How to Train a Bullmastiff Puppy

Bull mastiff puppies are highly intelligent, and can be easy to train.

Bull mastiffs are large, powerful dogs that are willing and affectionate to their families. Despite their intimidating stature, the sweet nature of a bull mastiff makes this dog a popular family pet. As intelligent dogs, bull mastiffs take well to training. Start them when they're young and small with the basics: house training, leash training and some simple obedience commands.

Things You'll Need

• Kennel
• Blankets
• Clock
• Heating pad
• Leash
• Collar
• Dog treats

Instructions

House and Kennel Training

1. Buy your bull mastiff puppy a kennel of his own, for use in house training and when he's sleeping. Buy a mid-sized kennel that is small enough to make him feel safe, but it should be large enough for him to use it for several months. Put blankets and toys into the kennel; use this as the puppy's base for sleeping and resting while you can't supervise him.

2. Buy a collar that fits comfortably around the puppy's neck, without choking him. Select a leash that will keep him relatively close to you when you're walking. Take him outside once an hour. Also take him outside every time he wakes up, eats or gets out of his kennel.

3. Take your bull mastiff puppy on long walks, until he goes to the bathroom outside. Once he's gone to the bathroom, praise him and give him a treat. Remember that puppies are dramatic; make your praise big and loud, to show the puppy how good he's been. Going to the bathroom outside will become a way for him to please you, which will motivate him to do it as often as possible.

4. Take the puppy outside regularly, even if you don't think he needs to go to the bathroom. Bull mastiffs are large dogs that need plenty of exercise. If your puppy doesn't get enough exercise, he will be more difficult to train.

5. Continue to take the puppy outside consistently until he is asking to go out on his own by scratching at the door or getting your attention in some other way. This can take months, but it will eventually happen if you've been consistent in your training.

Obedience Training

1. Teach your bull mastiff some other basic obedience commands, such as sit, stay and lay down. Teaching him to obey commands when he's young will make him easier to train and handle when he gets older and larger. Train him to sit by holding a treat above and in front of his face, telling him to sit and pressing gently on his hips to demonstrate what you want him to do.

2. Train him to lay down by putting the treat and your hand on the floor in front of him, telling him to lay down. Gently pull his front legs out from under him, until he's laying down.

3. Train him to come to you by moving away from him, then calling him to come and feeding him a treat when he gets there. Always feed the puppy a treat when he's done what you asked. Be consistent in your training.

Tips & Warnings

• Keep a clock or heating pad in the puppy's kennel when he's sleeping, to replicate the sound and heat of a mother dog's body.

• Do not keep a puppy in a crate for longer than a few hours.

References

• Dog Blog: How to Housetrain Any Dog
• Dog Breed Info Center: Bull Mastiff
• AKC: Bull Mastiff