H. Special Aspects of Raising a Mastiff Puppy
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This article is from the Mastiffs Breed FAQ, by mmcbee@access.mountain.net (Mike McBee) with numerous contributions by others.
H. Special Aspects of Raising a Mastiff Puppy
Even a small Mastiff is destined to be a large dog. This is
something that must be taken into consideration when rearing it.
As a puppy, your Mastiff should not be allowed to do anything that
you would not wish your full grown Mastiff to do, such as laying
on the couch. And because your puppy is going to be such a large
dog, it is also a very, very good idea that it receive, at a
minimum, basic obedience training. You DO NOT want a 200 pound dog
that won't listen to you; this can lead to obvious problems.
Mastiffs grow at such an astonishing rate that it is best not to
force their growth with artificial vitamins and calcium
supplements. A good quality dog food is all that they require. A
Mastiff is going to get as large as it is going to be,
genetically, anyway; allowing them to grow at their own pace will
give them a more stable foundation once they get there. Many
breeders recommend NOT feeding a 'puppy chow' beyond the first few
months due to the high protein content.
During growth periods your Mastiff puppy is subject to joint
injury. You will need to be especially careful during these times
to control excessive exercise. A puppy may play at its own rate
but should not be encouraged to take long walks, jump obstacles,
or any other exercise that will stress the joints. This is not to
say the puppy has to be confined. Just use caution and do not
allow it to over exert itself. After about 18 months the growth
rate has decreased and the puppy has just about reached its full
stature.
A Mastiff remains a puppy much longer than most breeds. Even
though a Mastiff is already quite large by the time it is 6 months
old, it is still growing and maturing rapidly. A Mastiff does not
reach its full physical or mental maturity until around 3 years of
age.
You will be surprised at how much a Mastiff puppy will drink.
Fresh water should be kept available at all times. Drool will
accumulate in the bottom of the pup's water dish. Since the pup
will not drink its own drool, the dish should be rinsed out at
least daily.
All puppies love to chew. Mastiffs have very powerful jaws, even
as a puppy. Some chew toys that are fine for other breeds may not
be suitable for your Mastiff. Caution should be used when choosing
toys or chew bones because the pup could bite off pieces and
swallow them, resulting in intestinal blockage. Mastiff puppies
also have a tendency to chew, or swallow, rocks and sticks. They
should be watched closely and discouraged from doing so.
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