I feel hopeless

[VickyV]

We have a beautiful Brazilian Mastiff. We got Cashia from friends whose adult children had her but couldn't take her to an apartment in the city.
She grabbed a small neighbor's dog that got through the fence and into our yard - the little dog did not survive. The neighbor is devastated and we feel really bad about this. We really don't want to see Cashia put to death, and we fear just giving her to anyone - we want her to be safe, but it seems too cruel to keep her and re-traumatize our neighbor repeatedly. We have been told that no one will take her and that it's too late for anyone to train her to be less aggressive, is there any hope?

 

[Dar's mom]

I think there is always hope. Some dogs ,especially guardian type dogs, are very territorial in their yard. Small dogs are sometimes very dominant natured and think they are ten feet tall and bullet proof. From a legal stand point, you are responsible for your dogs actions. However, your neighbor is also responsible for their dog. Your neighbors (and you now that you know this happened) should take great precaution to prevent anydog from getting into your dog"s yard. It is your dogs nature to keep things out of your yard. It sounds to me like what happened was a terrible accident. I don't think it's ever really to late to train. Controlled socialization might help, but once again, when a stranger enters your yard that guardian nature will probably kick in. If you feel like you need to rehome her, then I would first try to locate her breeder. If that isn't possible then perhaps a mastiff rescue group could help you out. Sorry your in this prediciment. I hope everything works out for you and Cashia.

 

[pliznyk]

I would love a fila. Thats my dream doggie. I have a 3yr old english mastiff, Tank, he's great. I'll one day get him a girlfriend, maybe a fila.

 

[mastiffluva]

I had an English Mastiff. She was 7-1/2 months old when she attacked two of my other four dogs. They were Bichons. She got one (who weighed 17 pounds) on a Saturday, and the other (who weighed 12 pounds) three days later. Both of them she picked up by the back of the neck and swung them back and forth like a toy. She ripped their necks open and almost decapitated both of them. They needed emergency surgery but both survived. I talked to every dog trainer and pet therapist I could find. Every single one of them said the dog could not be trusted. Some suggested putting the dog down because of her size and strength. I couldn't do it. She was just a puppy. They felt that she was at this age "coming into her own" and the aggression would continue to develop.

I found a home for her with people who live on 33 acres in thr country and have no other pets. They still have her and this was 3 years ago. I go up and see her and she is very happy. She has the run of the property. Although their friends have brought over dogs for the mastiff to visit, she has gone after them. She must be kept as a solo dog.

Good luck but I wouldn't keep the dog.

 

[Cody]

Although a tragic incident, I personally would not give away my dog for it.
The fault doesn't lay at the hands of the dog, but at the people. That will happen with dogs. Have the 2 been fence fighting when in their own yards? Is there/ was there pent up angst between them?
We do not know the history of these dogs, but it is OUR responsibility to keep our dogs safe, and in this case it didn't happen. I am sorry for your neighbors loss, it is brutal losing a family member, but to rehome your dog for being a dog would be out of the question for me personally.
I would find a good trainer, who deals with large dominant breeds and start work.
But that is just my opinion.