Max

Rehomed as a baby was on the way and his owners felt he was too big he made me find out all I could about recall training and diets.

At 2 years old Max found himself being sold through a local pet selling site. His owners had a baby on the way and didn't want to take any risks with him being a big boy. 

My previous dog had passed away a few months before and I had always wanted a mastiff so we went for it. 

Max had received no lead training despite him being guaranteed as a puppy to be a large bullmastiff, had absolutely no recall and would either poop or be sick every night. I had to work quickly and correctly to get him to loose lead walk as I am only an average sized female. He was too much of a sniffer for heelwork and I didn't want to show him in an arena so loose lead was all I was after. Within two weeks and after lots of high value treats we were strolling around easily and I was able to get him to keep that lead dangling. Unless one of my children were with me. He was in charge then and would make sure he walked at the side of the child, on the road side to keep them safe. For this training issue I adapted to his needs as he would become distressed if he couldn't be the guard for the children from the road and got him a longer lead so I could still keep him safe but allow him to do his self chosen job. 

Recall took work, I was almost ready to decide that he would always be an on lead dog and having to pay out for secure fields for the rest of his life until I signed up to Susan Garretts recallers programme. Within 3 months we went from a dog who refused to come back to a big boy who I could ask to go this way and to come as well as to be close. I took this course and many others and have now created my own programme with the best bits of everything. 

As for the poop or sick every night it took a lot of work to navigate. At first I began with the toilet training, going back to basics. Then I tried to work out if he was anxious. Finally I worked with the vet and we put him on a restricted diet.

Did you know many mastiffs are allergic to chicken!!

I gently reintroduced food until we got it right. I worked out his toileting needs and with the right food we said goodnight to the morning presents. 

Max is getting on a bit now and his joints are playing him up but he enjoys his gentle strolls and off lead time every day. He has kibble mostly but I have started supplementing it with cooked bone broths and fish so that he gets the needed extras for his joints.

If you would like a dog that recalls and loose lead walks then please get in touch. I am a dog trainer in Wigan but cover a wide area, happy to guide you while allowing your dog to keep his own characteristics.