AboutLabman Expertise I can help you with your new dog. I am experienced in, and trained in techniques the average person can make work with dogs, especially puppies. I strongly believe in obedience training and the need to give your dog proper leadership. I have been raising a new puppy every year since 1991. I know housebreaking and protecting the puppy and the house from each other. I can explain the the feeding regimen you can easily follow to give your dog the same long, active life life as highly valuable dog guides. I try to give answers you can make work.
The mark of a real expert is knowing the limits of his knowledge. I will not try to answer questions on breed standards, AKC registration, etc. PLEASE DON'T SEND ME MEDICAL OR BREEDING QUESTIONS. An internet forum is not the appropriate place for them. Even if I could tell what was wrong from a handful of symptoms, you would still need to get the medications from your local vet.
Breeding should be left to those not needing to ask simple, basic questions. Books have been written about it. Rather than ask me a question, start reading. Those unwilling to do the work it takes to produce quality puppies should spay/neuter their pets at 6 months. I will not answer questions that sound like a poorly prepared breeder.
Experience Like many, I grew up around dogs, but never realized how much I had to learn before my family started socializing puppies for a large dog guide school. The school shares their experience from thousands of dogs with the people they entrust to raise their puppies. Their recommendations on training, feeding, and care come from a large, well documented program. After it is a year old, they X-ray every one of the hundreds of dogs they breed every year. I continue to attend monthly training sessions with trained volunteers and professional staff. I share experiences with others doing the same. The school must have sturdy, healthy, well behaved dogs, that will have a long, active life. If that is what you want too, I can help you. In addition I have done extensive reading, and the 4 years my daughter was in 4-H were a real learning experience for Dad too. That exposed me to more breeds than the Labs, Shepherds, and Goldens in the dog guide program.
Question we just got a new 15 week old bullmastiff puppy a few days
ago and it does not act right. When i bring her in I have to
carry or pull her and when I sit her down she looks for the
first corner or piece of furniture to hide her face in. She
will lay there for hours and not move even if we are all in
another room she may only whimper a little. She is not
aggressive and wags her tail when you talk to her or look at
her, but she just is not playful and acts affaid of
everything. When we take her outside she is a bit better she
will walk around and wag her tail and she will come to you
but will run away if you try to pet her. She will not use
stairs or the lease.
Answer It sounds like she has missed the critical socialization puppies must have before 12 weeks. The best thing is to return her and find a younger puppy from a better informed breeder. See http://www.akc.org/enewsletter/akc_breeder/2008/winter/puppy.cfm
If you keep her, she should slowly become more accepting of you, but may always be on the shy side. Talk to her a lot in a quiet voice. Offer her treats. Avoid looking her in the eye or letting your teeth show. Keep your hand away from the top of her head when you pet her.
You may even want to find a private trainer. Without careful training, she could develop into a fear biter, a big problem with such a large dog.
