Snotty Pugs, defensive Mastiffs, need urgent help from pug professionals

[briee]

Here's the scoop....we've always wanted a little pug. We raise old english Mastiff's and adore them, but they are not lap dogs. I've always wanted a lap dog. We are completely committed to our Mastiff's first and foremost and I don't know the first thing about choosing a pug so we just haven't stepped out to buy one.

So close friends of ours have close friends that are going to the mission field for one year and low and behold....they have two female pugs that need to be cared for while they are gone. PERFECT SITUATION. We can see what they are like, etc... When I get there...they are two of the cutest females I have ever seen. They are actually like miniature pugs (they are 15 lbs each), they have been chair trained, all kinds of tricks and she showed me their bloodlines and almost all parents are champions (okay so that doesn't mean everything, but they are beautiful). I adore them!! We bring them home and all is well until our Mastiff comes to the top of the stairs and sniffs them, which they must have took as aggression...to which this little 15 lb pug started snarling and growling and attacking our 200 lb mastiff. So Shekinah (our mastiff) thinks..."wow I better defend myself and rid the world of this little snot before he eats the whole family".

What do I do guys...I want these little pugs...but it looks like we might not be able to keep them here unless you can tell me a little bit about a pugs disposition and what may help the situation. Any ideas would be great!!

Briee (pining for a pug)

 

[intensitylisa]

What an interesting situation! I am the owner of two purebreed pugs, male and female (black and fawn). We have breed pugs once and absolutely adore them. It sounds to me as if the pugs are getting used to a new environment which includes you, your family, mastiff, and home which will take time. They may even feel abandoned by their owners. As you said, when your mastiff sniffed the pugs, they may have taken it as a sign of aggression. All I can say from my experience is that my pugs would never hurt anyone. All bark, no bite! The only time they would growl at each other would be if one was getting close to the others food or bones. My male dog is a definite lap dog where my female is not. She will sit close to me, but never on my lap. These dogs are two of my best friends! Are these pugs you are watching purebreed pugs? I hope it works out for you and if you want e-mail me at [email protected]. Good luck!

 

[hounddogs]

RE: Snotty Pugs, defensive Mastiffs, need urgent help f...

I don't think it matters what breed you are dealing with, introductions of new housemates is usually best done on neutral ground. Try to find a park or dog-park where all the parties involved can do their acquaintance making without feeling as though anyone's status is threatened. The pugs didn't know you had a mastiff, so they were protecting their status with you, as well as being defensive in a strange environment. The mastiff obviously felt she had to defend her status with you, her rightful person.

Dogs that have not been raised to fight will usually sort things out with a few snarls but no real damage. They have a pecking order as though they were in a wolfpack and it's actually designed to keep the peace.

You can try lots of things like having treats around when they are socializing, and being very enthusiastic when they are socializing well, handing out treats to all (mastiff first, she's top dog, of course), or anything that brings a positive association to interaction. You can email me if you like. I have five dogs and we are always negotiating something.

--Ann

 

[ColleenM]

RE: Snotty Pugs, defensive Mastiffs, need urgent help f...

When we brought our new Vizsla pup home our current Dobe was very unhappy. I can say that 5 or so months later, things are much better. They are not yet playmates but he has learned to tolerate her. It is hard to say with the pugs because I don't know the background of how they were raised. In my household what I say goes. If you (as in dog) do not listen, you get kenneled or separated until you can listen. At first we kept the puppy and adult dog separate through an xpen. After about 2 months I startged letting them in the same room. The deal is the puppy went on a leash and had to learn to RESPECT the adult dobe's space. She was/is not allowed to get into his space, altho he can come say hello if he'd like, sniff, etc. You have to know when you can trust a dog not to hurt the other one. The issue here too is the size of your mastiff (not that he would intentionally hurt them) but just one second could be damaging to a small pug.

You might want to introduce the pugs separately to the Mastiff so they are not feeding off each other. Learn to see the signs before an incident occurs. We call it the vulture look with the Dobe and it's not allowed. He gets once chance to straighten up, if not, off to his kennel he goes. Unemotionally, no screaming, yelling, etc. His command is "be nice" and if he can't be nice, then I calmly tell him kennel up and he trots off. In 5-10 minutes, he comes back out again and if he still can't behave then I put up a gate for him and separate him.

Since they are adults, Ann had a great suggestion about neutral ground. Also off leash if possible (I know this contradicts my earlier advice, but I'd try this first). Maybe put them in runs next to each other so they can feel each other out before putting them together.

And good luck. I have 4 of my own so it can be tough. The keys are consistently and looking for opportunities to praise when the dogs are behaving.

Colleen

 

[Pollytc]

RE: Snotty Pugs, defensive Mastiffs, need urgent help f...

Hello there. I have a bichon frise, and I also foster dogs. I have found that when I bring new dogs into the house, of course my SWEET, little bichon wants these visitors to know that HE is king. What I generally do is put my bichon outside before letting the new one in. I let the new dog get a feel and a semi-comfort, then after that, I will try and put both on a leash and my daughter and I take them for a walk together. On the walk they become friends, so bringing them into the house together is not as big of a deal. If that doesn't work, keep all dogs on a leash and let them get used to one another. If one gets aggressive, just pull back on the leash so that they know that this is not acceptable.

Hope this helps!!

Kim

 

[lesliemarie]

RE: Snotty Pugs, defensive Mastiffs, need urgent help f...

I have pomeranians, and when I bring in a new dog our one female that is the alpha female is meaner than snot to the new dogs. it takes her about a few weeks, but I keep them seperated and slowly introduce them together in the kennel. In all it is about a two week process or less dependening if the one I brought in has a calmer disposition than the alpha. Now all my dogs are best buds and can't stand to be seperated, and yes the girls have preferances in males when breeding. LOL

 

[briee]

RE: Snotty Pugs, defensive Mastiffs, need urgent help f...

I'm so sad I could cry...you might as well let this thread die. I just talked to the owner of the pugs and she is really scared (I am too) that these little guys could get injured here. They are show dogs with excellent pedigrees and the person she bought them from is going to take them back for the year and then return them to my friend.

They are so incredibly cute and at least now I know that we definitely want one in the future and a puppy would be just fine. But these little guys think they can take on a big dog and win. I appreciate all the wonderful advice. I'm sure we can still use it in the future. We still want to get a little dog, but I would feel better if we didn't feel responsible to someone else. Thanks so very much.

Briee

 

[ColleenM]

RE: Snotty Pugs, defensive Mastiffs, need urgent help f...

Bree,

You had everyone's best interest at heart. It is hard bringing other adult dogs into your home as they have developed habits and have different 'upbringings' so to speak as to what is acceptable and what is not and then the territory issues also. I do believe if you start with a pup or rescue it might make things easier for you.

Sending hugs your way as I know you must be disappointed. Give your Mastiff a hug too, gotta love those guys. One at class scared the heck out of me as he snarfled right in my ear as he came up to say hi on Wed.; we all got a good laugh out of that as I turned and his head was right there "smiling" for a pet.

Colleen

 

[briee]

RE: Snotty Pugs, defensive Mastiffs, need urgent help f...

Colleen, thanks so much for the sweet note, I miss them terribly even though we didn't have them long....they fit in like family. Hopefully in the future.

Briee