New puppy, new breed, new forum

[Alex88]

Hello all, I just found this amazing website and started to read on it and found a lot of interesting info. I just bought a Presa canario I didn't get her papers but I'm guessing on her shot records shes probably around 7 months which sounds right for being 60 lbs. She is an absolute amazing dog the sweetest, most even tempered dog I've ever had and this is the first one I've actually owned myself but I've had dogs in my family my hole life. She seems to learn very quickly I've had her for 2 weeks and she has a good grasp on going outside to go potty she walks right next to me and doesn't pull, my 5 year old niece walked her like a breeze. The only 2 problems I see are what seems to be very common with mastiffs particularly. I work full time as an electrician and I am a single male and I live alone, but I'm always home when I'm not at work, and she's a dream when I'm with her when I leave she does the normal puppy thing and chews up boxes or tp or whatever else that she finds but she doesn't seem to play with toys that I bought her or the rawhide bone and I don't really want to leave her alone with a bunch of pigs ears, any suggestions to get her to play with toys and not the stuff I need to hide, because I fear she will eat the couch if she doesn't have something lol. The second is she is pretty darn stubborn also common with mastiffs, she did not like the stairs at first and it was hell pushing her up and down the stairs but she has defiantly learned and gotten better also another issue is getting in the car she seems like if she doesn't want to do something she will back up and buck like a bronco then sit down. When she does that I will say her name and come in a firm voice and she looks at me and just stares so I'll say it a couple more times and give her a slight tug on the leash and if she still doesn't come I will give her and slap on the butt nothing crazy just a slight tap but after that she will get up and go in. She's not like that all the time just seems when she's tired maybe, I would just like advice on how to keep her stubborness to a minimum and I know it's not good to leave mastiffs let alone Presa alone for 8 to 12 hours but I don't have a choice shes the type of dog I wanted and I will never get rid of her. Her are some pictures of her and any and all advice is very appreciative.

 

[musicdeb]

Welcome aboard~

First, rawhides are dangerous for dogs because their system cannot digest them. I had a dog die from eating rawhides because they lodged in his digestive system. Hopefully, pig's ears are not from China. Any type of treats or chew toys from China are dangerous. PetSmart and Petco are removing those items from their shelfs by 2015, don't know why they are waiting so long. Walmart as usual, doesn't remove them because China produces most of their products at a cheap price.

At 7 months, she should be navigating stairs very carefully and slowly. If you can carry her up and down stairs, that would be better. It takes a mastiffs bones and joints to mature until 12 months of age, meaning no excessive running, jumping, playing or navigating stairs until 12 months of age.

8-12 hours home alone is too long for a mastiff pup at 7 months. Can a neighbor or friend let her out to potty or walk her at about hour 4-5?

Do you secure her in a room with the door closed while you are at work or does she have free roam? Be sure to leave window shades and curtains open so she can see. She's a guardian so she has to see what's going on outside.

Some great chew toys to keep her busy are ropes, deer antlers, nylabones (take them away once she starts chipping them), frozen wash cloths/hand towels/ice cubes with treats frozen in the middle and/or Kongs with frozen yogurt and treats.

How much exercise does she get each day? A dog should be able to exercise 5 minutes for every month of age meaning she can exercise 35 minutes per day. Do you walk her before leaving for work? How long?

Have you started OB training?

 

[Alex88]

Yes when I bought a couple pigs ears, my friend at work told me do not give the rest to her because of the problem you stated so I just threw them away. I have a rope she doesn't really find interesting at all, and a couple stuffed animals she pick up and toss around for a short while but after she removed the squeaker she got bored of that as well. I will go out today after work and look for some antlers and the other things you stated thank you.

About the stairs she does walk up them slow and doesn't have a problem with them anymore, just when she gets stubborn she doesn't even want to attempt it. I don't think carrying her up them will work she's pretty large and awkward and I think I could cause her more problems picking her up (maybe with her back) then just have her walk up the steps. The problem I have out here is I don't know anyone in the state of Wisconsin I moved out here for work, so finding someone I trust to come into my house has been and issue in the back of my mind for the last week.

Before work I walk her around the block for maybe 15-20 minuets, she doesn't seem to go potty on the walks she will wait till afterwards, and go potty in the yard that I have fenced off. After work is another story I have been taking her to the dog park religiously, 1 to socialize her and 2 to get her all her exercise she would want because I have been gone for so long. So she's outside for 2 to 3 hours everyday when I get off. Now like I said earlier she is so calm and gentle she really wont play with dogs for more then a couple minuets then she comes and sits down by me for 30-45 minuets then she repeats, but we will walk around this pretty big park 2 or 3 times, so I think I give her plenty of exercise maybe too much from the way it sounds like?

I have scheduled OB training on Wednesday this week.

 

[musicdeb]

Since she's too heavy to carry, always leash her when walking up and down stairs. Are the stairs carpeted or bare? Bare stairs can be hazardous to her bones and joints.

Yes, try to limit her exercise to 30-45 minutes each outing. Be aware that mastiffs do not do well in the heat due to their short muzzle.

Have you try to find a dog walker via your vet? 7 month old holding potty for 8-12 hours can possibly lead to urinary tract infection.

 

[musicdeb]

Sounds like you are doing the best you can do at this time. Have you thought about doggy daycare? It would give the dog socialization and supervision throughout the day.

 

[Alex88]

Thank you so much for all your help, I am trying really hard around my schedule everything really has taken a back seat to her. although as good as she is in the house with not going to the potty she still will do it if I don't catch her sniffing in circles or take her out ever 1 or 2 hours, so while im gone she does urinate and defecate on the kitchen floor, but I am used to puppies so its a lot better then going into a carpeted room which I have all those doors closed.

When I leave, I only leave the living room and the kitchen and hallway doors open so It is all hard wood, which I know is bad for the joints but I leave out a puppy bed and she could sleep on the couch but I am not sure if she does, because every time I come home she's right at the door waiting for me. I have been recently trying to get her every time she wants to lay down to lay on her puppy bed, if she sits on the floor I make her get up and lay back down on it hopefully that will teach her to always lay on it.

I will look into that doggy day care but that sounds expensive, but defiantly would be worth it if they make me work 12 hour days I have been pretty good at not doing them recently because of her but business is picking back up. otherwise ill have to just do a background check on a sitter, thanks again for the help and I thought that presa's were good warm weather dogs due to their short hair and being from Spain and all?

 

[DennasMom]

She looks like a real sweetie!

I'd agree, more than 5 hours inside with no potty time can be a potential health hazard - from both the UTI perspective, and boredom, leading to the ingesting of inappropriate items, like chunks o' couch.

Check out rover.com for some recommendations on dog-walkers in your area, get references and talk to them, meet the person (at a neutral location first if you're still unsure, then at the house, make sure the dog and the walker get along well, too), then do a 'trial' run for a few days and see how it goes. We found our dog-walker online 12 years ago... and she's been with us ever since. It's a great thing to have available, so you don't have to worry about scheduling events that take all day, when you can't take the pup with you. A doggie day-care might be a good one- or two-day a week option (Denna would over-do it at day care and when came home with a limp, we stopped going regularly). The day-care might also have some recommendations for licensed dog-walkers, too.

For chewing - KONGS! Busy Buddy toys are also great. You can stuff them with treats and/or peanut butter (just a tablespoon at a time, not too much), and keep the pup occupied for hours (especially if you freeze the goodies inside). Look at the wall of interactive toys at the local pet shop and ask for recommendations - be sure to get the XXL size when available.

For stubbornness... we opted to go the bribe route. It works for us. You can phase out bribes later, but I think they're better in the long run - your adult dog will respect you more if you've always tried to motivate them with love and food versus with fear and intimidation (i.e. a butt slap... although, I've been known to tap on occasion, too... more as a wake-up call than a motivation factor, though).

OB class should be fun! I love taking classes... a good excuse to get out of the house and bond with the dog.
Training should always be fun - for both you and the dog - that way you do more of it, too.

I thought our EM would be better in heat than, say, a bulldog... and she might be a little bit... but she still thinks 65F is "hot". Of course, that doesn't keep her from sunbathing in the 75F sunshine, either...

 

[alejandro]

Your dog looks lovely and your problems sound fairly tipycal, my past presa chew the couch, the courtins and about everything else she could put in her mouth, she was bore cause like you i use to let her alone for to long, i'm been more carefull with the present one but still as son as she gets too bore she looks for something to chew on, they are griping dogs so what can one wait from them. Just be patience and firm, keep your dog busy and the worse will be over before you know it.

 

[Wonderland]

A nice roomy and secure crate is a puppy's (and puppy owner's) best friend.....

 

[chauncey]

+1 on big crate but long time for trying not to go potty. i don't know if doggie door is option with fenced yard. +1 on flavored nylabones also have some lacrosse balls he loves to chew and hasn't chewed through still for over a year and big rope toys. stubborness good luck. the crate for me know is punishment for stubborness even when away from home i still say "do you wan't to go home and go in your cage". they know what you are saying. this breed is extremely smart. +1 on limiting stair usage. i have child gate all the time since he has showed signs of lameness do to getting him out as much as i did.

 

[ravigautam]

Since you are single and have a day job you should not have a dog.
Buy a TV instead.

 

[AussieGirl]

Since you are single and have a day job you should not have a dog.
Buy a TV instead.

I disagree. A dog can have a perfectly happy life with someone who has a full time day job. You just need to make different allowances than someone would who didn't work.

 

[alejandro]

I don't see anything wrong with a single working person having a dog. If properly care for it can be perfectly happy and a great buddy to get home to.

 

[Molossers R Us]

Since you are single and have a day job you should not have a dog.
Buy a TV instead.

Well it is a good thing he (Alex88) has you around to tell him what to do and how to live his life!
Are you available for dispensing uncalled for advice to others as well?

 

[DDSK]

Welcome to the forum to you and your beautiful dog!

 

[Caztratt]

Well it is a good thing he (Alex88) has you around to tell him what to do and how to live his life!
Are you available for dispensing uncalled for advice to others as well?

Lol

She's a beautiful pup


Carol

 

[MoMo]

Fairly new member myself, just wanted to say welcome!
Your pup is a cutie! and you'll always get good advice and support here!
Good Luck!

 

[Max's mom]

Check with your trainer. They usually have the scoop on dog lovers and may know others who can help with the walking. Often you can find a young person who takes afternoon classes at a local college or who works the afternoon shift at a pet store who you can build a good working relationship with and have them interact with the dog and play in the yard. I do not let anyone walk my dog for fear that they would let go of his leash or other dogs behave poorly. If he's in my fenced yard, there's no question he's safe. My mother and mother-in-law and young teen family can all help care for him by coming if I have a long day. They can play/interact/feed/treat and go into the yard. Max is sometimes by himself (other dog in house with him too) for long periods of time with the exception of a 30-45min romp and play/potty break.
I have always worked full time and many of those days were 12 plus hours. If you make a few modifications to your life and make some accommodations for your pup, you and your pup can be happy!