Training an English Mastiff: what works and what to expect
How the English Mastiff learns, common training challenges and what motivates it.
Mastiffs learn well but think things over and dislike being rushed. Short, calm sessions with food rewards work; repeated drilling makes them bored and stubborn. They are sensitive to tone, and harsh corrections often produce a dog that simply lies down and declines to take part.
The most important lessons are the ones you cannot fix later with strength: walking on a loose lead, waiting at doors, keeping paws off people, and accepting handling of feet, mouth and ears. Teach them while the puppy weighs 15 kg, not 70. Socialize widely so the natural guarding instinct is balanced by confidence with visitors, delivery drivers and other dogs.
English Mastiff training in numbers
Easy to train
Barking
5 means very vocal
Copes with alone time
Open with strangers
Good with other dogs
Good with children