How to Crate Train a Mastiff

It is best to crate train a mastiff when it is a puppy as they will come to see the crate as their own private den as they grow into adulthood. Along with helping to housebreak the puppy, the crate is perfect if you need to get away for a short period̵1;especially once your mastiff is a 200-pound adult dog. Crate training mastiffs is fairly easy as long as you are consistent with your reprimands and praise.

Things You'll Need

  • Large dog crate
Show More

Instructions

    • 1

      Purchase a crate that will be large enough to allow an adult mastiff to stand up and turn around easily, even if you̵7;re training a mastiff puppy. As a guide, mastiffs can grow 24 to 34 inches high (foot to shoulder) and weigh 125 to 205 pounds. Place the crate where most people are (e.g. family room) to ease the dog̵7;s anxiety. Consider putting the crate in the bedroom at night.

    • 2

      Open the cage door and place a dog treat or bone inside. Allow the puppy to inspect the crate at its leisure. The next day, put the dog̵7;s food dish just inside the door. Do this for a few days, gradually moving the food dish further and further back, until it̵7;s at the back of the cage.

    • 3

      Give your mastiff a treat or food to get it inside the crate and close the door. Praise it for being in the crate and not fussing. Leave the room but stay nearby. Your mastiff will probably begin to cry or whine. At the first sign of this, reprimand your dog with a sharp "no." Do not take it out. You may have to do this four or five times until it settles down.

    • 4

      Leave your dog in the crate for 30 to 45 minutes after it has quieted down. If it begins to cry after that elapsed time it means your dog has to relieve itself. Dogs don̵7;t like soiling their living quarters. Take it out right away and bring it to the area where it should eliminate. Praise it for going to the bathroom. If it doesn̵7;t eliminate, bring it back inside and leave it in the crate another 30 minutes then take it back out and try again. Repeat until it eliminates.

    • 5

      Let your mastiff play outside for a few minutes after going to the bathroom, then bring it back inside where it can have another 20 to 45 minutes to play in the house, outside its crate. After play time, put your dog back in the crate for a nap/quiet time. If it cries, correct it so that it associates being in the crate with being calm and quiet. It may take a few tries.

    • 6

      Leave your dog in the crate for an hour and repeat the process of taking it out to relieve itself, praising, playing, then going back in the crate. You should do this every hour.

    • 7

      Gradually increase the time it stays in the crate before letting it out, which can take a few days. You̵7;ll then be able to leave it in there a maximum of three to four hours during the day. Older puppies and adult mastiffs should be able to hold their urine all night but very young puppies will need to be taken out during the night until they have better bladder control.