Your Bullmastiff Suffers From: Here's How to Help

Psychological issues such as stress and anxiety are common reactions to life and its many different environments. Bullmastiff dogs are prone to anxiety, especially if they aren't properly trained or socialized at a young age. There are plenty of ways owners can help their Bullmastiff puppy overcome these anxiety issues.

Bullmastiff Breed Overview

The Bullmastiff dog breed is very loyal, trusting, and a great companion dog. Many families love these dogs because of how gentle they are. Most owners of Bullmastiff puppies say their dogs have lovable dispositions and are great family companions.

Even though these large pups are intimidating at first sight, most of these dogs are gentle little cuddle puppies. Often, there's a misconception that larger dogs don't have anxiety as much as smaller dogs do, but this isn't true.

Small dogs are for companionship, so they rely on their owners' company almost all the time. If they're without the owner for a few hours, they are bound to have a panic attack. Large dogs usually were bred to complete a task, but this made them more mentally active animals in the long run. Most dogs, regardless of size, still rely heavily on their owner's companionship.

When dogs are away from their owners for a long time, they get nervous in their absences. Sometimes larger dog breeds like the Bullmastiff don't get enough exercise which can also cause them to suffer from stress symptoms.

Bullmastiff Breed Size

This large breed can stand anywhere from 24 inches tall to 27 inches. This deep-chested dog can weigh anywhere between 100 and 130 pounds. They have broad, big shoulders and hindquarters that slip into a small, almost backward triangle shape.

Because of their big size, some owners forget that Bullmastiff puppies have to use a lot of energy to move their big bodies. Sometimes dogs with large bodies are surprisingly agile and can move as if the weight of their body has nothing on them. The Bullmastiff is not one of these breeds, and even though they are powerful and big, carrying their weight around can be quite a task for them. It's important for owners not to let their Bullmastiff puppies overwork, or else they might end up with an injured or depressed puppy.

Bullmastiff Temperament

Bullmastiff puppies are just as peaceful and cuddly as Toy poodles. These dogs want to be in the same room as their owners. This dog will be there if they can follow their owners and sit next to them while they do work or read or whatever their owner is doing. If these dogs had the option to stick with their owner throughout the day constantly, they would.

Some people will call the Bullmastiff breed a velcro dog breed. Velcro dogs want to attach themselves to their owners like velcro. These family dogs can be great for first-time owners because they want to please their owners. These dogs are happy to live with children; however, they might accidentally fall into those near them because of their large size. People with younger kids should adopt a different dog or wait a few years until they have older kids to rescue a Bullmastiff.

Their large size might make you think they're housebound, but these dogs can happily live in apartment buildings if they have the proper amount of exercise. Many things make a good apartment dog, and size often plays into these factors. However, other factors that make for a great apartment dog include how noisy that animal is, how excited they get, and their socialization skills. This dog is a quiet breed, and as long as they get enough exercise, they will be quite happy in apartment buildings.

Bullmastiff Breed Intelligence

Like many mastiff breeds, the Bullmastiff is intelligent but can be stubborn if they feel unsafe or concerned. The longer owners have time to bond with their Bullmastiff dogs, the more they will get out of training sessions.

Bullmastiff dogs were successful guard dogs in the past. This breed is excellent at learning tasks that involve protecting their family. Many Bullmastiff dogs have been therapy dogs or emotional support animals.

Even though these dogs are brilliant and might try to take on many different jobs, they do best with short repetitive training lessons. Consistency is key to training your Bullmastiff puppy to be on their best behavior.

While it's always good to repeat training commands to ensure your dog solidifies the command, the Bullmastiff is a highway mentally active breed. They might get bored if you repeat too many of the same lessons. Training lessons should be creative, and owners should start thinking outside the box about what they can teach this type of dog.

Bullmastiff Health Overview

A Bullmastiff dog can live anywhere from 7 to 9 years on average. Every dog breed has its physical health issues and psychological ones that come with its breed. Even though every breed has conditions predisposed to experiencing, not all dogs in those breeds will experience any physical ailments.

For example, the Bullmastiff breed has an increased risk of developing progressive retinal atrophy, gastric dilation volvulus, otherwise known as bloat, hip dysplasia, and elbow dysplasia. But most dogs in this breed will live their lives without experiencing any of these physical health ailments.

Owners need to ensure they provide proper grooming and nutritional values to their dogs to keep them in their best health. Giant dog breeds like the Bullmastiff can have diet changes throughout their lives. These dogs need more vitamins and nutrients than dogs half their size do, and they can develop joint issues if they eat too much or too little.

Owners can take care of these dogs' grooming habits by clipping their nails every two weeks and brushing their fur at least once a week. Owners can then bathe their Bullmastiff every month or ten weeks at most. It's vital to your dog's health to clean their ears once a month and check their ears weekly for signs of ear infections.

Even though many dogs in the breed won't experience some of these physical health conditions, almost all dogs will develop psychological health conditions. But this doesn't stop most Bullmastiff dogs from living long, healthy lives. There are plenty of ways Bullmastiff dog owners can help their dogs overcome these issues. Dogs use body language to communicate their emotions to their pet owner. A pet owner needs to observe their canine friend to determine when they have signs of fear, stress, pain, affection, excitement, or other strong emotions.

Anxiety Causes in Bullmastiff Puppies

a large number of reasons can cause anxiety. One of the most common reasons dogs face anxiety is out of separation anxiety. Whenever dogs are left alone for too long, they might destroy the house in their owner's absences. Dogs have panic attacks and find the only way to release their energy is by making a mess.

Sometimes a dog's anxiety is because they're not getting the proper amount of exercise or mental stimulation. When you don't meet your dogs' basic needs, their whole health is affected, and they'll respond by experiencing stress and anxiety.

Another common reason many dogs have anxiety is because of loud noises or poor socialization. Also, if dogs have had past traumas such as abandonment, homelessness, neglect, or abuse, they're more likely to face anxiety symptoms.

Like humans, some Bullmastiff dogs can suffer from anxiety without apparent causes, even if there are causes from the past. No matter what causes your Bullmastiff dog's anxiety, the best way to help them is to notice the symptoms of the condition and when they appear, and only then can you start the healing process with your pet.

Anxiety Symptoms in Your Bullmastiff

There are many different symptoms dogs with anxiety might show. Bullmastiff puppies might pace when they have anxiety, bark, whine, or yelp. Some dogs shake whenever their anxious, and some defecate or urinate. If your dog doesn't eat when you're away, it might suffer from separation anxiety.

There are a couple of different ways to understand what kind of anxiety your dog has, and usually, it involves the symptoms they exhibit, how severe they are, and when they appear.

Many dogs are anxious around loud noises such as sirens, thunderstorms, or fireworks. If your dog is nervous around things like this, it's completely understandable and normal, and it's easy to help them.

Suppose your dog has more severe anxiety symptoms, such as urinating, defecating, vomiting, or eating their feces. In that case, it might be a little more challenging to help your dog overcome their symptoms. Still, owners should feel assured knowing that no matter the cause of their dog's anxiety, they can help them overcome their symptoms thanks to the many treatment options available.

Anxiety Treatment Methods

No dog owner wants their Bullmastiff puppy to be suffering from anxiety all day long while they're out at work. It could be hard to focus or enjoy time away from home when you know your dog is just going to tear up the house in your absence. It can be hard to put your Bullmastiff puppy in a cage, especially when you know they don't like it.

The best way to treat anxiety is to understand the cause of their specific situation and then take action based on the intensity and frequency of their symptoms.

For example, if your dog is scared of thunderstorms and there's one rolling in, you can try to prevent their anxiety by treating them ahead of time.

If you have not socialized your Bullmastiff dog properly, they might get anxious around big crowds, strangers, different animals, or any other environment that may be new. Some dogs even get anxious because they remember something traumatic from their past. You can treat dogs with these issues with simple at-home methods that their owners can help provide to them.

Suppose your dog is suffering from uncontrollable potty accidents or shows signs of aggressive behavior when they're nervous. In that case, you might have to provide more than one remedy to help them relax.

What Works for Different Severities of Anxiety

If your dog barks, shakes, or wines whenever they have anxiety, they might not have a very severe case and might be able to get treated at home just with a couple of special treats. Some owners treat their dogs' anxiety by giving them rare snacks that they only ever get during these moments. Things like cottage cheese or cream cheese would be great during these times because these treats aren't harmful to your dog, but they are extra special and shouldn't be given to your pet often at all.

Owners should learn that there are many tools they can use to help their Bullmastiff dog get better over time. In addition to just using special treats, many owners now use safe spaces to help their dog's anxiety. Owners can create a safe space for Bullmastiff by finding an area to dedicate to their dog in their home. You don't have to have a whole room for them, but it's essential that this space is quiet and away from any foot traffic in the house. You want these dogs to feel as peaceful as possible in these areas. That way, they know that they're safe when they retreat to them.

In these spaces, owners will often provide their dogs with calm, comforting beds, a bowl of water, and maybe a couple of their favorite toys or pillows. Dog owners will always have a lot of creative freedom when deciding what to put in their dog's safe space. Some studies show that classical music can help your dog's stress, so you might want to put a radio and your dog's safe space so it can play classical music. This method is also excellent at blocking any noise outside your dog's space that can cause them stress. This area aims to provide a soothing environment where Bullmastiff dogs can go to relax and be alone.

Suppose your pet has more significant anxiety-like symptoms trying to prevent the owners from leaving the house or not eating when they're left alone or not eating at all. You should treat these more significant examples of anxiety with something a little stronger than just a couple of nice treats and a safe space. There's no need to give medication to these animals unless you've tried other methods that haven't worked. Before going straight to anti-anxiety medications, owners should try a couple of holistic methods that might help their dogs calm down.

Many pet shops now sell calming supplements or dog CBD that can ease your Bullmastiff puppy's anxiety in many ways. Tools like these can be used for any anxiety and are excellent for helping your dog calm down ahead of time if you know something will make them anxious. If you know you will be gone for a few hours, giving your dog CBD thirty minutes to an hour before you leave is a great way to help prevent them from experiencing that stress.

It would be best to treat the most challenging anxiety situations with long-lasting aids. The aforementioned methods will help mastiff puppies, but they are not a permanent fix to these symptoms.

It could be costly and time-consuming to find a permanent fix for your dog's anxiety which is why it's best to try to treat them at home over time, so their symptoms lessen as their bond grows with their owners. However, if your dog is suffering, urinating, or defecating in the house, they will need extra assistance. Owners can help these intense situations by providing these dogs with counter-conditioning treatments or anti-anxiety medications.

Owners must talk to their vet before doing either of these things with a Bullmastiff puppy. Counter-conditioning treatment is a long and intensive program where a dog behaviorist will work with your dog to understand what causes their anxiety. This conditioning treatment is beneficial because it permanently breaks that triggering anxiety factor. It works because these dog behaviorists or animal trainers understand a dog's psyches. They work very closely and consistently with that dog to change their adverse reactions to positive ones. Another long-term solution to severe anxiety is an anti-anxiety medication. Anti-anxiety medication can be beneficial for dogs with severe anxiety, but it also has a lot of side effects. If you can use any of the above methods without needing to use medication, that would be preferred, but obviously, some cases don't find success with any other method.

Conclusion

Bullmastiff puppies are protective, loyal, and sweet big dogs. These pets are gigantic, and they might seem scary, but they are more anxiety-ridden than most other animals. The best way owners can help their Bullmastiff puppies deal with their anxiety is to understand its cause. Once owners understand the cause of their dog's anxiety, they can move on to determine how intense their situation is. More complicated problems require more permanent treatment methods, whereas less severe cases of anxiety can be treated at home as needed.

Bullmastiff puppyowners should not worry about these dogs suffering from anxiety too much. If you are committed to helping them get better, there is no need to fret as a dog owner. All these dogs want is peace of mind and love.