Mastiffs in a Multi-dog Household

[Ivy]

Out of curiosity, are mastiffs generally good to live with small dogs?

 

[spiderbitten]

I think it depends on the individual dog, personally. I know I wouldn't trust either of my CCs with a small dog, but I've seen many mastiffs do fine.

I would imagine that it has a lot to do with the mastiff's prey drive. Both of my CCs don't look at small dogs as 'dogs', I don't think, but small animals that will give good chase and are probably pretty tasty. However, I have managed to successfully integrate two dogs with high prey drive with two cats they leave alone - it is possible to get the dog to understand that certain small prey animals are part of the household and not to be eaten, I believe. Doesn't mean they don't still get way too excited if they see someone else's cat, but they do leave mine alone.

 

[Barb]

I do think it has to do with how they are brought up also. My 2 mastiffs get along very well with my other dogs as well as 2 cats. We had to teach early on to get along with the cats.

 

[Renee]

Mine always have, but Filas are known to be the most dog tolerant of the mastiffs, so they aren't a good barometer.

 

[Jasmine]

Mine does pretty well with my other 2 small dogs but my chi sometimes barks and tried to show shes an alpha and my dog ignores but im just afraid she'll go after her one time. My other dog eggs her on alot and tries to play with her but she starts nipping at my mastiff and then they can get a little too rough for the size difference. I dont ever leave the 3 dogs unattented though, Jasmine is crated or in the backyard when i have to leave and the 2 small dogs have free roam around the house. Oh and my mom decided to bring homa persian kitten yesterday and my dog has yet to meet it, hope it goes well.

 

[Bentley]

My Bullmastiff is fine with small dogs but small males, in particular terrier types, tend to view him as a challenge so I tend to avoid them when possible.

In relation to the small dogs phenomenon has anyone else expereinced the wonderful small dog is agressive situation, when the small dog owner seems to behave as if its the mastiff's fault for being large when their little dog is agressive towards it?

 

[Dominika]

hard to say for me.. we have a golden retriever which isnt all that small but our mastiff just looves her They are really becoming best friends

 

[Moniqua]

My mastiff is is great with smaller dogs, we just have to watch that she doesn't pounce on them because she is a 110lb puppy who still likes to play and could easily break a smaller dogs back!

We don't have a small dog in the house but we babysit my mother-in-law's 2 Spaniels quite often and Pandora does fine with them under supervision!

 

[Renee]

In relation to the small dogs phenomenon has anyone else expereinced the wonderful small dog is agressive situation, when the small dog owner seems to behave as if its the mastiff's fault for being large when their little dog is agressive towards it?

GODS, YES! Especially when mine is just calmly avoiding the snapping instead of swallowing the aggressor in one mouthful. It gets even better when she gets tired of it and tries to back away and the owner assumes she's scared. Umm, no. She's being a good girl. This is a dog who has faced down 2500 pound bulls -- from the time she was 5 months old.

It's really annoying when I'm walking Tallulah (APBT), and she's behaving perfectly but an aggressive little hairball is straining to get at her while the owner just thinks its funny and keeps saying, "your Pitbull is afraid of him!" Umm, no. She's being a good girl.

 

[Cody]

When I first got Dolce we also had our Boxer Joe and at that time rented out our basement suite to a couple that had a Valley Bulldog and a Boston Terror. At first the Boston was a bit of an a**, but after a week or two of supervised yard play, and correcting the BT's attitude, they all played awesome. Dolce seemed to be gentle when wrestling with the BT, and saved her rougher play for Joe and the Valley Bull. It just requires work and stopping the behavior before it starts.
Ever after she was always cool with little dogs...

 

[monkeys23]

My friend's Rhodie's do NOT like small dogs. Lynley (who is half lab) will ignore most of them if you tell him to. Chicago on the other hand... Yeah I've had to boot a loose Jack Russell to save its butt while we were walking. He HATES small dogs. RR's tend to be pretty DA though.

 

[RERM]

My girl is fine with smaller dogs, the neighbor has a Pomaranian who's become my girls best friend. She usually plays gentle with smaller dogs, she does tire out before they do, so she just comes home!!!

I have only had one incident in her two years, and it happened two weeks ago: I was walking Sunshine down the street and a guy with a Shar Pei comes up to us, wanting to meet and greet ...well, Sunshine comes up slowly to sniff and smell the smaller dog. The Shar Pei snaps at her and Sunshine backed away, she again tried to slowly approach the smaller dog, as if saying, It's cool, only want to make friends...but again the Shar Pei tries to take a bite and Sunshine just backed away...The third time the Shar Pei tries to take a bite at her, Sunshine got PI>>ED!!!,

Now, keep in mind, in two years of owning her, since she was 8 weeks old, we've never, EVER, seen Sunshine get angry or agitated, she's been harrased by little kids, little dogs, big dogs, annoying relatives, you name it, but this Shar Pei just ticked her off!!!, because she immediately snapped back at the Shar Pei, the smaller dog ran and took his owner (via the leash) to the ground and dragged him a little...I think he was embarassed about it, (his dog was being overly aggressive) ...and I was taken aback, see, if Sunshine ever wanted to break that Shar Pei in half, one bite would do it...the little runt knew it too....

Overall, I think she has a FANTASTIC disposition, but just like people, sometimes she just has enough!!! so I always, always supervise!!!

 

[Houdini'sMom]

My mastiff is is great with smaller dogs, we just have to watch that she doesn't pounce on them because she is a 110lb puppy who still likes to play and could easily break a smaller dogs back!

Houdini loves Shorty (miniature dachshound/fox terrier mix) and Stiffler (siamese mix cat). Shorty is THE alpha male in our
family. Stiffler could care less about either one of them and goes about his business. It's funny to see a 10lb dog make an over 110lb dog cower in the corner...LOL

 

[Casa del Sol]

I have 2 Cane Corsos and a Chihuahua in my home. They do great together. The Chihuahua even uses my boy Santana as a dog bed. LOL... Both of my CCs were adults when our Chihuahua was introduced into our home as a pup. My male Santana took to him right away, no issues. My female Luciana has a very high prey drive, she initially looked to him as a little tasty treat, but with a few corrections, and a proper introduction, we had no issues, and they were able to be successfully integrated.

 

[Sabrina]

I love that 2nd picture!!!!

 

[Casa del Sol]

Hahaha, yeah here is one of him actually sleeping on top of Santana

 

[strangev]

Great picture!

 

[BlackShadowCaneCorso]

Eddie I love the pic of the little guy using Santana for a heated bed! It is a great shot!

 

[acoz47]

No my girls play a little rough to bring a small dog in the house.

---------- Post added at 07:19 PM ---------- Previous post was at 07:12 PM ----------

Yes unfortunately its the owners fault not controlling their pup. In the heat of the moment I have wanted to release ny girls but that wouldn't be a good thing.

My Bullmastiff is fine with small dogs but small males, in particular terrier types, tend to view him as a challenge so I tend to avoid them when possible.

In relation to the small dogs phenomenon has anyone else expereinced the wonderful small dog is agressive situation, when the small dog owner seems to behave as if its the mastiff's fault for being large when their little dog is agressive towards it?

 

[acoz47]

Yes unfortunately its the owners fault not controlling their pup. In the heat of the moment I have wanted to release ny girls but that wouldn't be a good thing.

My Bullmastiff is fine with small dogs but small males, in particular terrier types, tend to view him as a challenge so I tend to avoid them when possible.

In relation to the small dogs phenomenon has anyone else expereinced the wonderful small dog is agressive situation, when the small dog owner seems to behave as if its the mastiff's fault for being large when their little dog is agressive towards it?