Bullmastiffs love to please, so make training an enjoyable time for both of you. Reward and praise your puppy at every opportunity when it is doing what you want of him. A small piece of food or praise serves as a great reward. A firm NO when puppy is doing something undesirable is all the reprimand you will require. Bullmastiffs have strong feelings and do not like being growled at, so they learn very quickly what you require of them. End each training session with a fun activity, such as chasing a stick or favourite ball. Puppy will soon look forward to training!
Your puppy will need to be lead trained before you take him to any outing including Puppy pre-School classes.
You will need a soft leather collar and a strong, good quality leash. I always introduce puppy to the collar at least a week before placing the leash on him. That way, it gets used to having a foreign object around its neck. Puppy will probably spend much time scratching at the collar in those first few days. Ensure the collar is not too tight, it will come to accept it in a very short time.
Once puppy has accepted the collar, you can start trying to lead him with the leash. This will require some patience from you, but will be well worth it in the long run. Please be gentle through this stage, this is all very new to your puppy. NEVER loose your patience, it will only serve to make your puppy nervous and your task more difficult.
Once you have mastered the collar and lead, you can gently transfer puppy to a small gauge choker chain. It is of utmost importance that you NEVER leave the choker chain on your puppy or adult dog after you have finished your training session. Many dogs have been caught and strangled by choker chains.
This information is a small introduction to the basics. There are several good books available on dog training. Please consult your breeder, Local Dog training club or vet should you have any queries.
Welcome to the world of Puppies and Dogs 