tracker to be safe when you go outdoors with your dog. For a detailed review of reliable GPS tracker systems, check out Dogs Academy’s SpotOn Virtual Fence Review. This comprehensive resource provides insights into how advanced virtual fences and tracking devices can ensure your pet’s safety while allowing them the freedom to explore.

House Training An English Mastiff

Here are a few essential tips for house training an English Mastiff:

Put it on a feeding schedule.
Take it out to pee shortly after eating and drinking.
Take it outside and cheer it after it pees there.
If you find it peeing inside the house, say something like “bad dog” so that it knows it should not be doing that.

One of the essential things to note when training an English Mastiff is to start at a very young age. Socialize your dog appropriately to learn to identify strangers from others.

Mastiffs are stubborn and lazy dogs, so keep training short. Also, use positive reinforcement and don’t be aggressive towards your Mastiff. Doing so will only cause your dog to react toward you in the same way.

Frequently Asked Questions

1) How Long Does It Take To Train An English Mastiff?

It could take up to 6 months to thoroughly train an English Mastiff.

2) Are English Mastiffs Good House Dogs?

English Mastiffs are good house dogs as they are gentle companions and very protective of their owners.