I'm looking for any advice on how to deal with displaced aggression. I have a 2 1/2 year-old shepherd mix, that I've had for a year, and a 2 year-old bullmastiff, that I've had for 2 months. They are both neutered males...and they're actually doing pretty well together. One big problem....when I walk them together, they're fine until we walk by another dog, especially if they're barking at mine. The BM will focus on the dog(s) barking and then turn to the SH and go at him. I thought I could control the situation but I can't. They actually went at it for about 5-10 minutes the other day, and I could not get them apart. The BM ended up with about 15 stitches in his legs, and cuts in various other places. A couple of people told me it was displaced aggression, and I need to make the BM submit before he gets stressed from the barking dogs. Please help!!!
alice oliver Webboard User Reg: 09-14-2005
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i can only tell you and others who might reply and are better qualified than i to help you with this, that bullmastiffs have a strong tendency to be very dog aggressive. it is a fearsome thing that i have witnessed too many times. you are up against a temperament commonly found in this breed.
good luck, and hope to learn here myself from the posts that follow.
These are two large dogs that I think need to be walked separately, since you obviously cannot physically overpower them, and if this is the only problem area with them...seems like an easy fix.
alice oliver Webboard User Reg: 09-14-2005
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jenni, i was going to suggest that myself, walk them separately. but then i thought, the owner might easily become the target of the bm's displaced aggression. a frightening prospect indeed.
Possible, although it think the dog would have to be more than "a bubble off" to do this...much more likely for a dog to "transfer" to another dog than a person, at least from what I've seen. If mine are really riled up about something, occasionally one will snap at the other one, but I've always been able to get involved and they have never displaced this aggression toward me...although I've had mine much longer and trust them more than I would a newly acquired dog. I'd be cautious if I were Lisa, and maybe walk the instigator alone, muzzled, until she's confident that the dog only will turn on another dog when sressed.
Hi, thanks for your responses. I am definitely walking them separately right now...I'm still paying the last vet bill. Any pointers on how to possibly get the BM out of this behavior?
alice oliver Webboard User Reg: 09-14-2005
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i *have* been the target of my dog's displaced dog aggression. luckily i was wearing a heavy winter coat, but he place a very solid bite on my forearm.
a high-drive male bullmastiff is nothing to fool around with. i'm especially concerned that she's only had him two months, he's already two years old....
has the dog had its temperament evaluated? i would think about doing that....
No, he hasn't been to a trainer...yet. I would love to have someone work with us on this problem. I am somewhat aware of who has owned him in the past, and I don't think he was abused, but I do think he hasn't had any quality training from an owner. The last owner kept him in his garage without alot of interaction. He just needs some work...he's a great dog.
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Bullmastiff with displaced aggression
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