Activities For Golden Bullmastiff Retrievers

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Activities For Golden Bullmastiff Retrievers

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Introduction

Golden Bullmastiff Retrievers are a stunning large breed that is a "pawfect" combination of Golden Retriever and Bullmastiff. With the appearance of a giant but the gentleness of a retriever, this pooch is ideal for dog lovers of all ages.

The Bullmastiff breed has a relatively low energy level with minimal exercise requirements. This quiet companion makes for an excellent watchdog. Golden Retrievers, like Mastiffs, are known for their devotion to their owners. This, coupled with their obedience and friendliness, along with their higher energy and affection levels, makes the combination of breed literally a friendly giant. Keep in mind Bullmastiff Retrievers don't tend to like hot and humid weather, which is why this article provides you with both indoor and outdoor activities to do with your pooch!

Tossing a Toy at the Park

Popular

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Any Day

Free

Easy

30 - 45 min

Items needed

Toy

Activity description

As Golden Bullmastiff Retrievers need daily exercise, there's a variety of ways to get your pup's blood flowing, without requiring too many materials. The retriever in this breed makes it so these pups enjoy active games and obedience lessons, which is why visiting the park is the "pawfect" place to begin your day!

Depending on your pup's obedience level, you may want to consider beginning in a park that is fenced-in, such as a dog park. Public parks are generally free and the only materials you are going to need is a leash and a toy to toss for your pooch. If you live in a humid location, remember that Golden Bullmastiff Retrievers do not do well in extreme heat or humidity, so visiting the park on a moderately warm or cool day would be a "pawsitive" choice for your pup, especially if they’re exerting lots of energy. If it is a hot day, keep your visit short or check out one of the indoor activities you can try with your Golden Bullmastiff.

Step

Finding a park

The first thing you need to do is locate a park that is convenient for you and your pup to access. Remember to find a location that is "pawfect" for your pooch by considering their obedience level. Once you have located a park, set out with your pooch to your destination.

Step

Tossing the toy

After arriving at your location, prepare your pup for the game by introducing them to the toy you plan to toss for them. Let them smell the toy before taking them off-leash. After they're introduced, toss the toy as far as possible and prompt your pooch to fetch the toy. Be sure your pup is watching when you throw the toy -- if they miss the toss, it will be hard for them to locate it and their interest level will be lowered. If you plan to repeat this activity, it’s a good idea to use the same toy each time, so your pup knows exactly what they’re getting into.

Step

Returning the toy

After your pup successfully retrieves the toy, encourage them to return back to you by calling out their name or saying, "Come here." If this is a new activity for your pooch, you may want to bring some treats to use as a reward to encourage them to bring the toy back. Each time your pup successfully returns the toy, give them a treat as a reward. Check out activity three for some more information on obedience training with your pup! Toss the Toy should be ideally continued for at least 10 to 20 tosses minimum, keeping your pup’s heart rate up while they exercise.

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Tug-of-War

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Any Day

Cheap

Normal

15 - 30 min

Items needed

rope toy

Activity description

Tug-of-war is an easy exercise for your Golden Bullmastiff Retriever, and it can be done anywhere! If you want to get some additional exercise and couple this activity with activity one, just bring along a rope for your pup with you when you head to the park. The activity is also easy to modify for doing right inside of your own home, as long as you have enough space for you and your pup to play safely. Remember to be in an area with no breakables -- better safe than sorry!

Tug-of-war is as simple as "wrestling" with your pup over an object. Using a rope is the easiest toy, but you can also substitute the rope for a different toy, as long as it's large and durable. You want to use something the won't rip or tear, if your pup gets "ruff" with it!

Step

Introduce the toy

Begin by introducing your pup to the tug-of-war object. You want to allow them to grab the toy with their mouth. You don’t want them to let the toy go when you pull, so encourage them to hold the toy by saying things like “get it.” Once your pup understands that they’re to get the toy, that’s when the fun begins. Using the same toy will simplify this process, since your pup will associate the toy with the game.

Step

Go to war

Once your pup understands that they're to pull the toy, allow them to grab hold of it while you take hold of the opposite end of the toy with your hands. Get a firm grip on the toy -- Bullmastiffs are known for their strength, and although they're gentle, they're likely to use force while they joyfully partake in the game with you. It's common for your pup to communicate during the game. Grunts and barks are normal, but be sure to discourage aggressive behavior -- such as if your pup bares their teeth aggressively.

Step

Surrender and repeat

Depending on your dog, you may find eventually you can pull with full strength, planting your feet firmly on the ground. Eventually, it's kind to let your pup win, to motivate them to keep going and prevent them from getting frustrated. You want to repeat the activity multiple times, until your dog is showing signs of tiredness (panting, slowing down, and pulling less). Do the activity for a minimum of 15 minutes. The more they move, the faster their heart will pump, which is exactly what you want!

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Taming Your Beast with Training

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0 Votes

Any Day

Cheap

Normal

30 min

Items needed

Treats

Activity description

When it comes to training your Golden Bullmastiff Retriever, there are a variety of techniques you can use to instill wanted behaviors. Using a reward system to condition your pooch is ideal for dog owners. Conditioning is the process of pairing a wanted action with a reward, which therefore encourages the behavior in the future.

You don't have to be a psychologist or even a professional trainer to encourage and teach your dog obedience as well as fun tricks they can show off to guests. This breed is fortunate to have the qualities of a retriever, which make them relatively easy to train, whereas full-blooded Bullmastiffs are known to be stubborn.

Step

Decide on a reward/incentive

Decide how you will reward your Golden Bullmastiff. Using an edible incentive often has promising results. You must also decide on words and actions you will use to train your pup basic commands. After you have made these decisions, remember, it is important to remain consistent, so use the same actions and words when making your commands, and share this information with your spouse, friends, or anyone else who interacts with your pup. Next, you need to introduce your commands to your pup.

Step

Introduce commands and actions

Start off your training by reminding yourself that this process requires patience. Although Golden Retrievers are moderately easy to train, Bullmastiffs are a tougher breed, which could mean the combination breed shows stubbornness -- so patience is key. Begin with the simplest of commands. Have your dog focus on you with no distractions. Show your dog the treat by holding it in one of your hands. Calmly and loudly say your command, coupled with your action. If this is the first time you’re trying a command (such as “sit”), you may have to wait for a while for your dog to actually sit (it’s unlikely they will understand the first time). If you are calm and stand tall when you make your command, it is likely they may respond to your dominance and sit. In either case, reward your dog as soon as they obey.

Step

Reward your pooch

An essential part of training is rewarding the wanted behavior as soon as it occurs. The quicker the incentive is provided, the more likely your pooch will associate the reward with the behavior. It is best to introduce your pup with only a few commands at a time. Do not expect them to get each command right away. Do practice each newly taught behavior regularly (once a day), and before you know it, they'll be responding to the command without the reward!

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More Fun Ideas...

Go for a Stroll

As Bullmastiff Retrievers require a moderate amount of exercise each day, the easiest way to meet this need is to go for a walk. This walk can vary in route and length, but you want to ensure you're increasing your pup's heart rate for a minimum of 60 minutes a day. The longer the walk, the better. If you decide to take shorter walks, that's okay, just be sure to take enough so that your pup gets their hour of physical activity daily!

Plan a Play Date

Bullmastiff Retrievers are known to be friendly giants, which is why finding them a companion is always a good idea. This can be as easy as contacting a family member or friend to set up a play date with another pooch. Socialization is an important aspect to healthy growth and development. After meeting up, find a space large enough for them to move around while staying safe, such as a large room or field. Monitor your pups while they play and enjoy the show.

Conclusion

As you can see, there’s a variety of ways to entertain your Golden Bullmastiff Retriever. "Fur-tunately", for the most part, all activities are free or relatively cheap, depending on the toys you use and the treats your pup enjoys.

Swing by the local park for all three activities, or try all three from your own home, depending on your accommodations! Whatever you decide to do, from playing toss the toy to getting competitive with tug-of-war or reinforcing obedience with training, you’re bound to have a “pawsitive” experience with your Golden Bullmastiff Retriever when you try any one of these activities!