Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I am a foster mom for a mastiff rescue and I have just officially adopted a Boerboel that I have had for 6 month (YEH!!!) She is he most wonderful girl. She is wonderful with all children. She is very protective of our home and her yard and walking her is not so easy. She is dog aggressive and aggressive twords people that come near her yard. I have been working with her in the yard and having the neighbors help me (wonderful neighbors by the way all 6 of them). She is not barking frantically anymore when I am trying to talk to the neighbors over the fence. She is also coming when O call her when she sees another dog and goes bezerk at the fence. This is still a work in progress, but I have to say there is a very noticable improvment. What can her job be. I have read that if she has a job to focus on she will be able to use some of her energy for that. I could not ask for a sweeter dog. I read everything I can get my hands on for her breed which is VERY stong and protective. I have another mastiff and a chihuahua and my Boerboel is great with them as well as our cat.

Thanks!!
Tiffany

I'm not familiar at all with the breed but threre a couple of things that come to mind you might want try. If you can get small cart and harness and hook her to it when going walks it would give her some purpose. An easier thing would be to get a doggy back pack. When you take her for a walk put some books or something similar into the pocketsor a couple of bottles of water and go for a long walk. Maybe even walking her to the store and have her carry home some of the groceries. You might also want to try placing this post on the Mastiff board to see if other Mastiff owners can be of some help.
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Dogs are not our whole life, but they make our lives whole.
PHMax

I would start tracking with this dog. It's a fairly solitary sport overall, but that seems like what you would want to try at first with her. There's a LOT of fun training that goes into tracking successfully and dogs are naturally very adept at it.

Once those skills are mastered, there are many other dogs sports out there that mat suit her: like scent detection and potentially Schutzhund if her temperament is correct (the tracking training will help determine that).

So go out and have fun with her, but don't throw her into a chaotic class of wild unruly dogs and people (agility would come to mind here). She'll be great, but respect what she's already shown you on needing some time and personal space when she's uncertain in a situation. That will help you succeed.
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Chelle and the rest of the crew including, but not limited to Kita and Taiko (the shiba inu wrestle maniacs), Adi (reserved and dignified tabby cat), and all 28 reptiles

Thank you very much. I have read some on Schutzhund training and I have watched videos with Boerboels and Schutzhund training. I will start reading up on tracking activities for her and I to try.
Thank you again!!
Tiffany