Can You Trust Your Mastiff With Other Animals?

As a general rule, if a Mastiff is well socialized as a puppy, then it will get along well with other dogs as an adult. It should be as calm and patient with other dogs as it is with children. In fact, most Mastiffs love playing with small dogs. The Mastiff is peaceful and tolerant, and usually will just turn its back even if attacked. It will rarely fight unless it has to in order to protect itself or a member of the family.

If your Mastiff was unlucky and not well socialized as a puppy, then it may be aggressive toward other dogs. In this case, it is best not to place such a dog in the same family as another dog of the same sex. When your puppy matures, the two dogs will fight for dominance - it is just in their nature to behave this way.

If you are find that your Mastiff is overly aggressive, you have several options:

- Consult a professional trainer to see whether your dog can be retrained - Have your veterinarian check for physical problems that can affect behavior, especially hormone problems such as hypothyroidism - Consider having your dog spayed or neutered, which will reduce its tendencies to fight or dominate another dog - Change to a food that is lower in protein — no more than 18% protein

One thing you should never do is get between fighting dogs. If your Mastiff does get into a fight, the best option is for the respective owners to grab each dog by the rear legs and drag them away from each other. Do not try this with any large dog you do not know. When you have separated them, do not let them see each other or the fight may start again.

The Mastiff dog breed will normally will live peaceably with other animals, even though his ancestors may have been hunters. That's not to say that your Mastiff won't chase a rabbit, squirrel, or cat if given the chance. However, it will quickly learn the difference and distinguish between a squirrel in the back yard and a fellow pet in its own household.

A Mastiff's reaction to other animals depends largely on how well socialized the Mastiff was as a puppy. Also, Mastiffs vary individually in their reactions to other animals — some may love to chase cats; others tolerate or ignore them. A Mastiff who grows up around other animals, whether a cat in an apartment or a chicken on a farm, will likely get along well with all other animals.

The advice for anyone thinking of getting a Mastiff puppy is to expose the youngster to other dogs and a variety of other animals as early and as often as possible. If you are buying a mature dog from a mastiff kennels, or perhaps a mastiff rescue, go to great lengths to check that he has been well socialized as a puppy - insist on seeing how he behaves in the presence of dogs and animals, not just those in his own household. Good Mastiff breeders will understand your concern.

Remember, if your Mastiff is going to spend much time out in public, then you must be reassured before purchase that he will not be a danger to any stranger or other animal.

Discover more about socializing for the Mastiff by clicking on this link for breed dog mastiff You can visit the website and sign up for the free email course on looking after your mastiff - the direct link is Mastiff Dog Course.