Need help with my 5 month old English mastiff

[Jackie Bryan]

He has always been very laid back I know thats the breed as I grew up with a mastiff! Before Christmas he was fine well he would never run up to people but was fine with them approaching him! After the 2 week break from the kids school now when I walk him hes afraid fo people! Can be anyone male or female its getting worse I take him everywhere!
He goes into town on busy streets take him to the pet store I take him around the school the bank everywhere! So he is socialized as I thought I could do.
Now he will sit behind the school but if anyone comes near him he now pulls away and trys to drag me! So its getting worse firstly he started just shaking! Now hes bad with the kdis too before he liked kids he seemed to be excited to see any as I have 3 boys!

ANyone have any help as i dont know if im doing the right thing by ignoring his nervousness and just prasiing him when he lets a child pet him etc! I can get him to walk at a pace past people if I stop then he stops and pulls back! He at 5 months is 85lbs and not fat just solid so he will be big so I need it to stop!
help please

 

[BlackShadowCaneCorso]

I think you are doing the right thing to not praise for the nervous behavior. Did anything happen with kids during the Christmas break that might have cause this different behaviour? I know that dogs go through a couple of fear periods where they seem nervous or scared of things that used to be no problem and they can go through them at different times so maybe he is experiencing one of those.

Do you have him in an obedience class that he can socialize with other people and dogs but will also help with teaching him some manners as far as walking? If it continues I would contact a trainer and have him evaluated to see if there is a trigger or something they can observe about him that can assist you in the future so that you don't have any issues you can't keep under control.

 

[Jackie Bryan]

No I dont have him in obdience yet but am looking into it right now as its becoming worse the fear and nervousness!

I cant think of anything that happened over xmas obviously my kids were excited and he was walked but we didnt see alot of people as we live in a small village and the schools were out! Thanks

---------- Post added at 02:04 PM ---------- Previous post was at 02:03 PM ----------

He also walks great he sits and is fairly obident its just if I stop or if someone anyone approaches him

 

[Jackie Bryan]

He also walks great he sits and is fairly obident its just if I stop or if someone anyone approaches him

 

[Bentley]

My advice is to go to classes, they help with the exposure to people as much as the training. I think it will be a case of buiilding his confidence through calm exposure to people but don't try to force him, let him do it at his own pace.

 

[Ciaran Bryan]

Thanks am meeting up wiwth a trainer on Monday she wanted to look at him after I described how scared he is and how much ive taken him everywhere

 

[Dogue Lover]

This is common for a mastiff especially at this age. I've never heard about the shaking part but staying away and appearing fearful is common at this age even if they 've met the ppl b4. If you are socializing him then he's getting that. Obedience training is a must especially if he's going to have the aloofness about him and if you want to mold it differently. Mastiffs are aloof which can be considered stand offish. Some are like this and some aren't just like many other breeds and their characteristics. Sounds to me he's one of those typical aloof mastiffs and showing it at 5 months old along with the shakes and it looks like fear.

I'm not going to comment on what i think should be done but anticipating a reply to hear what the trainer says.

 

[Clark Kent]

I actually went through almost the same thing with my first Mastiff. He wouldnt try to run from people but he would do the same around other dogs even if they didnt bark and he never played with strangers. I had to take him to an expensive trainer due to the fact that the average trainer did not know what to do with him. An obedience trainer would work perfect but make sure she is qualified and I wouldnt recommend doing classes private would work best because your dog has special circumstances and what helped my dog was being trained in a busy park instead of in a classroom type setting. Within two months he was a very confident Mastiff.

 

[Cody]

Glad to see you are going to a trainer. Seeing as he was fine before I would guess is just a phase and he some how got it in his head that fear is the right reaction. Could have been the first time you tried to comfort, as was out of the ordinary, or just a little xtra attention. You may not have even noticed it happened, but he got the reaction... You hopefully got a trainer who has experience with Mollosser breeds.
Let us know what the trainer says, and good luck.

 

[Jackie Bryan]

Its definatley getting worse! Today I took him with me to a busier town as I had to get skates sharpened for my son! I went to let him out of the truck normally not an issue but he just sat there shaking! So I eventually got him out my truck and walked him up the busy main road hated it! He was pulling and shaking all the time! So its getting worse as I have walked him before on main roads to get him used to noise now this one was a bit different as the sidewalk was narrow close to the road and a few people who he hates@ I will keep you all posted

 

[Dogue Lover]

Its definatley getting worse! Today I took him with me to a busier town as I had to get skates sharpened for my son! I went to let him out of the truck normally not an issue but he just sat there shaking! So I eventually got him out my truck and walked him up the busy main road hated it! He was pulling and shaking all the time! So its getting worse as I have walked him before on main roads to get him used to noise now this one was a bit different as the sidewalk was narrow close to the road and a few people who he hates@ I will keep you all posted

When you say he's pulling that says right there he has obedience issues. That should be your main concern. To me it sounds like he's the boss right now. You need to nipp this in the bucket. Obedience first then worry about his fear issues before it turns into reactive fear because he's the boss. Why is he pulling? Are you using a choke chain or even a gentle leader head collar would stop this.

Hate is a very strong word. What do you mean by ppl he hates?

 

[Cody]

Have you taken him to your vet to rule out that he is not in pain? If his temperament switched suddenly I would definitely have my vet check the dog out. It could very well be a medical issue.

 

[Jackie Bryan]

When I say pulling i mean trying to flight in fear he is terrified you can see it he is shaking and trying to run away! If I walk him past people as long as they dont stop to pet him he walks fine he walks great on the lead he sits he stays! If you could see him you would understand he is terrified its not obiedence although I dont doubt he could work on it mroe as he is 5 months! Ill see what the dog behaviourilst says I found! I have taken him to the vets he is healthy very heathly he says and he was shocked how terrified he now is he even commented on the change! Told me to take him to a trainer

---------- Post added at 09:35 AM ---------- Previous post was at 09:29 AM ----------

Also just wanted to add my husband walked him yesterday to see if that helped! He said everytime someone past he started to flight and buck his back legs and shake! So I dont think its just me know! He is defiantely scared you can see that tail in between his legs and head down and shaking not sure this is dis obidence

 

[Jackie Bryan]

Also just wanted to add my husband walked him yesterday to see if that helped! He said everytime someone past he started to flight and buck his back legs and shake! So I dont think its just me know! He is defiantely scared you can see that tail in between his legs and head down and shaking not sure this is dis obidence

 

[Ryan Davis]

Take this for what its worth. This doesn't sound like an obdience issue at all. The pulling isn't because the dog's not properly trained its out of fear totally different ball game. I assuming if you or your husband are the only ones around the dog walks properly beside you on a loose leash but soon as he's approached by a stranger the pulling shaking starts. First advice do not reward this behavior in anyway meaning do not tell him its going to be ok or trying to sweet talk him out of it. Completely ignore it if you don't you are reinforcing the behavoir. Second consult a trainer which seems like you already have. Third this is what I would do if it was take about 10 steps back you have a nervous dog for one reason or another quit putting him in situations you have no control over such as taking him to town. Third start by having a friend who the dog may not know approach while he is on leash and walk by, dropping a treat as he does. Do this for a few minutes twice a day. When the dog becomes comfortable with him just passing by while walking then you can move on to having him approach and stop drop a treat and address you and then carry on. Again same routine few minutes twice a day. When the dog is comfortable with him stoping and addressing you, you can move on to him stoping and offering the dog the treat and petting him if the dog is comfortable. The more people you can have do this routine the better so he doesn't get use to just one person passing by. After this is all done and the dog is comfortable with several people approaching and shows no fear then you can try the going to town or park. I have seen this approach work but in severe cases you need a trainer who knows how to get the dogs brain moving forward past the fear.

 

[Jackie Bryan]

Thanks yes he walks well untill we pass people! Now I can walk him up to the school and get him to sit at the school and he is fine until people come near him then he goes fearful and starts to want to flight and shakes! I will try that! Ive had people try to give him treats from a distance he wont take them but not tryed the dropping of the treat! I see the behaviour person on Monday shes a quailifed dog trainer and behaviourist! See if she has any suggestions she has worked with mastiffs and seemed clued up on them! So we shall see! We are doing a one on one she wants to see him walk too to see whats going on!

---------- Post added at 11:47 AM ---------- Previous post was at 11:45 AM ----------

I dont respond to him when he is like it! I just ignore his behavior but the trainer wanted to see how I was responding to! I belive im doing what I think is best!

 

[Jackie Bryan]

I dont respond to him when he is like it! I just ignore his behavior but the trainer wanted to see how I was responding to! I belive im doing what I think is best!

 

[Cody]

I think that is the best thing. See what the behaviorist says. Be sure however that they are familiar with working breeds, as some aspects are different then some of the softer breeds. Good luck and hopefully is not a genetic issue. Keep us informed.

 

[Jackie Bryan]

She has worked with mastiffs she told me and told me some she had worked with and seemed knowledgable of the breed! She asked lots of questions and seemed to be clued up! I will tell Monday! He was fine though untill before xmas then he changed and he is only 5 months so still young! I just want to help him over come it better and not sure Im doing the best things althouh I think i am!

 

[Dogue Lover]

Looking forward to hearing what the trainer says. Best of luck to the both of you.