April 12, 2011
How do I get my Mastiff who can be dog aggressive, to learn to live with a roommate’s old shepherd?
Full Question:
Really respect your views on dogs so I am trusting you with an important question. A friend has a 1-year-old female Neapolitan Mastiff that is somewhat dominant in character and can be quite intimidating to strange people and other dogs. She's moving for the first time since she got the dog, to a house where the present tenants in the basement have a 12-year-old female Shepherd mix. The Shepherd is apparently quite sweet natured and has been bitten a few times by aggressive dogs so probably is wary. Owners of both dogs are worried about whether they will get along. Question is: how exactly should they be properly introduced to avoid any initial problems and get them started on the right foot. Eventually, they would like to leave them together in the yard while owners at work. 
Ed's Answer:
This is a difficult task.
1. The dogs should not be allowed to be together for some time. During this period of time they will find each other’s smell in and around the house.
2. I would introduce the dogs on leash and put the Mastiff in a muzzle after a couple of weeks. This should take place in a park and not at the home. A level 10 prong collar correction should deal with any aggression. The dog must think that it is going to die for becoming aggressive against the older dog.
3. I would not allow them to be together unsupervised for a long time and only with the Mastiff having a muzzle on. Get one of the cheap Jafco plastic basket muzzles we sell.
4. If the dogs are to be allowed to be together then the tenant in the basement must be able to give commands and correct the Mastiff. This should be done in the form of obedience training. Even though the dog may know obedience, it must learn that it must mind the person in the basement and this can only be accomplished by taking it through the paces of training Basic Dog Obedience.
5. The dogs should not be left alone without a muzzle.
6. There should never be a situation where the Mastiff and the older dog are out together when the owner is playing with toys. This is going to encourage rank problems that can lead to fights.
7. The two owners should take a lot walks together with their dogs on leash. Let these dogs understand that they are part of a pack. What they must learn is that the humans are the pack leaders who do not accept or allow “pecking” (fights) by the dogs to raise the pack order.
1. The dogs should not be allowed to be together for some time. During this period of time they will find each other’s smell in and around the house.
2. I would introduce the dogs on leash and put the Mastiff in a muzzle after a couple of weeks. This should take place in a park and not at the home. A level 10 prong collar correction should deal with any aggression. The dog must think that it is going to die for becoming aggressive against the older dog.
3. I would not allow them to be together unsupervised for a long time and only with the Mastiff having a muzzle on. Get one of the cheap Jafco plastic basket muzzles we sell.
4. If the dogs are to be allowed to be together then the tenant in the basement must be able to give commands and correct the Mastiff. This should be done in the form of obedience training. Even though the dog may know obedience, it must learn that it must mind the person in the basement and this can only be accomplished by taking it through the paces of training Basic Dog Obedience.
5. The dogs should not be left alone without a muzzle.
6. There should never be a situation where the Mastiff and the older dog are out together when the owner is playing with toys. This is going to encourage rank problems that can lead to fights.
7. The two owners should take a lot walks together with their dogs on leash. Let these dogs understand that they are part of a pack. What they must learn is that the humans are the pack leaders who do not accept or allow “pecking” (fights) by the dogs to raise the pack order.
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