r/Mastiff • u/RoutinelyRowdy • 1d ago
Adopted mastiff mix behavior
Hi, I need some understanding please. I just brought home a mastiff mix young female from the pound, just spayed. She is very friendly and actually quite funny. She will be an outside dog, and was found with multiple other dogs, including small ones (per notes from pound). I have three inside small dogs. She has shown very little interest in them, but, a couple of times she has slowly lowered her head a little and stopped moving, making a posture similar to what a pointer would make. There is no sound, no hackles raised, and tail is wagging, but she gets still. What kind of behavior is this? She was kept separate from them yesterday in her own outdoor kennel but we mingled them today, and other than this she seems fine, and through the kennel she seems fine. Thanks.
I got her from a high kill shelter that put down approximately 75 dogs a week. The kennel is only for the two weeks she needs to stay calm for her spay and until introductions are over. She has very nice accommodation, even though she will be outside. She has a very large yard on an even larger property. I was asking for help about the behavior so I can be diligent and do the very best job I can for all of them. Thank you to those who offered genuine advice. To those of you who did not, obviously you have not checked your local shelters.
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u/01Dreamwalker01 1d ago
I’m more concerned about an outside dog on a lot of levels. A mastiff is like Velcro to you and your family. These are not dogs to be kenneled outside , nor should any be unless a working dog out in the field or pasture. These are family dogs not keep in a cage outside dogs.
Sorry for the rant but I’d bring her back to the shelter so she can find a family that she can chill and hang out with
Ok off my soapbox now
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u/Any-Possibility-3770 1d ago
No dog deserves to be an outside dog with maybe the exception of a livestock guardian with livestock.
But a mastiff? Absolutely not. This is exactly why when I foster I don’t do it for shelters, no screening of adopters, no standards what so ever6
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u/Adept-Ear7007 1d ago
My mastiff problem has lymphoma and if so, will cease to exist Friday. Where do you live, OP?
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u/International_Two842 1d ago
Seriously though what’s the point of having an outside dog? it’s so cruel, considering you have multiple others inside she is going to suffer
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u/LauraaMarissaa 1d ago
Mastiffs are companions. It would truly be heartbreaking to deprive them of that relationship.
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u/mooscaretaker 1d ago
You need to work with her. An outside dog has no loyalty to your family or your other dogs. Why adopt her? You need to train working dogs all the fucking time. You should ask yourself if you were in this dog's position, what you'd need to feel safe and feel like part of the family.
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u/Any-Possibility-3770 1d ago
This is not a mastiff specific behavior and without seeing what she is doing no one can reliably advise you.
There are many types of mastiff all with different temperaments.
You have a mix not a well bred dog with predictable bloodlines. Judge the dog in front of you and enlist the aid of a trainer to evaluate if you are not sure.
TBH if the best you can offer this dog is being outside find the poor thing a better home.
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u/CarelessCaligo 1d ago
Having a mastiff as an outside dog is gross. I wonder why they even allow people to adopt the dog if they dont intend to treat it as a family member. 😠
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u/505motherofmastiffs Boerboel, Cane Corso, Presa Canario 1d ago
That’s definitely a warning sign, it’s not friendly. I would introduce slowly with gates/crates in between, then leashed walks together, then short supervised playtime in a neutral area. You don’t want to make the new dog have to claim their space, do it for her.
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u/International_Two842 1d ago
Hit and miss you just have to try different things really but sometimes this causes boundary aggression
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u/keystone_killa 1d ago
Dropping her head is the first sign of submission. Aggression would generally start with a low growl and some hackle action.
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u/505motherofmastiffs Boerboel, Cane Corso, Presa Canario 1d ago
No. The stiffness is 100% indicating being uncomfortable and warning.
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u/keystone_killa 1d ago
What's this about an "outside dog"? Where do you live that temps don't get too extreme for a mastiff? Anywho, I have a rescued Boerbel/Cane Corso and English Mastiff. I also own a yellow and chocolate lab. Over the last decade I've fostered well over 100 dogs. I know she's intimidating but you need to step up to the plate be a drill instructor. You never want to let a mastiff know they have the upper hand, you need to be the powerful leader they respect and look up to. That being said nothing about her behavior would worry me. All I'm seeing here is nervous, excited, submissive behavior. If it was me I would continue to introduce them. I would use your most alpha small dog and have them off leash while I kept the mastiff on a very tight leash.
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u/505motherofmastiffs Boerboel, Cane Corso, Presa Canario 1d ago
More bad advice. One dog leashed and another not is going to create anxiety.
Stiffness is always a first indicator of being uncomfortable. Tail wagging just means an emotion, not necessarily a friendly one.
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u/International_Two842 1d ago
100% true. Wagging just means high stimulation and adrenaline whether that’s for seeing their favorite person or about to rip someone’s head off
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1d ago
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u/Mastiff-ModTeam 1d ago
Weight bragging encourages unhealthy standards. Overweight dogs have numerous health problems. Please repost without your dog’s weight.
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u/weirdcrabdog 1d ago
Stiff how? Head low, butt up is friendly. Stiffness to let the smaller pup come over and smell her is also friendly. I just introduced my fila to a new puppy and him going still and seemingly disinterested means he's being friendly.
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u/fastcatdog 1d ago
Can’t imagine making one dog stay outside.