Tibetan Mastiffs are known for being headstrong and independent dogs; therefore, many people assume they can’t be trained.
But how wrong they are!
With the right approach, anyone can train these part-time guard dogs to be lovable, compliant and sociable family members.
Yes! When you bring a Tibetan Mastiff puppy home, you should seriously consider training them. According to the American Tibetan Mastiff Association, it’s good for dog owners and the dog, so why not?
Plus, it’s important that male Tibetan Mastiffs especially get the correct training early to avoid challenging adult behaviour. But don’t worry, we’ll tell you everything you need to know so you can properly train your gorgeous big ball of fluff and attitude.
Anyone who knows and loves a Tibetan Mastiff will tell you these guys aren’t always the easiest to train. They have big brains, and the dog breed is notorious for using this huge brain for its own devices, particularly when it becomes an adult dog!
Intelligent creatures suffer from boredom if they aren’t mentally stimulated enough, so ensure that training is both enjoyable and educational. This tactic works well with any breed of smart doggo, making life easier for you and the dog.
As with other dogs, this particular breed requires:
Let’s take a closer look at how to do this.
Toilet training, even for experienced owners, can seem daunting, and its success doesn’t happen overnight. Thankfully, though, with some know-how, the process can be simplified, and within 4 months, you should hopefully have a successfully potty-trained pup.
Tibetan Mastiff owners should start training their puppy between 8 to 12 weeks, ideally the former. Make sure to pre-plan, too; this can go a long way to help eliminate any stress for both human and four-legged friends.
Firstly, it’s important to allow this breed of dog to lead you when it comes to toilet time. Look to their body language for this; if they seem restless, it could be time to go.
Respond to these signals by taking your dog outside while giving them lots of happy vocalisations once they go a number 2 outside.
Keeping a note of their body language and taking them outdoors regularly will plant a little seed inside their brain, showing them that, once outside, they are free to go. This encourages them to hold on and wait for the opportunity instead of making a mess in the home.
It’s vital to stick to this solid routine. Dogs, in general, will usually need to relieve themselves after food, so make sure you are around right after mealtimes to accompany them outside.
All dogs love a part of the home to call their own, and Tibetan Mastiffs are no different. Crate training is beneficial as it gives your pup their very own special den as well as keeping them safe and out of mischief when you aren’t home.
Contrary to popular belief, crates aren’t similar to imprisoning a dog. Dogs love having a small, enclosed space to feel warm and safe. As we just mentioned, it can keep your dog out of trouble when you aren’t at home, so there’ll be no tearing up the house for them at work!
Crate training should start young. Very young. Aim to start getting your puppy used to the sight, sounds and smells of a crate at 7-8 weeks of age.
After you’ve found the perfect crate for your pup, get them used to its presence. Encourage them to explore it by throwing a few treats and letting them have a good sniff around.
This might take some time, but it’s worth it, so hang in. Once your dog is comfortable enough in the crate, leave the door open for them to walk freely in and out again.
Then, slowly, begin to close the door for brief intervals and gradually extend the time the dog spends in the crate. Again, lots and lots of praise and happy tones will help your dog understand that there’s no threat, which will relax them even further.
Playing games with them while in the crate is also a great idea; they’ll soon view the crate as a wonderful place of fun and contentment.
Also worth a quick mention is obedience training. Consider puppy kindergarten, which can help puppies start their journey of good behaviour at a young age, making them well-behaved around humans and other dogs.
This is especially important when it comes to a male Tibetan Mastiff, which can be aggressive around other males when they reach the age of maturity.
Due to their high intelligence, teaching a Tibetan Mastiff dog tricks can go one of two ways. Either the dog will not want to bother with the ‘silly old hooman’s demands, or, if the training is fun and exciting enough, the dog will be in its element.
Making it fun is key!
A consistent training programme is vital to teaching any dog. Little and often training is ideal for Tibetan Mastiffs, who can quickly become bored, thus bringing out their independent and stubborn nature.
There is no point in telling a dog off when they haven’t done what you have asked. Not only can it be cruel, but it also has the effect of being counter-intuitive in that the dog will likely become stressed – and potentially scared. And no dog deserves that.
Instead of berating them when things don’t go exactly as planned, use tactics; a cuddle and some optimistic praise can go a long way and even strengthen the bond between you and your dog.
As mentioned, treats are a great way to encourage your dog to finish their task correctly. However, you know what’s coming – handing out too many of these is not good for the dog.
Like many humans, Tibetan Mastiffs enjoy the more indulgent side of life, and too many treats can lead to the dog becoming overweight. This can lead to health difficulties, excess pressure on their joints, and a host of other problems.
Clicker training is a great option when it comes to training. Used as a form of positive reinforcement, a clicker is a mechanical device that makes a – yup, you guessed it, ‘click’ sound when a dog has behaved appropriately.
Initially, these clicks come with a treat as a reward, but after time, the click will be enough to let the dog know they have performed as required.
Although this original guard dog isn’t the easiest to train, it’s not impossible and can be fun! Crate, toilet, and obedience training are essential for all dogs, especially larger breeds. This big dog can live its best, happiest life with the correct training.
Welcome to Pets Online, a team of pet parents, animal lovers and veterinarians devoted to providing you with everything you need to know about pets.