Ok, so as some of you know my family have always had bullmastiffs and my parents currently have the three in my avatar. I've been looking to get a dog when i move to another flat in the summer.

my dad suffered a neck injury at his work a while ago and this has become increasingly bad over the last while and it's becoming difficult for him to handle tio who is BIG for a bully and is very highly strung. and because of the change in circs my mums working loads and is not able to get out with him. my dads also going through other health issues at the mo and the three of them are a bit much now.

so, i might be taking on my boy! (might as in more than likely)

which i am excited about but worried to.

it's not ideal as he's a bit big for a flat but i know people who've managed bullies comfortably in them before so we'll get by. plus he'll be getting WAY more excersise between my bf and i than at the mo so hopefully that will be fine.

i've a couple of behavioural concerns though that i'd like you guys advice on dealing with.

he's really highly strung, which i think can largely be dealt with by increased excersise but i was wondering about those calming sprays a few of you mentioned around bonfire time- what are they called and how do they work? does anyone have any other suggestions for calming techniques? was thinking of taking a further look at t- touch

additionally he's getting a wee bit aggressive with other dogs. he' coming up for 2 so as a slow maturing breed is still in the narky teen stage which is a factor, but in his time he's been snaffled by a samoyed (got in when one of the bitches was in season when he was a pup) and by a terrier on a walk recently. dad says since then he's been quite twitchy on walks and dad feels that Tios reacting to dads poor health- i.e. he knows dads not fit so feels he's gotta up his own game- do you think this is likely? if so hopefully that will calm down when he's with us. If not whats the best was to socialise without the other dog being a snack?

he's a really sweet boy and i am so willing to work through the couple of issues he's got at the moment simply for his sake, i hate seeing him stressed. anyway, your all smart and knowlegable so please advise! (btw, if his behaviour doesn't improve i would have him at a behaviourist, not worried about the money)

The sprays etc you're probably thinking about are called DAP - stands for Dog Appeasing Pheramones :)  If that's a route you favour ideally you would be best to use the plug-in version for the area of the house which the dog will spend most time in - the sprays are really best kept for short periods of enclosure such as in the car.  There are DAP collars available too which may also help but shop around on the web because prices vary enormously.

Increased exercise and just having a more scheduled routine for things may well help this boy calm down as, I suspect, some one-to-one training with you might also.  Training the dog to think about things (such as random obedience commands with random rewards) will help keep him occupied and should contribute to reducing stress levels all round.  Over and above which I find the dogs I've done most "work" with have been the dogs that have bonded most closely and been the most reliable (the earlier ones then LOL)

There are various herbal and homeopathic remedies for stress, anxiety and similar behaviour issues but I'd be inclined to start off with the DAP and some general training and exercise being upped first so that signals don't become masked and lead to a false sense of security (yours or the dogs :) )  The DAP products don't work for all dogs but I've known a few folks who swear by them and seen the evidence myself when judging and showing others' dogs so can vouch for the fact that they CAN make a difference.  They don't to my knowledge mask signals in the way that some meds can - merely take the "edge" off and help the dog relax in a more natural way.

Re the agression situation - do you have friends or family with a couple of good, calm, not over-reactive stooge dogs that you could meet up with and exercise him with? (still on lead to prevent issues)  It would possibly help him to be less tense around other canines and give you a clearer picture of what his personal boundaries are.  It's also worth sourcing a reputable training class for advice (individual if necessary) on how to proceed with him.  Sometimes we can be too close to a problem with the result that we mis-read the reasons/causes/background and so it may be that his aggressive attitude towards other dogs is fear based rather than dominance based or is simply total lack of appropriate canine communication skills :)

I think you have the right attitude too about seeking, if necessary, the input of a behaviourist - although hopefully once you've got him for a few weeks and been able to put in some time and work you'll find he can be brought round without one.

HTH, regards Teri

thanks teri, yeah it was the DAP things i was thinking about, glad to hear that they can help. the homeopathy you;ve suggested might be an idea as well if the edge isn;t taken off with increased excersise etc.

> Training the dog to think about things (such as random obedience commands with random rewards) will help keep him occupied and should contribute to reducing stress levels all round.

do you think maybe trying clicker training might help? its not something i've ever tried before but the involvement level might be good...

only folk i know around here with dogs are my sis (whos girl he adores) and my parents other two (who he also loves). i'll need to try and set up play dates when he's calmed down a bit. this won't be happening till the summer anyway (when i move), just trying to plan ahead. gives me time to find some doggies for games! as well as researching a training class.

i do feel that with sufficient time in a better suited environment he'll improve, just as he'll be my first own dog i'm a bit nervious of screwing it up!

Everyone I know who's tried clicker training - more for "moulding" a behaviour than training it if you get what I mean (do I ) raves it and I've watched in awe some amazing demos of how quickly this can be done so if you're up for it I'd say definitely worth a go!  As for me, to my shame I'm reminded regularly by daughter and OH (oops, and of course the dogs too LOL) that I'm more of the "it's not what I do it's what I can do" school of thought .....

Fortunately the current crew have no real issues so this has made me somewhat lax of late (can't you just tell there'll be something brewing soon with the latest tiny terrorist LOL)

lol, well thanks for the advise, i'll defo look into it.

I love clicker training :) I have used it to train new behaviours - it pinpoints the desired behaviour at the exact moment it occurs and my dog learnt so quickly what was expected of him that I always use it for training now. The other great thing about clicker training - and a big plus IMHO for your situation - is that it is great for exercising a dog's mind :)

Have a peep at the thread about clicker training that is currently running and you can find some more info on there - have posted on that thread in a little bit more detail. There is a really good link on there as well.

thanks, will do

Before going straight to a behaviourist it might be best to seek out a good apdt trainer who does groups. In that way you can both train and socialise your dog simultaneously. Before you go, speak to the trainer who will advise you. Our class often had rescue dogs who were dog aggressive....she used to start by just getting the owner sat up the corner of the room with the dog under control on a halti, (and with the really bad ones, muzzled). gradually the dog could cope with being integrated into the class. As an aside, what sort of collar/lead arrangement are you using with your boy? I use a dogmatic on my strong boy, and it gives me good control.

i wouldn;t jump straight in to a behaviourist because i really don;t think his issues are to that degree, i firmly believe that with sufficient work on my and the bfs part he'll be the sweetie he is with us all the time :) just as a last resort though. and yeah, i'd be tracking down an understanding trainer. i need to see what he's like when another dog approaches and its me or liam having him instead of dad- he could well be defencive because dads unwell so if he's with young, (relatively) healthy and strong people it might help... unfortunately there are never any around when i walk him at theres!

> As an aside, what sort of collar/lead arrangement are you using with your boy? I use a dogmatic on my strong boy, and it gives me good control

sorry, missed this bit!

i'll be getting a halti for him to start with (gotta find one that fits though!), does anyone know if the t-touch ones come in a mastiff type size? dads had him on a chest harness but i prefer the halti to start with. our old mastiff came to us at 6 months never having seen a lead- within a couple of weeks on a halti he was the best dog i've ever walked. 

I have my first Mastiff (not bull, but v. similar tempermants). I have been suprised by how sensitive they are, sensetive to tone of voice and general attitude. My pup, can pick up on weather somebody is feeling a little worried/not very confidant around him and will take advantage of this. Eg. my sister has been very nervous of him (because he's so big allready), so whenever she visits he'll jump on her when she's sat down and he'll bite her bum (in exitement), since she has learned to be calm & confidant around him he has changed around her. He still get's excited to meet her (he does with everyone), but now she is confidant he will sit down when she tells him & wait to be fussed.

I started to feel worried about walking him, as he is allready so strong & heavy if he pulls I can only just stop him. The more worried i became, the more he pulled. I now take him out with the attitude that I WILL keep control of him & I am in charge & like magic he is loads better on the lead, lots of praise & treats when he is walking well helps loads too :)

I think you're right that you're dad not being well could be a factor to his walking behaviours and at his age & breed the 'teenage' stage is also playing a part. Simply by him being with you & your OH may make all the difference as well as him being the only dog (easier to focus on him).  The 'mastiff' in him will have a compulsion to please you & a radar for any weakness in attitude. A firm, consistent yet kind & gentle approach will work wonders to getting the desired behavior from him. And as other have said a good training class will help with his socialization & reinforce his general training/obedience.

I'm sure that you having him will work out, you are used to this breed so you allready know what you are taking on and the fact that you are looking for ways to help his behaviour before you have him IMO shows you are very sensible and willing to put in the effort needed :)

thanks, i really am willing to put in the effort with it. thankfully my bf is very supportive and loves him to bits to so is going to be working with me on it. glad to hear everyone thinks we'll manage!