Getting a big dog in half an hour - need help!

[titself]

We are getting an 11 year old mastiff x staffie.

He's arriving in half an hour

I'm looking for a really good bed, maybe a memory foam one because he has had knee trouble (I think he had both his knees replaced).

He doesn't come when he's called (he's from the NY and hasn't often been allowed off the lead) - is 11 too old to be trained to come when he's called? Do I have to train him with treats?

Will his miss his owner very much?

Any advice very welcome

Little bit late here but you need to find out what the dog is motivated by. If he is good orientated then treats will work, if he is play orientated then you need to get a toy that he loves.

You can teach an old dog new tricks but you need to be consistent and persevere even if it seems you're going backwards. Don't get annoyed, if you feel you are then stop and try again later.

As for the bed, depends on the dog's personality. I have a memory foam bed for my dog and he has torn it by playing with it. However because of your dog's age he might be calmer (mine is just over a year).

Good luck!!

Food orientated, not good orientated!

For my staffy cross I use lots and lots of machine washable duvets & micro-fleece type blankets in a large dog crate covered with curtains to make a snug and cosy dog cave. Most bull breeds have very think coats so relish the chance to snuggle in through and under duvets for comfort.

A mastiff/staffy cross even at 11 will still be a very strong dog and even with knee surgery will want to play. I recommend using a bull breed harness such as those made by Ezy-dog or K9-Julius to walk him as well as a good padded collar. Use a strong lead that feels comfortable in your hand when you yank it hard. Whilst you get used to each other and you teach him the basics of walking with you it helps if your hands are not rubbed raw by a lead. Use treats - lots of treats - try and use delicious smelling ones that will lure him back to you so you become the most fantastic thing on the walk and worth listening too. To give my dog more freedom when walking I use a horse lunge rein in place of a standard dog long line. Its safer for my dog and for me. They come in varying lengths are machine washable and will hold the full pull of a horse. Be aware that bull breeds whilst trainable often take far longer than the brighter breeds of dogs so just take it slowly and make training sessions pretty short and lots of fun. If you get as far as him being able to recall to you on a long lead you and he will have done really well. In honesty not all of them 'get' recall to the point its bomb-proof enough to be off-lead.

Thanks for your posts tribal and carnival.

Dog has settled in very well - we went for a long walk along the beach. I let him off the lead briefly but he sort of wanders along under his own steam pretty oblivious to me calling him until I catch up with him.

tribal he came with a very thick choke-chain type lead and I have also bought a 10m extending lead. You are right - he is very playful. He won't chase after a ball but he has a rope toy that drives him crazy. He is incredibly good with other dogs, big and small, and also will walk along with DS holding the lead (in a safe place of course) without pulling. With me he pulls a bit and he is as strong as an ox.

I love the sound of your dog cave. I think we will probably get a piece of memory foam and cover it with a duvet. I'm glad you said that about the blanket too because last night a saw him lying there and he just looked a bit unsnuggled - will get a cover for him!

I was thinking of trying the treats but I am worried about making our only problem so far worse - he FARTS. We are using the same food (symply dry food with hot water) and his old owner said any thing extra makes him fart. I think she may have glossed over the farting problem a bit.

Is this something that can be improved? please god say yes

You could try charcoal biscuits, I'm going to try mine with charcoal - she stinks!
He sounds lovely, have you got a picture?

Bull breeds have silent yet deadly farts.

I had to switch from dry kibbles the rescue had used before I suffocated. Tried RAW but it upset her stomach horribly and now use Natures Diet. Hurrah a ready made dog food I could just open that does not give her itchy bumps and stinks. Most of the owners of bull breeds I know have found this to be a good choice for those dogs who have senstive stomachs prone to gassing out their owners homes.

Give the charcoal biscuits a try as they can help some dogs. If you really have a serious stinky dog its best to look long and hard at the diet your using.

I cannot give madam commercially made treats, colours dairy and wheat cause problems all round. I save tiny slivers of cooked meat cut into very small cubes for training. I simply split the cooked meat into small bags [about the size of those plastic money bags used by banks] and pop in the freezer till they are needed.
You can also cook your own treats, works out cheaper and you can avoid the foods that upset your dog.

Ooh, that's really interesting. Is it this?

I don't give him any treats at all. I have been giving him raw chicken if I'm preparing it for us around dinner time because I'm worried he's too thin.

Today has been a pretty good day, fart-wise so maybe yesterday was an exception. He has been out on two long walks and slept on a rug in the garden sunshine for the rest of the day. He looks a bit sad though . I expect he's missing his old owner.

Yes thats the one.
Raw chicken should be okay for most dogs but if it causes problemsbecause of age or sensitive tum a quick sear in a hot pan can make the protein easier to break down and digest.

He will be missing his old owner but staffys have an optimistic outlook and will quickly work out that nice things happen at your home, he will get walks and snooze time and he is cared for and loved.

We found with our lab any food with grain caused wind. He's now on a good quality grain free kibble and only farts occasionally when he finds something to eat (usually something dead outside), gets too many treats or if over fed (gets two breakfasts because ds and dh don't communicate!)

My girl is a Bull Mastiff x Bull Terrier and is a little larger than a staffy she's 2 so is still growing also has deadly farts and loves rope toys

Oh yes, the rope toy drives him WILD!

Thanks for all the great advice so far.

A have a few more questions if anyone can help.

Is it ok to change his food from one day to the next, or do I have to phase it in? I want to buy the best quality food for him, can afford it and want to feed him up.

How old is 11 for a dog of his breed and size (he's about 90-100 pounds)?

I usually pour a bit of hot water on his dry kibble - is this right?

Thanks - off to the beach

I would phase the food in over a couple of days, and see how he goes.
11 is quite old for a dog his size - but it sounds like he's quite sprightly?
If he's used to having his kibble with a bit of hot water that's fine, are his teeth in good nick? Dental chews or brushing his teeth might be a good idea as I think crunching dry kibble helps to remove plaque and if the food is damp it won't do that.
Have fun at the beach

Just to say we rehomed a dog a couple of months ago and she farted terrible for about 4/5 days whilst she began to settle so maybe stress is adding to the wind?