Behavior Suggestions/Guidance

[David Bird]

I have a 19 month old de-sexed male Bull/Neo Mastiff cross who is very placid around the family and some friends but 'aggressive' around other, he doesn't bite, but having the height of the Bull and the weight of the Neo at just over 80kg when he has his hair up and barking he is very intimidating.

We took him to puppy preschool were he was the biggest puppy there but also the most timid which I understand is quiet common. He's also been to obedience training which for a large dog is basically mandatory. He socialized with the other dogs and their owners without any issues during the training, but my wife who is a teacher took the last term off for an operation and recovery so the dog has had a lot of one on one time with her over the past 3 or so months. I suspect this is were the what I suspect is over protective behavior has stemmed from.

My wife and I are becoming very concerned by his behavior.

 

[Hunnibunni]

I think it would be helpful to know specifically who he is showing aggression towards.

 

[David Bird]

My wife's Aunt and her brother.

 

[Smart_Family]

Have you had him since he was a puppy? If not, was he a rescue?

 

[Cody]

When/where does the reaction take place?
Once people are invited in how does he react? Does he calm down?
You have to remember that the Neo is a guardian breed. They are not and shouldn't be "teddy bears" to strangers.
Does he stop when you tell him to?
I would refrain from using the word "aggressive" as that is not correct for the situation, it sounds like he is simply doing what is in his DNA to do.
What do you do when he is guarding?

 

[fila4me]

I agree with cody, he is guarding and is very normal for the Neo. it should never be forgotten that this breed has an extraordinary combative nature combined with exceptional courage.Sometimes there are people your dog is just not going to like.

 

[David Bird]

Have you had him since he was a puppy? If not, was he a rescue?

We've had had him since he was 6 weeks old

---------- Post added at 07:40 AM ---------- Previous post was at 06:59 AM ----------

When/where does the reaction take place?

Both outside (not a issue, is it?) and inside the gate once a person is invited in.

Once people are invited in how does he react? Does he calm down?

He calms down with some people, but not others which is basically the problem.

You have to remember that the Neo is a guardian breed. They are not and shouldn't be "teddy bears" to strangers.

Agreed, my wife is a teacher and we've had property vandalized by current and ex students which is the reason we looked as the breed of dog.

Does he stop when you tell him to?

Most of the time, but with a dog of his size most of the time isn't good enough, is there a training technique or procedure we can you to teach him that once a person is invited in he has to stay calm around them? I assume we are not being consistent and not handling the situation correctly.

I would refrain from using the word "aggressive" as that is not correct for the situation, it sounds like he is simply doing what is in his DNA to do.

Agreed, but when I was trying to write the initial post I couldn't think of another word to explain his behavior.

What do you do when he is guarding?

Well as you say he's ALWAYS GUARDING, for example my wife was watching a comedy show and the drink she was drinking went down the wrong way so when she started coughing he was straight to her side looking at her curiously trying to work out what the problem was. But if someone walks by the front fence he and our other dog a Border Collie (female) will run up and down the fence barking, we don't do anything we they do that. When someone comes to the gate we go out to investigate and this is where we most likely fall down, hence the post, this is the first time we've had this breed of dog, what should we do? Right now we call him and put him in a separate area like the Master Bedroom or Pool Area. We then calm him by getting him to sit then drop, once he's on the ground for a while we put on his lead and bring him inside to meet the visitor. One incident with my wife's Aunt followed this pattern, he was calm until she stepped towards him to touch him and 'make friends' at that point he exploded with barking and lunged towards her, it happened so quickly I didn't have time to pull him back. I don't think he even touched her and when I pulled him back and got him to sit beside me he became calm again.

 

[David Bird]

When/where does the reaction take place?

Both outside (not a issue, is it?) and inside the gate once a person is invited in.

Once people are invited in how does he react? Does he calm down?

He calms down with some people, but not others which is basically the problem.

You have to remember that the Neo is a guardian breed. They are not and shouldn't be "teddy bears" to strangers.

Agreed, my wife is a teacher and we've had property vandalized by current and ex students which is the reason we looked as the breed of dog.

Does he stop when you tell him to?

Most of the time, but with a dog of his size most of the time isn't good enough, is there a training technique or procedure we can you to teach him that once a person is invited in he has to stay calm around them? I assume we are not being consistent and not handling the situation correctly.

I would refrain from using the word "aggressive" as that is not correct for the situation, it sounds like he is simply doing what is in his DNA to do.

Agreed, but when I was trying to write the initial post I couldn't think of another word to explain his behavior.

What do you do when he is guarding?

Well as you say he's ALWAYS GUARDING, for example my wife was watching a comedy show and the drink she was drinking went down the wrong way so when she started coughing he was straight to her side looking at her curiously trying to work out what the problem was. But if someone walks by the front fence he and our other dog a Border Collie (female) will run up and down the fence barking, we don't do anything we they do that. When someone comes to the gate we go out to investigate and this is where we most likely fall down, hence the post, this is the first time we've had this breed of dog, what should we do? Right now we call him and put him in a separate area like the Master Bedroom or Pool Area. We then calm him by getting him to sit then drop, once he's on the ground for a while we put on his lead and bring him inside to meet the visitor. One incident with my wife's Aunt followed this pattern, he was calm until she stepped towards him to touch him and 'make friends' at that point he exploded with barking and lunged towards her, it happened so quickly I didn't have time to pull him back. I don't think he even touched her and when I pulled him back and got him to sit beside me he became calm again.

---------- Post added at 07:42 AM ---------- Previous post was at 07:40 AM ----------

I agree with cody, he is guarding and is very normal for the Neo. it should never be forgotten that this breed has an extraordinary combative nature combined with exceptional courage.Sometimes there are people your dog is just not going to like.

With one of the people I agree with him, but I never said that What should we do isolate him in say the pool area when these people visit?

 

[David Bird]

I agree with cody, he is guarding and is very normal for the Neo. it should never be forgotten that this breed has an extraordinary combative nature combined with exceptional courage.Sometimes there are people your dog is just not going to like.

With one of the people I agree with him, but I never said that What should we do isolate him in say the pool area when these people visit?

 

[Cody]

I personally would stop allowing him/them to run along the fence barking. That creates excitement with no outlet.
It is hard to say what I would do, not having seeing the dog or the behavior. I have an idea based on what you have said, but my advise is find a trainer/behaviorist who has worked with and has breed specific knowledge of working breeds and have them come out and do an in home session.
I know that is not much help, but rather then give advise on line that may or may not work, I think this would be your best bet.

 

[AKBull]

Any chance you can share a picture of him?

 

[David Bird]

Any chance you can share a picture of him?

Moe at 6 weeks and 17 months, I'll let you decide.

Also a YouTub clips during the flooding at the start of 2011.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i6Ejnuul9lE&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i6Ejnuul9lE&feature=related

 

[natsan6]

Your dog is absolutely beautiful...I dealt with a foster for a month that had very very similar actions to yours and he was a Neo Cross. I am no where near as knowledgeable as the other folks on this forum and I am new to the site but I can tell you that what he is doing is normal. As far as him meeting people when they come in the house I had to have EVERYONE that didn't live with us TOTALLY ignore him when they came in, no looking at him, no reaching for him at all until he came to them, PERIOD no exceptions. He was big time protective and a one owner dog he felt a very large attachment to me so how I reacted he would follow suit, unless he flat out didn't like someone. Sometimes glasses or hats freaked him out also....there are trainers and specialists that will help you teach him to curb or not cross a certain line in your yard i.e. the fence....talk to one so you can learn how to teach him the proper commands and it sounds like he would be a wonderful addition to your family....that being said if you don't something bad could happen. Until you get help tell your family that they must try to relax when he is faced with a new person and a new situation and he will feel more relaxed and his reactions will be less "aggravated" he takes all his cues from you. I would also suggest walking him (on a traffic short lead) in a place where you and him will be around people he isn't used to but make it clear to anyone that greets you "ignore my dog talk to me or he will bark at you" you cannot feel shy about this, and it helped immensely with my foster. He got to where he would completely ignore other people when we were out unless I tensed or didn't vocally give instructions to people and they approached. It can all be fixed he just needs to be taught and you and your family also. Sorry for the long response and if I gave you bad advice somewhere I hope the more experienced owners will correct me good luck