Neapolitan Mastiff Puppies Blog

One of the first problems that usually occurs after having a new pet is housetraining it. It seems like Sharda Baker knows something that we don’t – she promises to potty train our dog in just 7 days! She’s so confident that she’s ready to give back the whole price of the book, if the training wasn’t succesful!

The content of her e-book and audio package is based on real life experience, she had struggled as much with potty training as anyone else, and she summarized her experiences.

She promises that any kind of dogs can be housetrained in as short as 7 days. Go ahead and find out more about her secrects!

You can check out “The Complete Potty Training Guide” Sharda Baker’s other products by clicking on the picture on the right.

Is it normal, anyway?!

Yes, it is. Just imagine the situation from the point of view of your Mastiff. He is part of the family, often treated as “the kid”, and then, suddenly, a new creature arrives and takes all the attention of his beloved family. It is quite similar to what older children feel, when a little brother/sister arrives. One of the differences is just that the dog can’t speak English

Actually, if we are aware of this ‘problem’ in advance, the situation can be handled, but it needs consciousness and to be started in time, long before the baby’s arrival. Let’s see how we can prepare our Neapolitan Mastiff for the new family member.

If your dog’s daily routine has to be changed with the baby’s arrival (it probably will), you should start changing the rules much earlier, giving him plenty of time to get used to the new set up. This way it isn’t going to be so sudden and shocking. If your Mastiff hasn’t really been trained before, it’s high time to start. He should learn at least a few commands, like sit, stay, etc. This way, he’ll be easier to handle.

Many families worry about their dog endangering the health of the child, so the best thing to do is to take your pet to the vet, get him checked and get some advice. Get your Neapolitan Mastiff used to the new smells, sounds in advance (blankets, lotions, toys). It’s also a good idea, that just after your baby was born, send home a blanket that the baby had been in, so your dog can experience the child’s smell in advance. It is very important to know that your  Mastiff will get a lot less attention from the mother, so when taking the baby home for the first time, the mother should greet the dog, so it is better if someone else is carrying the baby.

It is also a good idea not to leave them alone together at the first times, until your Neapolitan Mastiff feels comfortable with the baby, because, for example, it is very possible that the dog won’t tolerate the child’s crying very well in the beginning. You have to teach him that this is a normal sound, and you should motivate him not to bark (with treats, for example).

And the most important rule for last, maybe it seems too obvious, but it’s still worth mentioning: try to give as much attention to your Mastiff as you can. The point is that he has to feel that you do care about him. If you keep this in mind, most probably there will be no problem. You could also try Preparing Fido, which is an amazing collection of Baby sounds designed especially to get your dog ready for the arrival of the new Baby!

The narrow line between training and abuse

Many dog owners think that their Mastiff is the smartest in the world. There’s no problem with this, up to certain a point. This point is when the owner expects as much from the dog as if it really was the most intelligent creature the world has ever seen. They expect them to learn everything right away, whereas dogs need time to learn things, the same way as we, humans do. Just in a different way Well, the point is, that training requires time and patience. It can be different for all dogs, but we do have to keep this in mind and take the time and energy to train our Neapolitan Mastiff.

Another common mistake (also because of the lack of patience) is to give up. Many people think that they have already tried everything but the dog doesn’t want to learn. In this case, maybe the methods are not the best, or they need more time. There are no dogs who wouldn’t be able to learn at least a few commands. Giving up is never a solution.

So, if we have the time and the patience we can avoid the next, and maybe the biggest mistake: to turn training into abuse. Probably you expect me to tell you where this line is. I can’t. This is something the owner should know. Training is all about communication. If you know your Mastiff, if you pay attention to him, you see how he feels. Unfortunately many dog owners don’t have this ability, because they only keep pets for entertainment, while a dog is much more than that.

Going back to training, a very important rule is that your goal should be that your Neapolitan Mastiff obeys to commands because he is keen to do so. NOT BECAUSE HE IS AFRAID. Many-many owners forget about this, and feel the training successful, but actually they are making their dog unhappy. How can someone live happily in fear? No way. These owners are only keeping a dog to make themselves happy, and don’t feel the responsibility they should.

So the point is, that ‘positive training’ is possible. Actually, that’s the only way.

The first difficulties most Neapolitan Mastiff owners face is potty training their puppy. As with general training, the main principles remain the same: a positive, rewarding approach and a lot of patience is required. There are, however a few tips and tricks that will make the whole process faster and easier for both puppy and owner. Find out what Sharda Baker has to say on the topic, who has developed her best practices by years of trial and error.

Please comment if you have something to add.

Why spend money on vet bills, if you can do it too?

Scary but friendly!

A Neapolitan Mastiff is a large, ancient dog breed that has a fearless and an extremely protective temperament, especially towards its family and its home. This breed, unless provoked, rarely barks and is renowned for sneaking up on intruders without first alerting them of their presence.

Neos or Neapolitan Mastiffs are extremely intelligent and they are independent thinkers. It needs to be trained and socialized properly for it to be familiarized and learn to accept strangers within the home. Forceful training methods and dominance will not work on this breed since it is hard to try to physically dominate a Neapolitan Mastiff due to its massive size. If you want to learn how to grow this breed in a proper way, the Neapolitan Mastiff DVD may come as a huge help. This can teach you almost everything, from the breed’s history, nutrition and exercise needs, temperament, and the proper way to groom a Neapolitan Mastiff. This DVD also include training tips, Neapolitan size information, and a lot of other information that may be essential for you to know when you want to opt for a Neapolitan Mastiff as a family pet.

Written by highly experienced dog trainer, Daniel Stevens, Secrets to Dog Training is a comprehensive resource covering all the most important aspects of dog ownership. The 261 page manual is superbly detailed, still the step-by-step format of the book makes it very easy for Neapolitan Mastiff owners to understand and apply the instructions. The book also comes with a 30 minute downloadable video. By completing the course, you will learn how to:

• stop and prevent dog fights
• curb your dog’s aggressiveness
• make your dog understand what is right and wrong
• apply techniques professional trainers use
• house train your dog
• stop your dog racing in the house
• deal with a dominant dog
• overcome separation anxiety
• stop your dog jumping on people
• teach your dog when it is appropriate to bark
• understand how your dog thinks and sees the world
• apply the cutting edge Dog Whispering technique
• deal with more than one dog in the house
• stop the family cat being harassed.

Secrets to Dog Training is very comprehensive, easy to understand and effective. If you want to tackle any of your dog’s behavior problems, this book is for you. You can benefit from the book, even if your dog is perfectly trained as the author shares a lot of his insights on the possible best relationship between dog and owner.

Visit official website.

Canines are not only made popular or famous for their appearances on television such as Rin Tin Tin but also through the company that keeps them. Many famous people and historical figures have owned a Neapolitan Mastiff and die hard fans and followers of these people are tempted to get one themselves. Historical figures such as Hannibal and Kublai Khan have owned this breed for their strength and power during their conquests. Even King Henry VII had several.

But for the celebrity struck fans, the late Marlon Brando and veteran actor George C. Scott were admires of the Neapolitan Mastiff. Weight watcher Kristy Alley was a fond lover of these dogs and even rock bassist, Flea from the Red Hot Chili Peppers owns one. But don’t think for one second that only the rich and famous have a license to have a Mastiff. What counts the most is the genuine care and commitment to taking care of the breed for as long as they are around you.