How to handle my BIG dog with my new tiny pug.

[amastiffandapug]

Hello. I have a 130 pound 1 and a half year old female Bullmastiff, and just got a tiny 7 pound 3 month old male Pug pup. He has adjusted fairly well to the house and to my Bullmastiff, though he cries when you leave him alone for more than a minute, even if he can see you in the other room. But I understand that.

I am curious though, when my Bullmastiff and my Pug go outside together, my Bullmastiff gets too excited and nearly tramples the Pug. One time, she did, which had my Pug yelping, though I think he was just more scared than anything.

My Bullmastiff is pretty good with the Pug. Still kinda curious, follows him around, wonders why this little dog is in her space, but pretty good in general. She has a bone she chews on and brought it to the Pug on the couch and let him chew on it (she eventually took it back after a minute). She isn't too possessive. She gets a little jealous, but I give her plenty of attention still, I make sure I have time for just her. She will bark every now and then, and get riled up, I guess to maintain her power status?

My main question is what is the best way to deal with the trampling thing. I would love them to play together, and I can tell my Bullmastiff is ecstatic to have a little play buddy, but she gets too excited and really doesn't know her size. What has anyone done in this situation to keep their Pug safe but not make it a "wussy"?

Thanks for any help. I want the two to be best friends. I hope so.

[Otto's momma]

I am sorry I dont have any advice for you, I just have one pug, Otto, but I did want to say Welcome to the village and I know there will be someone who will have some advice for you. There are several that have large dogs and pugs. I am sure your two will love growing up together!

[FourteenLegs]

There is another person on the forum with a mastiff and a pug - hopefully she'll chime in and give you her experience. Anyway, welcome to the forum!

What I will tell you though is you do have the potential for tragedy if you're not eternally vigilant. You have already had an experience which I don't think you have taken seriously enough. To think that your TINY puppy yelped because he was "more scared than anything" is denying the reality. Pugs are VERY stoic little dogs and if they yelp, they yelp because they've been HURT.

Your mastiff sounds as though she is a gentle girl and I hope she wouldn't turn in anger on the little guy, but even a gentle warning from a dog of that size to a teeny weeny little puppy can break a neck or back. At the very least it can take out a VERY vulnerable pug eye.

And normal play between the two can end in tragedy - if she jumps on him in play she could crush him. Once again break his neck or his back with a thump from a paw in play.

You've taken on a HUGE responsibility and it is up to you to protect your little guy. NEVER, EVER leave them alone together while the pug is a puppy. And even when he is grown you have to be 200% sure of them. When he is grown and stronger they might be able to play together with heavy supervision, but UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES while he is tiny should they be allowed to play together. A mastiff can weigh as much as an adult human - would you let an adult jump on your puppy? Swipe it hard with a hand? Roll over it? You have to think from this perspective.

Hate to be so tough, but you wouldn't be the first person we've heard about on this forum that has had tragedies with big dogs and pugs. Yes, it CAN work, but I think it's a 50/50 chance. The very best of luck and BE VIGILANT!

[amastiffandapug]

Thank you a ton for that. That put it into perspective for me a lot. I feel like a bad dad now. :o( But I do think that is how I need to look at it. I really do thank you.

[Rosiepug]

Welcome to the village

Sorry, I have no idea how you can make this work because basically, I think the problem is that you have two puppies, a giant breed and a toy breed. I don't think you can expect the older pup to not play rough. It's really too young to know that the pug's a puppy and it must be gentle.

Personally I wouldn't let them play together as usually pups want to play chasing and wrestling and the little one is sure to get hurt sooner or later.

I would crate the pug whenever it doesn't have your full attention to prevent an accident from happening and be super vigilant when they are together.

Is the older pup trained so you can command it 'off' if it's getting too excited with the pug pup. Would it obey a down command if they were getting too boistrous?

[FourteenLegs]

Thank you a ton for that. That put it into perspective for me a lot. I feel like a bad dad now. :o( But I do think that is how I need to look at it. I really do thank you.

No, don't feel like a bad pug dad. You did absolutely the right thing in seeking advice and by the sounds of things you are going to take heed of that advice. A bad pug parent would be someone who didn't ask for advice, or ignored the warnings. Make sure they are securely separated when you're not around and no playing. That's going to be the hardest part - stopping them from playing together. The potential for tragedy is just not worth the risk. You're gonna have to be the one to be the "playmate" to each of them separately, but that's most of the fun in having a dog!

And another thing to watch out for - one of them will show signs of being the "top dog". This is a natural occurance and you have to go with this - one will be alpha and the other will be submissive - god help you if you have TWO alphas, but with different genders that should not be a problem. Usually the females tend to take the alpha position, but in a small dog/big dog home it is quite often the SMALL dog that takes that role - hard to pick a winner at this point!

The very best of luck with your two VERY cute furkids!

[Snifter]

Your pups are very cute and I hope all will be well. As Rona said, please don't feel bad. I don't think your situation is ideal but what's done is done and the main thing is that you realise there is the potential for a problem. That means you can think of ways to forestall problems before they happen. Best of luck to you.

[tall grass pugs]

I keep a mastiff, a collie and a lab bc cross with the pugs. Beginning with the obvious, feed seperately. That really applies to the pug, who is going to have to learn non alpha status. Crates are wonderful for keeping the peace. Are both animals spayed or neutered. That's important too. Since young animals are dreadful pests, never ever leave the pug running with the mastiff even for five minutes much less when you leave for the store or work. A quick run at puppy obedience is a good idea too. There is at least one other mastiff on this web, gentle Odin, whose mom probably has cogent advice.

[CountryPug]

I think you have gotten some really good advice here. I agree that it is your responsibility to protect your pug from your mastiff at all cost. That may mean that you have to take them out to potty separately, feed separately and never leave them alone together under any circumstances.

When my pug Bella was that age I had to keep her separated from my boston, (who is not nearly as big as a mastiff) and only let them have limited access to each other till my pup got bigger. I really hope that it gets easier as they both mature, but that depends on their temperaments. just be careful.

[H the P]

What good and sensible advice you have been given, and welcome to PV.

I'm not sure whether anyone has picked up on the fact that your mastiff apparently is a bullmastiff, rather than an English mastiff. Here in the UK the two breeds are entirely separate. The difference being that a bullmastiff is much more of a bull breed, with all the implications which I know I don't need to spell out to you because you are clearly a caring owner, having sought advice in the first place.

So I can only repeat what others have said; you are responsible for the safety of your little pug; never, ever leave the two of them alone together, and always, always feed separately.

I wish you the best of luck.