Introducing our Mastiff to new dogs

[RedneckArmyWife]

Hello
We have a big beautiful mastiff, Princeton, who we recently adopted from a family with allergies.
He is extremely smart and has settled in with the family very well.
I want to go to my sisters for a weekend and need to take our baby with us. She has 2 boxers, both mature adult, well trained.
I am hoping to get some tips on how best to introduce them as they will be spending more time together in the years to come.
If anyone can offer advice on how best to introduce them, it would be greatly appreciated.
I am certain that my boy does not like small dogs, but he was living with a cat prior and for a period of time as a young pup, with another mastiff who sadly passed.

 

[DennasMom]

Welcome!!

How old is Princeton?
How long has be been with you?
Do you know anything of his history?

I'd spend a lot of time bonding with him now, and taking him around to new & different places, so you can learn his reactions to different stimuli (new people, new places, new dogs, etc.). Let him know you will take care of anything he deems "scary"... don't coddle him (baby talk when he's reacting badly will reinforce his bad reaction).

Take him to some places where you know dogs will be and get close in small increments, to see if he's curious about the other dogs or if he becomes protective. I wouldn't go to any off-leash areas yet, unless you can stay at a safe distance.

I'd be right there with Princeton on the small dog issue - they can be bossy and annoying! They are also often high-energy, which can be stressful for our laid-back guys. Boxers also may be in the high-energy category... so you'll want to make sure your sister can keep them calm during their initial meeting.

You might want to have Princeton meet just one of the two boxers at a time, also - so they don't gang up on him and make him anxious about the meeting (even if they both approach with friendly intentions, together they might be a bit intimidating).

A neutral location with lots of space to roam would be the best spot for an introduction. Maybe a park where you could approach at an angle, stop at a distance, do a "meet and greet" (Canine Good Citizen test style), and if the dogs are still calm, give them the "ok" to greet each other for some butt-sniffs.

Keep it short for the first visit it you can. End it on a happy note, so they relate good things to being together. (treats can also help make the happy-association)

I'm sure others will chime in here with some better advice - those are just my thoughts!

Thanks for taking the new guy home.
Can't wait to see some pictures! (hint, hint)

 

[CeeCee]

What Tina said! When you are doing the initial meeting have one dog follow the other for a while so they can sniff their trail, then everybody switch so that the dog that was following is now being followed (all at a distance where everyone is relaxed). As everyone stays calm, move to parallel walking (side by side) with everyone remaining calm and moving forward.

Once you see how that goes, when then do meet, I might change them over to long leashes (15 feet) so everyone has the ability to move natutally and perform appropriate meeting rituals.

I would not have the first meet be at their house where they are going to have to be in one another's company for an extended period, but rather allow them to build up gradually to spending time together.

 

[musicdeb]

Welcome aboard~ You've received great advice from Tina and CeeCee.

 

[RedneckArmyWife]

Princeton is almost 2 years old. He comes from a very loving home with kids (8-10-12 years) he is very well trained except for leash/walks (they didn't spend a lot of time taking him for walks) we are working on that.
And door greetings, he's learning manners when someone comes to the door. Slow but sure lol
He had a 'meeting' with the basset across the lane during a walk and I'm great full there was a chain link fence between them, he was not overly 'happy' to see the other dog.
We've had Princeton for a couple of weeks now and he has met some new people which he's done well with, the only two he didn't care for were the same two I don't like (I was not home for the one of them so I'm sure he wasn't reactung to me). He's extremely intuitive. No surprise.
We have 7 kiddos, only 3 that are young enough to live at home still. 5-9-14 years. He has settled in like he has always been here. Needless to say we are in love!
I'd gladly post pics as soon as I figure out how lol
I have many!
He's estimated at 120lbs right now but hasn't yet started to fill out. I'm told he may still get taller being not yet 2.

Welcome!!

How old is Princeton?
How long has be been with you?
Do you know anything of his history?

I'd spend a lot of time bonding with him now, and taking him around to new & different places, so you can learn his reactions to different stimuli (new people, new places, new dogs, etc.). Let him know you will take care of anything he deems "scary"... don't coddle him (baby talk when he's reacting badly will reinforce his bad reaction).

Take him to some places where you know dogs will be and get close in small increments, to see if he's curious about the other dogs or if he becomes protective. I wouldn't go to any off-leash areas yet, unless you can stay at a safe distance.

I'd be right there with Princeton on the small dog issue - they can be bossy and annoying! They are also often high-energy, which can be stressful for our laid-back guys. Boxers also may be in the high-energy category... so you'll want to make sure your sister can keep them calm during their initial meeting.

You might want to have Princeton meet just one of the two boxers at a time, also - so they don't gang up on him and make him anxious about the meeting (even if they both approach with friendly intentions, together they might be a bit intimidating).

A neutral location with lots of space to roam would be the best spot for an introduction. Maybe a park where you could approach at an angle, stop at a distance, do a "meet and greet" (Canine Good Citizen test style), and if the dogs are still calm, give them the "ok" to greet each other for some butt-sniffs.

Keep it short for the first visit it you can. End it on a happy note, so they relate good things to being together. (treats can also help make the happy-$#@!ociation)

I'm sure others will chime in here with some better advice - those are just my thoughts!

Thanks for taking the new guy home.
Can't wait to see some pictures! (hint, hint)

 

[RedneckArmyWife]

What Tina said! When you are doing the initial meeting have one dog follow the other for a while so they can sniff their trail, then everybody switch so that the dog that was following is now being followed (all at a distance where everyone is relaxed). As everyone stays calm, move to parallel walking (side by side) with everyone remaining calm and moving forward.

Once you see how that goes, when then do meet, I might change them over to long leashes (15 feet) so everyone has the ability to move natutally and perform appropriate meeting rituals.

I would not have the first meet be at their house where they are going to have to be in one another's company for an extended period, but rather allow them to build up gradually to spending time together.

I appreciate very much the advice from both
I will hopefully be able to put off their introduction to better follow these guidelines. Difficult however as my sister lives 2 hours away. We are planning a weekend visit which we do often.

 

[season]

Leerburg Dog Training | Introducing a New Dog into a Home with Other Dogs