How to Train a Bullmastiff to Be a Guard Dog. Basic Knowledge

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Is it Necessary to Train a Bullmastiff to Be a Guard Dog?

You’ve just moved to a new neighborhood. It’s not the best part of town and you’re a little worried about your safety. You’ve been thinking about getting a dog, but you’re not sure if you want one just for protection. After doing some research, you’ve decided that a Bullmastiff would be the perfect guard dog for you. But how do you train a Bullmastiff to be a guard dog?

First and foremost you have to know that Bullmaftiff is already a guard dog!! And the main task of the owner is to train Bullmatiff properly to control his protective nature and aggression, to socialise him and to teach him to manifest his protective behavior only when there is real danger.

It is important for any guard dog to be introduced to human companionship as early as possible and to begin regular obedience training thereafter. A person who is not prepared to spend a lot of time on socialization and adequate training should not take a guard dog.

Common Mistakes When Taking a Bullmastiff

One of the most common mistakes people make is choosing the wrong puppy. Not all Bullmastiffs are born with the same innate guarding instincts. Some may be more naturally aggressive, while others may be more prone to being friendly and loving. It’s important to do your research and choose a Bullmastiff puppy that has the potential to be a good guard dog.
Another common mistake is not being consistent with the training methods. Guard dog training requires a lot of patience and consistency. You can’t just train your Bullmastiff for a few weeks and then expect him to be a fully-fledged guard dog. It takes months, sometimes even years, of consistent training to turn a Bullmastiff into a good guard dog.

If you’re considering getting a guard dog, then you probably have some concerns about your safety. But before you make the decision to get a Bullmastiff, there are some things you should know. In this article, we’ll give you an overview of Bullmastiff character, origin and guard features. We’ll also touch on some of the challenges you might face during the training process.

Bullmastiff Origin, Main Features & Guarding Behavior

The Bullmastiff breed was formed in England in the second half of the 19th century to fight against poachers. The gamekeeper needed strong, fast, noiseless dogs, able to work “in team” with humans and easily cope with both the poacher and his dogs. The basis for the breed was the crossing of the Mastiff with the Bulldog.

What You Should Know about Bullmastiffs

The genetic behavior of this breed includes the strongest loyalty to family members combined with an equally developed guarding instinct. The breed was created to work closely with a small group of people, which means it is a “humanized” dog. A Bullmastiff needs a human family and will always take care of his or her “family pack”.
The combination of loyalty to people and a strong guarding instinct allows a dog to instantly distinguish friend from foe.
A Bullmastiff senses people and immediately recognizes a person who comes with bad intentions.
This breed should be introduced to human company from a tender age as a puppy so it can get to know the “good” people better, and as the dog matures and develops a guarding instinct, it can learn to distinguish between them and the “bad” people.
Typical Bullmastiff behavior is friendly toward family members and reserved friendliness toward strangers.
If something makes the dog suspicious, he will try to assess the situation first, almost never attacking right away.
The Bullmastiff is a super guard dog of the type that defends its territory above all else.

The Bullmastiff’s Guarding Style

The Bulmastiff’s guarding style is as follows: when a dog runs up to a suspicious object it can strike the ground with its forelegs, get into a threatening pose, growl and (or) bark and, this way, intimidate a potential attacker. The bullmastiff usually takes a second or two to assess the situation before moving on to take action. In the vast majority of cases the threatening posture is enough to cause the intruder to flee.

If the dog decides to engage in a struggle, it will more often use its body weight. And only if this does not work, it may inflict bites.

Thus, biting is the last step in the Bullmastiff’s guarding stereotype, and is relatively rare.

The Difference in Guarding Behavior of Bullmastiff & Shepherd Breeds

This type of guarding behavior is quite different from the guarding behavior of shepherd breeds, such as German or Belgian shepherds, for which chasing and grabbing followed by biting are typical.

To better understand these two types of guarding behavior, it is useful to look at the evolution of the dog and see what behavioral patterns have given rise to the guarding style of the modern dog breeds. Over the thousands of years since domestication, the guarding behavior of the dog has evolved from the hunting behavior of its distant ancestor, the wolf. The wolf’s hunting behavior demonstrates the following stages: tracking prey – alertness – stalking – chasing – capturing – killing. This stereotype is imprinted in the behavior of herding dogs. The killing stage has been selectively eliminated and the capturing stage transformed into a gentle and non-traumatic way of controlling the herd. Shepherding behavior is thus a transformed behavior of the hunter. Consequently, herding breeds are also good guardians.

The guarding behavior of the Bullmastiff is very different from that of a herding dog. Their guarding stereotype is much closer to that of the large breeds that have long been used to guard herds. These dogs show a tendency to stay with the herd and not consider it potential prey. They also protect herds from predators. Their stereotype of guarding behavior does not include chasing and capturing, they do not chase prey and show no interest in opportunism. Instead, they exhibit a persistent tendency to stay in their territory and protect their herd or family.

Herd guarding dogs, to which the Bullmastiff belongs, usually remain unperturbed, even when provoked, and take longer to show threat before biting. If they do start biting it means they have far fewer innate brakes, fixed by breeding, which leads to far more serious biting.

Bullmastiff guard instinct is natural!

states Nicole Riesgo, the owner of Bullmastiffs for more than 10 years

Decide if You Really Want a Guard Dog

Weigh the Pros and Cons of Having a Guard Dog

The first step in deciding whether or not to get a Bullmastiff is to weigh the pros and cons of having a guard dog. Some people may want a guard dog for the sense of security they provide. Others may want a guard dog because it’s their duty to protect their family. Still, others may want a guard dog for the simple fact that they’re afraid of being alone.

There are many reasons why someone might want a guard dog. But before you decide to get one, it’s important to consider the cons as well. Guard dogs can be expensive, especially if you choose to buy a purebred. They also require a lot of time and effort to train. And if you’re not careful, they can be dangerous to small children and other pets.

Consider Your Lifestyle and Living Situation

Before you decide to get a Bullmastiff, it’s important to consider your lifestyle and living situation. Do you live in an apartment or a house? Do you have a backyard? Do you have children or other pets? These are all important factors to consider when deciding whether or not to get a guard dog.

Some people may not be able to have a guard dog because of their living situations. For example, people who live in apartments may not be able to have a guard dog because most apartment buildings have strict pet policies. And people who live in houses may not want a guard dog because they’re afraid of the extra responsibility.

Think About Whether You’re Ready for the Responsibility

Another important factor to consider is whether or not you’re ready for the responsibility. Guard dogs require a lot of time, effort, and patience to train. They also require a lot of attention and care. If you’re not ready for the responsibility, then you shouldn’t get a guard dog.

Some people may not be ready for the responsibility of a guard dog because they have busy lifestyles. Others may not be ready because they’re not sure if they can handle the training process. And still others may not be ready because they’re not sure if they’re prepared for the challenges that come with owning a guard dog.

Choose the Right Bullmastiff Puppy

Choosing the right Bullmastiff puppy is an important decision. Not all puppies are created equal and some are better suited for guard dog duty than others. There are a few things you should keep in mind when choosing a Bullmastiff puppy:

Look for a breeder who specializes in guard dogs.
Choose a puppy who is alert and has a strong temperament.
Avoid puppies who are shy or fearful.
Be prepared to invest the time and effort into training your puppy.

Taking the time to choose the right Bullmastiff puppy will pay off in the long run. A well-trained guard dog can provide years of protection and companionship. But a poorly trained one can be a liability.

Train Your Bullmastiff to Be a Guard Dog

The Basics of Guard Dog Training

The first step in training your Bullmastiff to be a guard dog is to socialize them. This means exposing them to different people, places, and situations. The more they’re exposed to, the less likely they are to be scared or aggressive in new situations.

Start with basic obedience training. This will teach your Bullmastiff the basic commands like sit, stay, come, and down. Once they know these commands, you’ll be able to better train them for more specific tasks.

Next, you’ll need to teach them how to protect you and your property. This includes teaching them to bark on command, to stay by your side, and to attack on command.

Finally, you’ll need to continue to socialize them. The more they’re exposed to different people and situations, the less likely they are to be scared or aggressive.

Socialization and Obedience Training

These two points are the foundation of guard dog training. But there are other things you can do to train your Bullmastiff to be a better guard dog.

Here are a few tips:

Make sure they have plenty of exercise. A tired dog is a good dog.
Give them a job to do. This could be guarding the front door or patrolling the property.
Be consistent with their training. Reward them for good behavior and correct them firmly for bad behavior.
Never put them in a situation where they’re likely to fail. This could make them lose confidence and become more aggressive.

With patience and consistency, you can train your Bullmastiff to be a great guard dog. They’ll provide years of protection and companionship.

Protection Training

The first step in protection training is to socialize your Bullmastiff. This means exposing them to different people, places, and situations. The more they’re exposed to, the less likely they are to be scared or aggressive in new situations.

Next, you’ll need to teach them how to protect you and your property. This includes teaching them to bark on command, to stay by your side, and to attack on command.

Advanced Guard Dog Training

Once your Bullmastiff has a solid foundation of obedience and protection training, you can start to train them for more specific tasks. This could include teaching them to search for intruders, to track people or animals, or to patrol a certain area.

You’ll also need to continue to socialize them. The more they’re exposed to different people and situations, the less likely they are to be scared or aggressive.