Yay, I'm so excited :-)

As some of you may know from my recent post (humping while playing), Busters is lacking socialisation with other dogs. He is very friendly, but finds them so exciting (due ot the lack of contact with them), that it's a catch-22 situation, his size puts people off and then when they see him getting exited they definately wont let thier dogs near him :(
He's recently made friends with a young rottie, but his new opportunity is with a yorkie!

We bumped into the yorkie a few weeks back, allthough the owner picked her little dog up out of Busters way (so it didn't get squashed ) we had a chat. It turns out she used to breed bullmastiffs, so is not intimidated by Buster atall and can see he is just lacking in socilaisation. So she popped round today & we arranged to take Buster and the yorkie for a walk on Thursday :-D

I know that Buster is far to OTT to have much direct interaction with the yorkie, but just going on a walk together is going to do wonders for him :)
We will be going to a place that Buster hasn't been to before, so there will be lots of new smells to help keep his focus off the yorkie. To fine-tune Busters behaviour around other peoples children, I had a little girl come out on walks with us (with her dads permision) and it made a huge impact on him after one walk. So, allthough I forsee Thursdays walk being hard work (trying to keep Buster calm!) it will be great for him.

Ohhhh, I'll have to stop babbling on, sorry for the waffle. It's seems like a small thing, but has massive implications for Buster and is just what he needed. It can be the catalist for him being calm enough to interact with many other dogs without thier owners having a nervous breakdown.

I will have to work on MY excitement LOL, I can't take Bust out with me buzzing like this!!!! He will, as always be kept on a long line, (I expect I wont even let him out on that - just keep him on-lead) and will not yet be allowed to freely interact with the yorkie, but does anyone have any tips or pointers to help his walk-date go smoothly? I usually go out with cheese in my pocket, but I will save some chicken for Thursday to help give me the edge, LOL.

Ohhhh, I don't normally 'do' excited, but I am very excited right now!!!! I just had to tell somebody!

Well done for finding someone who can help with the socialisation - even if it is a dog at the other end of the size scale to Buster :-)

The chicken sounds like a good idea, or how about somthing smelly like garlic sausage if he would 'work' for that?

I need to find someone with a suitable dog for Stitch to socialise with - he does OK in training class when we're in 'work' mode, but on walks can be over enthusiastic with other dogs, but then can go a bit snappy if the other dog doesn't want to play. I need to find a dog that will completely ignore him really :-)

Good luck with your walk!!

Claire

No tips....Just a good on you and Buster :)

We also made a few friends when walking our Lab who is fearful with other dogs, going to the park was really too much for her when walking on a lead, and dogs running up to her, we were getting nowhere! But we also made a few friends who walk in quieter areas and it has been absolutely great for her, she now has 4 walking buddies, we also get 2 dogs who come over weekly plus the fostering.
She is a lot calmer when she sees dogs now, though will still not tolerate in your face type dogs, but the controlled socialisation really has helped and has been built up gradually....hope all goes well and Buster enjoys his outing! :)

No advice really as you are pretty good at that yourself. :-D Your doing all the right things re: keeping him on lead and I know you will control him near the Yorkie, hopefully you will find after walking for 10-15 minutes or so he will calm down and if it becomes a regular thing it will do wonders for him.

I do feel sorry for large adolescent dogs in particular, it's hard for them as they are too big to play with many dogs, I've seen some fairly dragging their owners over to get to a dog at the horror of many dog owners, at least I made one lady feel better the other day when I said to her he is desperate to play isn't he, she looked so relieved that I didn't think he was going to eat my girl. :-)

Good luck, deep breathes your almost jumping up to space, can understand why, let us know how it went. :-)

Hear hear, I was going to ask if anyone near me (Sleaford, Lincs) had a mid/large dog that needed socialising as I have one very energetic hyper ridgeback girl 12 mths who needs more contact but as she plays so hard, most dogs around here are ickle wickle little things who head for the hills when we show up.
I have a 4mth old RR girl too and she is so laidback it is freaky in comparison.
It is hard with big jumpy dogs for sure

LOL...JaneBUK...Shame we are not closer, my 16month Vizsla would of loved a play date.

Its great that you have found some good socialisation for your mastiff, they are usually very good with small dogs. I had a bullmastiff years ago took him to the local dog training, he was manic I spent a week doing recalls and gently gently a changed dog. Handled by a 10 year old he did very well. Small dogs are usually pretty good at looking after themselves, the high pitched bark seems to warn the big dogs off.
It does worry me when small dog owners pick their dog up as they are worried it might get hurt. Accidents can happen so easily if the big dog is inquisitive and jumps up to see what is going on.
Enjoy your mastiff there is nothing quite like the breed

Thanks everyone :) I'll let you all know how it goes and I'll remember to take some garlic sausage, oh and a slobber cloth ;)

> Small dogs are usually pretty good at looking after themselves, the high pitched bark seems to warn the big dogs off.

LOL, we've met plenty of small dogs that bark at Buster in an attempt to tell him to back off, alas he thinks they are playing and only gets even more excited :( The Yorkie we will be walking with is great around him though, she doesn't see Buster as a 'big dog', just a 'dog' and is not intimidated in the slightest so doesn't do all the barking, she is a great little dog, happy and brilliant doggy-manners :)

>Enjoy your mastiff there is nothing quite like the breed

Buster is my first mastiff (hence my over-worrying about every little thing) and I am completely hooked now :)

> Ohhhh, I don't normally 'do' excited, but I am very excited right now!!!! I just had to tell somebody!

I'm really pleased for you, and understand how you are feeling.  I have 2 toy breeds, and they live with 3 Collies, but I still think it's important that I socialise my tiny tots with other larger dogs.

I hate that "don't touch my little dog, you'll hurt it" attitude.  And honestly think that it contributes to owners of large breeds thinking that toy size equals snappy yappy dog.

So when I found a HUGE Rottie male at ringcraft, and how superbly he was handled by his owner, I asked if I could take the place next to them, to see how my tiny tot got on.  I am so very glad that I did, it worked very well, although the Rottie's tongue was bigger than my Chihuahua pup.  As he got more mature though, he did get ideas above his station!  Fell in love with a St Bernard bitch pup.  Bless his cotton socks.

So when he was next at the vets, and an owner saw me in the waiting room, he said oh I'll leave my dogs in the car, as yours will be petrified.  I told the guy - bring them in.  I know that he thought that I would eat my words, but when he walked in with 2 Irish Wolfhounds, my boy didn't bat an eye lid (I'm pleased to say.)

So I am just as pleased that you are having the opportunity to do it the other way around!  Good Luck.  Jean

> the Rottie's tongue was bigger than my Chihuahua pup.  As he got more mature though, he did get ideas above his station!  Fell in love with a St Bernard bitch pup.  Bless his cotton socks.
>

Ahh bless, that so cute :)

> he walked in with 2 Irish Wolfhounds, my boy didn't bat an eye lid

Wow!! well done to you, he couldn't have met bigger dogs than that, they are HUGE dogs!

> So I am just as pleased that you are having the opportunity to do it the other way around!  Good Luck.

Thank you :) I wish it was tomorrow, I can't wait! Bless, Buster doesn't know what a fun day he's going to have on Thursday :) I did tell him, but I don't think he was listening ;)

I am so pleased for you keep us posted,

I've never worried about my GR playing with larger breeds, when he was 6 months old I met a lady with a Irish Wolf Hound called Hector, I was so taken by the beauty and size of her dog I went over with Kez to say hello. She was speachless, says every dog owner she met used to cross the road or walk out of the field.

Next day the pair of them were off lead together charging around like a pair of nutters, must admit he made kez look like a hamster in size but they were the best of friends from then on. I never had any worries about his size. He was a gentle giant and Kez was very agile so used to run him into the ground

If I were near you I'd been a round like a shot because your boy buster is sooooo cute, I really hope he can find a play mate xxxx

What area are you in?

If I were near you I'd been a round like a shot because your boy buster is sooooo cute

I was just thinking the same. Missy my DDB loves nothing more than a good romp around with a big dog... She is a bit of a flirt though!!! :O

I'm in the gloucestershire area if anyone wants a boisterous labrador to play with...I think a Mastiff would be about the right size ;)

If you read my post "Labrador - Will he ever calm down!" you'll understand he needs some more doggy friends to play with - and do some proper recall training :D

My ridgeback too, I'm in West Sussex

My Cavalier Henry prefers big dogs - dogs his size, he can be a bit of a bully with occasionally. But his best friend as a puppy was an Irish Wolfhound, and he used to incite chase games with an Anatolian Shepherd in our old park before we moved.

We should start socalising walks in our areas. We all seem to have the same problem. Doggie training classes are ok but they dont allow for the romping about outdoors that is required for a well socalised dog.
I have been looking for a long time with no success. I have an old boy who has forgotten all about meeting new friends as he is so used to his own social circle that when we go to new places he becomes a grumppy old man.
Whilst im here does anyone know of a dog walking club/group that meet in Hampshire.

UPDATE

Bust has been on his walk with the Yorkie, it couldnt have gone any better :)

I can't believe how good he was.

The Yorkie was off-lead when I went out the front door to meet them, Buster did one little jump for joy and calmed down! He then started to sniff it, but I had to warn him to be gentle as he started to nudge it with his nose. We satrted the walk with NO pulling from Buster, despite the Yorkie being loose and constantly runnig up to him to get him to play.

We came to a large open field (recreational ground) and the lady said to me "let him off lead", I nearly fainted at the thought of my excitable, huge, entire, youngster being off-lead, with a tiny dog about and a stranger (strangers still can be a source of excitement for him) so comprimised with him being out on his long line (32 ft). The lady ensured me I was worrying too much and I should allow Buster to be a dog and just keep an eye on him. Amazingly I put my trust in her (I've only ever met her fleetingly, but decided if she has bred Bullmastiffs, she must have much more dog-handling experience than me!). Buster, with all the freedom of his long line, bounded towards the yorkie, then stopped at a respectable distance to see if she wanted to play!!!

We continued the walk with Buster out on his long-line and he was really loving it, mooching around, investigating the field (we've never been there before) and occasionally the woman would call him and he would go bounding over to her then come bounding over to me for a bit of chicken (becasue he thought he had been good for not juping up at or nibbling the lady!).

The yorkie was off-lead and decided to start a game with Buster, they had a bit of a play, but the worse thing happened - Buster stood on the yorkies foot The Yorkie yelped, Buster ignored the yelp and they tried to carry on playing, but I called Buster to me and the lady put the Yorkie on-lead. The Yorkie was fine :)

The rest of the walk, we did have to stop them playing as Buster is just too clumsy to play with such a small dog, but it was FANTASTIC.

I think it was a bit too mcuh bounding around for Busters bad leg, as since he has been home, & had a sleep, he's got up with a bit of a limp, but we're going again next week and will keep this regular so it should help build his muscles up more and do his leg some good in the long-run.

I'm so proud of Buster :-D

I feel bad too though, as looking at things differently, he is much better behaved than I give him credit for and do think I just over-think everything and that makes things seem like hard work. Eg. I always worry about him greeting strangers becasue he gets slobber everwhere so I keep him on a short lead, but that means I never get to see that he is actually a lot more well-mannered than I think. Same with him meeting dogs - i worry he'll get slobber on them or step on them. I find it hard to get the balance right.

That sounds fab, way to go Buster.  I think sometimes it can be easy to be overcautious but certinly better than being under cautious when there is that much of a size difference.  I have to say I think you were very brave to let him off to play with the Yorkie, so easy for an accident to happen so think you were wise to curtail proper playing. 

I was thinking about Buster today, I have a Great Dane over at mine once a week for a few hours to give her owner a nutter free day and was thinking how good it would be for her to have a big bruiser of a dog to play with as I had to do her seperately from my little one (when I say little she's nearly 20kg) but the dane had her over once and that was once too much given that she weighs nearly four times what she does and could so easily hurt her, plus she was scaring her.  I had four dogs out in the field and all of them were just standing still in the end to avoid her trying to play with them, there's no malace but she's clutz that is over excited by other dogs and just doesn't read when they don't want to play and has a tendancy to dap at them with her giagantimus paws to get them to play iof they stop.  She has been socialised with other dogs but not appropriately and doesn't know how to take no for an answer and consequently no other dogs really like to play with her because she's too full on, which makes it a vicious circlke as the less they interact with her the more excited she gets the next time she sees them.

I'm sure it'll be good for him to have a regular walk/play date but maybe need a bigger one for proper play :-D

> I have to say I think you were very brave to let him off to play with the Yorkie

I only let him out on his long-line becasue of his behaviour, he was being such a good boy and being so attentive to me :) Being in a place he hadn't been before really helped matters I think, as he was looking to me for direction.

> I'm sure it'll be good for him to have a regular walk/play date but maybe need a bigger one for proper play :-D

Oh yes, I will not let him even try to play with the Yorkie again! Allthough when he trod on her foot there was no damage done, it could easily have been very bad, so the Yorkie will just be a companion from now on, not a play mate :)

My sister has a female, spayed Boxer, (nearly 4 years old). I have been constantly nagging my dad (sis lives with dad, sis has bad knee, so all dog-walking is done by dad) to bring Pip (the boxer) up so her and Buster can get used to each other. Pip struggles with playing with other dogs as they end up just snapping at her (think she intimidates them with her look - one-eye white Boxer with bags of energy & self-cofidance), this has caused her to be a little wary and bark when she sees another dog. I know Buster is not bothered by being barked at, so the two of them could help each other out. Providing things are taken slowly, I think Buster would be a great stooge dog to help Pip learn that not all dogs are going to be nasty to her, obviously he can't be allowed to get excited close to her untill she is comfortable with him, once she is happy with him we can gradually let them play. Pip is big & strong enough to not be easily hurt by a clumsy Buster and enjoys rough-houseing too :)

My dad came with me today when we walked with the Yorkie, so he got to see how friendly Buster is, it has spurred him on to bring Pip up :) I think he had trouble believeing that Buster was such a friendly dog as he's never seen him interact with another dog before (other than our late oldie).

> I have a Great Dane over at mine........She has been socialised with other dogs but not appropriately and doesn't know how to take no for an answer and consequently no other dogs really like to play with her because she's too full on, which makes it a vicious circlke as the less they interact with her the more excited she gets the next time she sees them.

So similar to Buster! It's something I had never thought about before getting him, but the sheer size of a giant breed makes socialisation with other dogs very hard to do.

My dad came with me today when we walked with the Yorkie, so he got to see how friendly Buster is, it has spurred him on to bring Pip up  I think he had trouble believeing that Buster was such a friendly dog as he's never seen him interact with another dog before (other than our late oldie).

That does sound like they could really help each other and sounds like it could be great fun for both of them - you sound like you are on a mission now to get him some more doggie interaction which I'm sure will be brilliant for him ad all the ground work you've put in will mean that he'll be responsive to you even when he is excited.

So similar to Buster! It's something I had never thought about before getting him, but the sheer size of a giant breed makes socialisation with other dogs very hard to do.

To be fair her owner hasn't handled things in as nearly as controlled a way as you and consequently the dog is very unresponsive when around other dogs - she just lets her go bowling up to other dogs and often out of sight so is never there to give her any guidance and the dog has learnt that to be quite a play bully, again absolutely no malace but just will not take no for an answer, until they snap and then two seconds later she's back in bothering them again.  If only you were closer I'm sure she'd be thrilled with a Buster sized and enthusiastic play mate :-)

A bit of an update.

We haven't seen the yorkie since that first walk :( But, today we met a couple with a lab (male). The lab is a rescue that is still working on his confidance around large dogs, having been attacked by a large dog as a youngster. He was happy to sniff buster, but kept on growling at him, the growl seemed more like a vocalisation of being unsure rather than any actual threat, anyway, buster being Buster never took it as offenece :)

We swapped numbers so we can walk Bust & the lab regularily, with a view to them becoming playmates when the lab is more comfortable with Buster. To start with it's just going to have to be a case of walkng together and only allowing the dogs a quick sniff of each other so the lab doesn't get ovewhelmed. But I am so pleased.

The lab is smashing, such a friendly chap and it's unbelievable that he is 8 yeard old, he looks and acts like a youngester, bless him, waggly tail with a tennis ball in his chops :-D

I am so pleased with this as the dogs can help each other out :)

A shame about the Yorkie - mine would be good for Buster, as they are brought up with Collies, and not afraid of large dogs.

However, I do understand that weight of Buster is a factor.  It must be so frustrating for you when you know he has a lovely temperament (just a bit of an ox!)  :-)

The lab does sound a good idea, and, as you say, beneficial to both dogs.  It just takes sooo much time to do it properly, and at a speed that won't unnerve the lab.  But I know that, if nothing else, you have learned patience through Buster  :-)  so I know that you will get there.

> waggly tail with a tennis ball in his chops :-D
>

The growling could also have been a bit of worry about loosing his ball. 

Good luck with the play dates

>   It just takes sooo much time to do it properly, and at a speed that won't unnerve the lab.  But I know that, if nothing else, you have learned patience through Buster  :-)  so I know that you will get there.

Yep, I will be over the moon just being able to walk with another dog as that alone will get Buster used to being in the company of another dog (Bust on his short lead and the lab loose), so he won't get so excited when he sees one.
It's amazing the progress he has made just from that 1 walk with the yorkie, he can't help do a play-bow if the other dog is growling/barking/or apraoching him face-on (I think that could be an apeasment/calming gesture though? even though he does want to play) but he doesn't explode into a loony frenzy of jumping around and turning in circles bashing into my legs! He so much more calmer around other dogs in general it's great :)

After his meeting with the lab we met 3 loose small dogs, all within pawing distance! A while ago I would have had to wait out of the way for them to pass, because Buster would've got so excited if we carried on moveing, but then, we just carried on walking with Buster behaving like a dream on a slack lead, held short, just in case and plenty of cheese for rewards, but still major progress and the owner couldn't help but comment how well behaved Buster was and what a 'darling' he looked :)

Buster is making me increasingly proud when we're out now :-D

> The growling could also have been a bit of worry about loosing his ball. 
>

Godd point, I hadn't thought of that.
It's a shame dogs cant understand us, as Buster is not atall interested in the ball, but explaining that to the lab is not possible in human language :(

> Buster is making me increasingly proud when we're out now

And you have every right to be justifiably proud of yourself.

Given that you have a dog that is considerably more powerful than yourself, and you have used correct training methods, I think that you have made great progress.  :-)

Not everyone would have the patience to do it properly.