Activities For Marjorca Mastiffs
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Prepare for unexpected vet bills
Introduction
The Majorca Mastiff, also known as the Ca de Bou or the Mallorquin Mastiff, is a guard dog that's best known for hunting and protecting. These large pups (who can weigh anywhere from 60 to 85 pounds) are thought to have descended from Iberian Mastiffs, though their breeding history is pretty up in the air. They are known for being social and moderately trainable. These pooches are great with kids and other pups (if introduced correctly) and will undoubtedly provide you with extreme loyalty. That being said, these big woofers need a ton of space to run around and definitely require tons of exercise and attention.Â
Appeal to your high-energy doggo with some of these exciting activities!
Running
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Any Day
Free
Easy
1 hr
Items needed
leash
open space
ball or toy to chase
Activity description
Running is a hugely important exercise for most doggos, but especially for the Marjoca Mastiff. Though they're not the most energetic breed in the world, they certainly require a bit more than one short walk per day. That's where a good long run for at least an hour every day can come in handy. This is a great way to get your pup up and moving, ensure they're getting the exercise they require (this breed has a tendency to gain weight if not properly cared for), and is a great bonding activity that encourages doggo-owner loyalty. Want to spice it up a bit? Make it a running game of fetch or catch! It's a great activity for all types of weather, but be cautious not to overdo it. These doggos sometimes have joint issues that too much running can aggravate.
Step
1
Find a clear, safe space
This is a vital step. You don't want your pup to roam and run free in an area that's surrounded by heavy traffic or other hazards. Find an ideal, empty space (fenced if your pup isn't strictly voice-trained) that leaves room for your doggo to stretch their legs. Keep an eye out for anything that might be dangerous in that space (wildlife, terrain, etc.) and ensure you supervise your pup closely!
Step
2
Encourage your pup to get moving
If your doggo is having a hard time getting moving, encourage them to scoot by running around with them. Whether you choose to keep your pooch on-leash or chase each other in an open space, getting yourself involved in the actual activity will encourage your pup to do it. If your doggo feels better running around on-leash, that's fine, too!
Step
3
Make running a game
It doesn't just have to be strictly about exercise. Encourage your pup to run around by playing fetch, tag, or a game of chase. Use toys to get the game going and try to set up a few minutes a day (hours, if possible) to keep your pup active! Don't push them too hard, though, and be sure to give them plenty of water breaks.
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Socializing
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Any Day
Moderate
Normal
1 - 2 hr
Items needed
leash
treats
training manual
trainer
Activity description
The Majorca Mastiff is a smart, friendly, and social dog, but they're also protective. That's one of the main reasons why it's important to socialize your pup from a young age. Socialization training, whether you take it on by yourself or employ the help of a professional, is a fun, important activity for all Majora Mastiff owners, specifically if they plan to have their pooches around other dogs and people. If you have an aggressive, unsocialized pup, it's a lot harder to bring your doggo out and about and include them in your normal, daily life.
Step
1
Start them young (if possible)
As far as socialization goes, the general rule of thumb is the earlier you can start getting your pup used to being around other people and pups, the better. Puppies are easier to train (they're smaller and less set in their ways) and are likely going to be friendlier by nature.
Step
2
Get professional help
It's possible you might need additional help training your pup. If your pup isn't taking to dog parks, puppy dates, or other socialization activities, you might want to consider working with a trainer. Majorca Mastiffs are smart, relatively easy to train, and friendly, but they're also protective guard dogs — for this reason, you'll want to ensure you're giving them all the tools needed to learn how to socialize properly (you don't want your doggo to accidentally lean too far into their protective side).
Step
3
Take it slow
Introduce your pup to new dogs one at a time and very slowly until you're comfortable with how they behave around other animals (and people). Try to introduce doggos to each other in areas they won't feel they have to protect (a neutral area for both pups often works well) and keep both doggos on their leashes.
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Specialty Watchdog Training
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Any Day
Moderate
Hard
2 hr
Items needed
training manual
treats
professional help
Activity description
Remember how we mentioned that your Majorca Mastiff is a total expert (by nature) at being a protective guard dog? That's just part of who they are. Furthering their protective instincts can only help them improve their guard dog skills and help you learn to best control them (to avoid any slips into aggressive territory). You want to strike a balance between the protective and highly trained watchdog and aggressive pup who doesn't know how to tone down their protective tendencies. Training your Majorca Mastiff to be a watchdog typically involves training your pup to only bark when necessary and even helping them learn how to patrol the premises while alerting you, the owner, to danger.Â
That being said, this doesn't necessarily mean you need to train your dog to attack, bite, or lunge — you simply need to help your dog understand the difference between protective patrolling and aggressive alerting.Â
While this might seem tricky to handle on your own, remember, it's okay to get help from a trainer!
Step
1
Start with the basics
It's important that your dog understands what's good and what's bad, and that your pup knows how to listen to you. Can your pup sit and stay on command? Does your dog respond to your "speak" commands? Is your pup able to follow voice commands as well as hand signals? Make sure your doggo has the basic commands down before complicating their knowledge base any further.
Step
2
Teach mindful barking
One of the key parts of watchdog training is teaching your pup what to bark at. As a naturally protective breed, your pup will probably bark at just about everything that moves. The key thing to remember when teaching mindful barking is that that you, the owner, decide what's dangerous, not the dog. A calm yet assertive attitude toward training will help you teach your dog what to bark at — and how to stop barking on your command.
Step
3
Reward your dog for good behavior
Treat your dog to their favorite reward when they utilize their natural watchdog and protective behaviors in the correct way. Let them know when they've done a good thing, like barking only when they're supposed to, with a lot of praise as well as their favorite toys or treats.
Step
4
Work at it
This will probably take some serious time for your pooch — so remember to be patient and work at it with your pup! Reward good behavior, offer safe and appropriate consequences for the bad, and be patient with your pooch — it's hard to set aside natural protective tendencies and only respond in the correct situation, so try to be sensitive to that.
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More Fun Ideas...
Dog Park
When socialized properly, Majorca Mastiffs are a dream at the dog park! Running around with other pups is the perfect way to ensure they're always exercised properly, and typically, playing with pooch friends is a great motivator toward getting your dog to run around and burn some energy for a few hours. Make sure your pup is socialized properly, bring their favorite toys (if the park allows toys), and be ready to spend hours at the park because your pup won't want to leave!
Daily Walks
This is a must for pooches and is a great addition to their daily runs, too. Try to get your pup out and about to stretch their legs twice daily (for about 30 minutes each) if you can. It doesn't take a ton of time, and as long as you have a sturdy leash, some patience, and a few waste bags, the world is yours (and your pup's). Taking your doggo out on a walk every day is important — these pups may not have the highest activity needs, but if you don't ensure they're getting their exercise, they can gain weight and endanger their health.
Conclusion
Your Majorca Mastiff is probably your favorite member of the family (we don't blame you), so it's important to make sure you're "pawviding" them with all the exercise and activities they need! Play with them, run with them, and try to further their super smart doggo brains and pupstincts by providing them with specialty training! Remember, keeping your pooch active is vital for both their health and wellbeing, so try to implement some (or all) of these activities in your doggo's daily life.