Table of Contents:
How to keep your dogs feet from getting caught in the crate:
New!!! Click here for a step by step guide to Ear Taping!
Now that summer is here, if you are like us and take your dogs hiking, remember to check their feet when you get home, if you hike thru a sandy area, especially one with water crossings, sand can get caught between their toes and cause an irritation. Rinsing their feet off can help prevent any such problem. It is also wise to go completely over your dog checking for ticks and fox tails when returning home from a day of hiking!
How to keep your dogs
feet from getting caught in the crate:
This
is easy to prevent, of course you don't want you puppy catching his toes in his
wire crate as this can cause a serious injury. What we do is fold a towel
in half, place a portion of it under the entire crate,
then we fold this remainder up and over the opening,
and drop the crate pan down on top of it,
.
As you can see, this creates a barrier so that toes cannot become caught in the
wires of the crate!
We use folding wire crates made by Precision, a 42 inch will work for most adult bullmastiffs, but for the larger ones, or those that will spend a longer period in their crate, we recommend a 48 inch.
http://www.precisionpet.com/index.asp
The first thing to remember when housebreaking, be consistent. Pick a spot in the yard where you want your puppy to eliminate. Place puppy in this area every time he's taken out to go potty. Give him a verbal, "Go Potty", "Outside", etc. Every time your pup eliminates outside, tell him what a good baby he is!
A puppy will have to eliminate:
· Upon waking
· Upon leaving crate
· Right after eating
· After about 15 minutes of playing
It is up to you to get him outside. If your pup has an accident and you see it happening, give a stern No or Out. Immediately take him to his spot outside. If he eliminates again outside, praise him. If there is an accident and you do Not see it happen, DO NOT rub his nose in it! By the time you discover the 'accident' your puppy will not be able to associate the action with the correction. If it is a solid accident, pick it up and place it outside in the designated area. Show it to your pup, and praise if he potties in that spot.
Don't expect your puppy to be able to "hold it" for some time. On the average, at 6 weeks a pup can hold his bladder about 4 hours, by 8 weeks 5 hours, by 12 weeks 6 hours and by 5-6 months a pup should be able to "hold it" for an 8 hour work day.
We have found that the best product to use for cleaning up "accidents" is Nature's Miracle, which can be purchased at most pet supply stores. This not only removes the odor, but the stain. Blot up as much mess as possible, the pour Nature's Miracle onto spot. Be sure to let it soak into the carpet padding. Blot up solution.
Puppies are very inquisitive, which can lead to serious injury. Here are a few tips on how to make your home safer. Rule of thumb: If any or all of something will fit in a mouth, it is dangerous! Watch out for cigarette butts, rubber bands, sewing needles, thread, string, and ribbons.
Dogs love to chew when they are teething or bored. Keep electrical wires out of reach or use pet repellant spray.
Chocolate can be dangerous. Even small amounts can cause pancreatic problems. It contains theobromine, a powerful stimulant that is toxic to pets. Sweets, cakes, and cookies (the human kind) can also upset a young puppy's gastro-intestinal tract and lead to diarrhea and vomiting, which can be serious.
Common household killers: Cleaning agents, bleach, ammonia, disinfectants, drain cleaners, & oven cleaner can cause mild stomach upsets, while others could cause severe burns of the tongue, mouth and stomach. Gasoline and oil, rat poison, snail/slug bait all contain sweet smelling inert ingredients which can be very attracting to your puppy. Mothballs, one or two may be lethal, potpourri oils, fabric softener sheets, automatic dish detergents contain cationic detergents which could cause corrosive lesions. Batteries contain acids/alkali which can also cause corrosive lesions. Keep all of these locked up!
Anti-freeze! Pets are attracted to the odor and sweet taste of anti-freeze. One tablespoon can be lethal to a 20 pound dog. Store it high and tightly sealed, wiping up any spills off the ground. Window washing solutions also contain anti-freeze.
Puppies grow rapidly. Collars can be rapidly outgrown, leading to serious wounds. Check collar daily, you should be able to get 2 fingers under it.
Cosmetics, shampoos, perm solutions, creams, depilatories, lotions, sleeping pills, antihistamines, and acetaminophen can all be lethal
Keep covers on hot tubs and swimming pools. Puppies can fall in and not be able to get out. Keep plastic bags out of reach, puppies can suffocate.
Bullmastiffs are slow developers, look for low amounts of protein and calcium (under 25%) in your dog food. Until your puppy reaches the age of 16 weeks, he will need to be fed 3 times a day to maintain a healthy blood sugar level. Usually 1-1.5 cups per meal.
16 weeks and older, feed twice a day, usually 2 cups a meal. Do Not feed any puppy formulas, only adult food. This will ensure they grow slowly at a pace their body and bones can keep up with. We also supplement with raw veggies and raw meats. All of our dogs are fed Kirkland Chick & Rice from Costco. Be sure to use stainless steel bowls for food and water, and clean with warm soapy water regularly. (Plastic bowls attract and hold bacteria.)
This is what we at Mystical recommend, if your Breeder recommends differently, Please stick to their recommendations!
Bullmastiffs grow very quickly and their bones do not completely harden until approximately 10 months of age. This means that walks should be kept short, going up and down stairs, jumps into/out of cars and rough housing could do severe bone/hip problems. All it takes is one blow, their bones are weak, and their body is large, until they reach 10 months of age be Careful!
We use Fluffy Puppy Shampoo made by Bio-Groom, it is tear free, leaves them soft and clean!!
The best tool to use for brushing your Bullmastiff is a shedding blade, (A piece of curved metal with a handle) or a Rubber Curry Comb found at any feed and tack store. These are the most effective for removing all the excess hair. Following with a brush made of Boar's Hair will really add a natural shine!
Nail care is very important to your Bullies. If the nails grow too long, they can cripple your dog. Most dogs do not take to nail grooming so it is best to start at an early age. With the puppies, I recommend doing their nail every 2-3 days as they grow so fast. Adults we trim on a weekly basis.
We prefer using a Dremel MiniMite Cordless to do nails as it gives more control and thus is safer for the dog. Also, the vibration from the Dremel, encourages the quick in the nail to shrink back, therefore allowing for a shorter nail. Dremels are best purchased at a hardware store such as Home Depot. They cost anywhere between $29 to $40 depending on which model you purchase. Be sure you start off at a slow speed first until you get the hang of using the tool. Remember, these will cause friction and will make the nail hot! Only apply tool for a few seconds at a time. I usually do one whole foot, then repeat. Stop periodically and check nail, when you see the middle of the nail begin to change, either turn pink or white, you need to stop as you are very close to the quick.
Here's a link to a wonderful site that teaches you how to dremel nails, look for the link on the right: www.DoberDawn.com
The other type of tool used to trim nails is the pliers style which can be purchased at Pet Edge or most any other pet supply. If you use this style, be sure to have some Kwik Stop powder on hand in case you accidentally make your dog bleed. Hydrogen Peroxide or regular kitchen flour will also work to stop bleeding.
Ears should be cleaned on a regular basis, especially after bathing to remove any water that may have gotten into the ear canal. There are many different ear cleaning solutions that can be purchased at all pet supply stores. We do not recommend using the ear powders as these can cause a build up in the ear canal. If you notice the ear is unusually red, or if your dog keeps shaking his head and scratching at his ear, you should take him to your vet for a check up. Sometimes after taping the ears, they will be red and might have little bumps inside. This can be cured by feeding 1/4-1/2 cup of plain yogurt daily until problem is cleared. We feed yogurt everyday ears are taped as a preventative.
Supplies Needed: Moleskin (non padded) and Porous Adhesive Tape (Medical/Sports Tape) rubbing alcohol and scissors.
Swab inside and outside of ears with rubbing alcohol
Cut moleskin to approximate shape of inside of ear
Apply moleskin to inside of ears, then take medical tape, starting on inside of one ear, tape under chin, to inside of other ear. Be sure to not tape to tightly, as a rule, you should be able to insert 2 fingers between tape and puppy.
Tape outside, starting at center of one ear, going under chin, around to second ear. It is best to also apply a strip of tape over top of head, making one line of tape circling puppy's head. This will help enforce the tape against the scratching your pup is sure to do!
Leave on for 3-4 days. When removing the tape, go with the growth direction of hair. You may want to apply mineral oil first to loosen the adhesive. Clean ears thoroughly after removing tape.
Brushing your dogs teeth with a canine toothpaste on a regular basis is recommended. This will prevent tartar build up and help maintain nicer breath. There are many types of chewies and toys on the market that also help clean teeth during play. We feed raw carrots to our dogs and they love it. Eating raw carrots helps keep their teeth clean. Do not give your Bullmastiff Rawhides, Pig Ears or Cow Hooves, their jaws are too strong and all 3 of these can lead to choking!
Dogs love to have their own place to sleep. If not using a crate, blankets work very well to establish your dogs "place". It is also good to provide a padded area outside. Due to their size, Bullmastiff will get calluses on their elbows from lying on hard surfaces. To keep these to a minimal, apply Corona Cream or Bag Balm daily. Both of these be found in most feed and tack stores.
For the teething puppy, Nylabones and Kongs are the best. You can even throw them in the freezer to get the cold which feels good on those sore gums! With the Kong, you can add a small amount of peanut butter occasionally to get your pup interested in it. Never give your puppy or adult rawhide. Rawhide, pig's ears, hooves and snouts, these are all toys that can kill your dog! Have you ever touched a rawhide toy after your dog has spent some time with it? It becomes slimy and sticky. Often, when ingested by a dog, these slimy pieces will stick to a dog's throat and cause choking. More often, pieces of sticky rawhide will stick to the intestines and can result in a stomach blockage. In these cases, emergency surgery will be performed. Unfortunately, in many cases, death will occur. The dangers of rawhide have been well documented and we recommend that these products not be used.
The newest item available is the Chilly Bones, a canvas bone that you freeze!
For the really destructive chewers, I use the Galileo Nylabone. These will hold up to even the most persistent Bullmastiff!
1 cup Lemon Ammonia
1 cup Lemon Scented Dish Soap
1 cap-full Listerine Mouth Wash
1 Quart Water
Mix contents below in your yard sprayer and treat problem areas.