Mike, I truly think that pup is K9-aggressive -- You mentioned that she's already had a FEW fights with the dogs where she lives <:-(

Why take on a ton of trouble when you can save yourself AND your own good dog a heap of headaches just by spending a little bit more time to find a bitch puppy with SOLID nerves & a GOOD disposition? -- It will be well worth the small amount of extra effort in the long run!

Meanwhile, it'll give you the opportunity to read lots of Ed Frawley's articles on this website like "How to Introduce a New Puppy to a Home with Other Dogs" & also get his must have DVD "Your Puppy 8 Weeks to 8 Months" -- (No, I do NOT work for Leerburg, ha-ha...)

Some more to ponder. Does a dog know when it can intimidate another dog? Reason I am asking. The pup and handler came over to the house again over the weekend. This time the pup was fine, barked once or twice and that was it. We went up to a neutral area on the ranch (both on leash), no problems. The new pup wanted to follow my dog all over, she just seemed kind of unsure of my male. It was almost as if he was just trying to intimidate her.

Then we got near the pigs, totally unexpected, my dog suddenly thinks they are HIS pigs and turns the other dog on its back. No bite, just some slober where he grabbed her, the pup let out a yelp and it was done (I should say we got them apart). As if to say 'these are mine, not yours'. Tried to do the same thing when we got back to the house, luckily we were prepared this time. They were getting along fine, minding there own business until we got around places that me and my dog go often around the ranch

With all of the discussion, I paid more attention this time as to what triggers any possible agression from the pup.

So, what I noticed is that things happen around territories that my dog frequents. My dog is acting territorial (this is a first, but we havent had any other dogs around for a while, a year or so and back then, he never showed anything towards the other dogs.). What I realized is that at one of the spots he frequents, when the dogs are close, the pup would almost 'sense' what he was thinking, let out a small growl and then it was as if my dog wanted to let her know that it was his area.

Not sure if I am portraying this the correct way. I've been around the female by herself and she is great, my dog is great and has always been great around other dogs we have come across, never aggressive whatsoever.

So I am thinking now, it may be my male is the problem and not the pup. Is being territorial like this what you would consider a dominant dog?

I would really like to figure this out. This is all a huge learning experience. I've been reading like crazy, my eyes hurt.

Goes to show anything can happen.

What are your thoughts?

Yes, your adult male is trying to dominate the female pup, but she is resisting him with barks & growls...

Mike, gladiator breeds like this require expert management by experienced handlers -- An alpha or a sharp/shy bitch will NOT passively submit to a dominant male (these dogs can & do KILL each other during disputes) and they will also tear up novice owners who try to separate them in an actual fight to the death <:-(

I don't know how else to say that I, personally, would NOT expect these two specific animals to live together as companion pets, even though I've been training dogs for 50 years, and I would NEVER advise any relative newbie to do so -- 'nuff said, Mike?

Gladiator breed? aren't bandogs like mastiffs?

They are VERY similar to the two Perro de Presa Canarios who killed some idiots' innocent neighbor on the doorsill of her own apartment in San Francisco just a few years ago.

Here's a link:

http://home.earthlink.net/~steeltrapbandogs

Meant to type "mixed BAG" not b-a-d (Freudian slip?)

Mike, I'm not entirely convinced she's displaying aggression. If she was hitting the fence trying to get him, I'd call that aggression, but vocalizing IMO is not enough to determine that at only 6 months. She probably wants to play and know where she stands with him. Her side stepping him, in my interpretation, is showing him respect.

These kinds of dogs are rough. If you're not used to seeing them intereact, you could get freaked out thinking things are serious. Not that you should take them lightly, but they don't conduct themselves with each other like regular dogs.

I wouldn't walk these two dogs together yourself. It's not safe and it's not wise. You could find yourself in a situation where they both want to go for something, and with their combined power and strength you won't be able to hold them back, or your older dog can take to correcting the younger and a dog fight could ensue.

I don't agree that the behavior points to fear biting, but I don't disagree either. There's not enough info. to determine that.

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Is being territorial like this what you would consider a dominant dog?

I would consider him acting like a reasonable bandog. His reinforcing that he's the alpha. As long as your female accepts him there shouldn't be a problem. If she doesn't that's a problem.

If you don't have a no bs strong personality, do not add another dog to your home of this type.

Wow Candi, 50 years experience. I'm impressed <img src="http://www.leerburg.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />

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Gladiator breed? aren't bandogs like mastiffs?

NO, they are NOT. mastiffs may have been gladiators 2,000 years ago, but the breed that is today called the Mastiff is gentle and soft-hearted, and would be a poor choice for "personal protection" (what i call using a dog as a weapon).

do these people ("steel trap kennels") have any clue of what they are doing? crossing bulldogs with neos? their website truly makes me sick.

"Steel-trap dogs will always be used for the purpose for which they were bred, first and foremost. "

but then they don't say what that purpose is.

stay away. they are breeding aggressive mutts. not for first-time dog owners, indeed! <img src="http://www.leerburg.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/mad.gif" alt="" />

Alice, your opinion is typical of the AKC mentality and I have to beg to differ. My dog Savannah's grand dam is from Steel Trap. The purpose is hog catching and protection. If I had to depend on a pure bred mastiff to have protected me in some situations I've been in, I'd have had my butt kicked or be dead.

I'd have to agree with you here, the dogs are definitely not for people with an AKC mentality. Mastiffs should be a guardian breed. Not a soft teddy bear that heads for the hills at the first sign of danger. I find that to be a disgrace. (No offense to you <img src="http://www.leerburg.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> )

i've owned four mastiffs over the past 40 years, barbara. every one of them has protected me in a dangerous situation. none of them has used aggression to do it. none of them has run away from a threat. i don't know where you and others would get the idea that just because a dog is sweet-tempered that it isn't a deterrent to crime, or would not take action when its owner is threatened. these dogs do not have to be trained to do this. it is what they were bred for. and they do it non-violently.

people who cross mastiffs with aggressive breeds so that they will get that protective instinct plus the willingness to bite are creating uncontrollable monsters. that is what those dogs in san francisco were.

jmnsho. and no offense to you, who i see eye to eye with on many things.

mastiffs are watch dogs, and they are protective. they are not aggressive guardians. the two types are very very different. but that does not make mastiffs ineffective deterrents or cowards.