IsisCrisis
New Member
Alright, so last year I got my first ever English Mastiff, Isis, and out of the litter of puppies she was the last. when I went to pick her up from the breeder, he had said the I was the first person she willingly came up to, before she would go and hide from them. Crate training was a breeze and so was potty training. but when it came to socialization it was, and most of the time still IS a war. First off we live in the rural country side. the closest city is miles away. whenever we went to town she would go with us and on occasion she would go into Petco and look around until she just got to paranoid, at that point we didn't go anymore.. and now she just people watches. I had taken her out once and she had totally caved in and had wet herself on my lap. Looking back now I realized it was me that was not doing it right, and should not had let people come up to her and start petting her. it only happened once, and I make sure people watch from a distance now. and forward to a more recent time, I was at the grocery store waiting for my mom to come out and I had Isis outside the car with me standing when a man from across the parking lot started talking to me (he wanted to know what breed she was.) he was a good 15-25 feet away and was slowly walking towards us when she let out one of the most vicious roar of a bark I have ever heard come out of her mouth! it made the man stop in his tracks and made me jump! I calmly put her in the car and waited for my mom to get back. It seems that when ever someone even looks at her she get upset and will begin to growl and her hair stand on end. but if no one pays her no mind she is absolutely content and she might even go up and lick them! I can understand that she doesn't want to be the center of attention. and then sometimes when company comes over she will of course bark and act like a fool and be aloof but that's to be expected of the breed and she eventually comes around, not fully but she will allow you to bet her back but not her face area at times before she shrinks back. it takes whatever company we have literally ALL day for her to be comfortable with them and want to play. So by the time she is OK with them they have to leave.. I understand she is naturally shy but I would like any help you guys have to offer as she matures will she grow out of this at least a little? is this some weird stage?... and other than the whole socialization thing.. she is the best thing that has ever happened to me.once you get to actually know her she is the SWEETEST thing EVER she has NEVER bit anyone or went after any of our other animals cats,chickens,goats) she is a fabulous dog. she is smart, leash trained, and does AMAZING whenever we go on walks..except of course if there is people then she acts like they are out to get her.. there are times when she is fine with company to the point she will lean against them on the couch! and then if they leave out of the house to get something from their car, come back in she acts like it's someone she's never met before even though she was snuggling with them on the couch! ...Isis just turned a year old in November. And on a side note whenever company is over she does NOT run around, she is leashed for the first 10 to 15 minutes. after everyone is settled down and is sitting down so she isn't freaked even more by strangers standing around the living room. Like before. I've tried taking her out in public but at this point she won't have any of it. the only time she is out somewhere and is forced to interact with stranger is when we go to the vet for check ups. She TOLERATES it but she sure don't like it! lol I would love any tips you all can send my way! every but helps! thank you for reading my very long post!