morrigan does think she is the boss of the house. not just with my other mastiff, but all the dogs. to get a better idea, this is what i have..11 year old lab/shephard mix that is 60lbs, a 2 year old husky mix that is 30lbs, melia..who is the other mastiff..she is 55lbs and 5 1/2 months old, and then there is morrigan. she is 6 1/2 months and 70lbs.
i have been reading up on some "leader of the pack" techniques and have tried some. she is doing better. i can see her expressions that she is thinking about what i am telling her. i am also not being as cuddly with her coz i heard too much cuddling also gives her control. i have been doing one word commands, and a pat on the head or something like that. i cuddle with her once a day at night. i get on the floor with her and pet her and massage her legs and rub her belly. she sure is getting to be a tank. she is very tall already. when she plays, she moves end tables, the kitchen table, and comfy chairs in the living room. she is very muscular.
as for her food issues..i put the bowl down and position myself in between the bowl and her. i tell her to sit and she does so. then i just look straight at her until she lays down. i move to the side of the bowl. she doesnt move. then i tell her its ok to eat and she will go to the bowl. she lets me pet her whole body. i do this for a minute or two and then let her be. when she is done eating, i call her to me. she will come and sit at my feet. then i pet her face and she does ok. maybe a couple grunts but thats about it. but yeah, while shes eating, if any dog comes up to her she will start growling. even if they are just sniffing her butt or something. if they dont quit, thats when she will snap at them. its only happened a couple times but it has happened.
also, with her toys. when she starts growling over them, i make her come to me. i tell her to leave it and she will let me have the toy. i put it on the floor in between my feet. she will sit and then after 2 minutes she will lay down. then i will throw the toy for her to play with. usually i have to do this twice and then she will play nice with the other dogs. she plays good with me all the time, just not so much the other dogs. that has only escalated to growling in the past. i never purposely take the toys away.
anyone ever have a grumpy mastiff? on nice days, morrigan goes in the outdoor kennel with the other dogs. i will bring her in several hours later. she will eat and play with the other dogs. after a while, she will come and lay by my feet. if the other dogs walk past her, bother her, or even i pet her, she will start to growl. its coz she is so tired. then i wind up putting her in her bed so she can be alone and knows no one can get to her. when i take her out of her bed, she is fine. her bed is an indoor crate with a fleece blanket in it along with a toy. it used to have one of those calming cartridges in it that puts off a nice smell but morrigan chewed it out of there. plastic and all.
so all of you know, morrigan has had 2 interactions with my neice. my neice is 7 years old. all she would do is go on her back and want her belly rubbed. this was at xmas time. my partner and i never plan on having kids though and dont plan to have her around my neice unless i am there with morrigan attached to a leash. i know of the potential dangers she could cause with children and i do not want that at all. i love my mastiff so much and by her not being around children, will protect her as well. any visitors or even my landlord who come around,..i forwarn them that she does bite and is aggressive. they usually will wait outside or just stay away from her. morrigan is protective. if she knows who you are, she is fine. she wants to play and lick. but for people she doesnt know, she barks. she only stops when i tell her that is enough.
---------- Post added at 03:49 AM ---------- Previous post was at 03:48 AM ----------
i also believe morrigan does not react out of fear. she does think she's boss and that everything is hers and that she controls everything. i have begun to see her respect me more. this will be a very long road for her and me but i know we can do it.
does anyone think spaying her would calm her down? i know she cant be spayed til shes fully grown. she needs her hormones to help her grow to her full potential right?