New english mastiff. Questions??

[hemmigremmie]

Hello.
Just joined here and have a few questions.
Were getting ready to get a new 8 week old English mastiff pup. Weve searched and looked and decided on this due to its good breeding and family traits.
We live in the country and want a dog thats a good watchdog as swell as a loyal family member.
Ive already read up and understand house training, but what Im really interested in is the watchdog aspect.
Ive read that socializing is important, but how do you know when your oversocializing???
I dont want a big overmean with everyone dog, but at the same time I dont want to come home and everything be stolen but the couch the mastiff is lying on. LOL
Should I just put him in another room when people thats not here much comes in or will letting him around people make him just let everyone come in the house when were gone?? Tnx 4 any help. Rod

[melody]

If you want your dog to be a good watchdog, you will have to train him to be one. You have to be able to train him on identifying whether the person is a friend or an intruder. You would like to do this by doing activities outside where you will teach him when to bark, like for example your news boy or some strangers. Make sure that you point to him certainly which is which by rewarding if he made the correct barking or telling him no if he did not identify it correctly. And then after that, start training him at home too. It will just take time but the reward is really worth it after.