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I used to have a rotti x mastiff, often people would cross the road to avoid my dog even when on leash, in truth though he as a big softie. We had two incidents with dogs that should have been on leash but weren't 1. a womans walking a jack Russell carrying her leash but not attached to her dog. JR comes running up to Odin Barking. Now when I say he was big softy the only time I ever saw him react aggressively was when being yapped at by little dogs, as my husband and I knew my husband stepped between the JR and Odin. The woman then said "oh don't worry his bark is worse than his bite". All I could think was Woman, this dog is a Rotti x Mastiff and I have never seen him bite but I can guarantee that if he chose to he would rip your little dog in half and call it an entrée, and you think we are worried that your JR is going to do him damage - My husand kurtly told her to leash her dog as it was the law. 2. another woman with an staffy off leash in a grassed area, she is lazing around in the sun whilst the dog gets some exercise. My husband walks over with Odin on a leash as always. At this stage Odin was about 15 years old and mostly blind and selectively deaf (I say selective because he could still hear the fridge from 100 paces). This womans staffy runs over to Odin in an aggressive manner, and lunges at his belly area (no but sniffing no hello just goes for the belly). My husband steps in front of Odin and pushes the dog away with his foot (not a full kick but a foot push. The woman starts getting up telling him to stop kicking her dog. Her dog continues to lunch at Odin and my husband in the end is Kicking her dog just to keep it away. She loses her shit about him kicking her dog to which he tells her to get her dog away and that it has to be on a leash by law and that it is aggressive and therefore shouldn't ever be off leash in public. Fast forward a few weeks and this womans husband follows my husband when he is walking odin and has a go at him about kicking their dog. Sorry mate but would would you prefer a dog fight where we would likely loose our ederly man and your staffy would be in big trouble, possibly facing euthanasia because your wife was to silly to keep it leashed or even under her control. Really annoys me when people put their pets and others at risk by going off leash in a leash area.

My reasons for desexing are that I have no interest in showing or breeding my dogs. I have helped out in shelters and feel quite strongly that unless you intend on breeding (responsibly) that dogs left entire can cause for more unwanted puppies. Are you saying that it is unhealthy to desex a mastiff breed until it is at full maturity?

"I would also not desex the dog if at all especially if you're aiming for a male. " Sorry out of interest why would you not desex (male or female)? Thanks for all the feedback people. It is important I think to make sure that the breed I pick will suit me and I it. I am not a soft touch with dogs, but having said that my husband is, he was always the omega - but it seemed to be fine because I was the alpha.

Hi My husband and I lost our beautiful Rotti x Mastiff earlier this year. We had rescued him as an 8 year old and he got to the very impressive age of 16 but nerve deterioration in his spine was causing his back legs to be unpredictable and we had to make the decision to send him off peacefully. We are now living with my mother - likely for another 6-12 months and she has said no pets at all, but I am looking to the future and want to have all my research done so that I know what I am looking for. I really like big dogs, and have been looking at the Cane Corso as a possibily, I would like to get a pure breed this time but I don't want to be showing them (pet only) I would want them desexed (responsible pet ownership). My questions are 1. Does anyone have experience with the corso? I know they are a rarish breed in Australia and want to know how well they generally go with children and what sort of energy levels can generally be expected. 2. Is it possible to rescue, either through shelter, rehoming or ex breeding stock - I wouldn't want to take a potentially good breeding pup out of the line by desexing, particularly of a growing breed. Thanks

What is the triangle of temtation method?

I tried that first (the folding arms) but he is too big to ignore this way. I had the scratches and teeth marks to proove it (only "gumming' not biting) then I get pushed around as he "bangs" into me. Funny thing is it really is only me, he jumps on - he will get excited and run to the OH but then he crounches low for a pat and kind of shakes. Me he jumps on.

I am only worried about it because the only "training method" I have to stop him makes me feel guilty. Basically I put him back outside and ignore him for a while (10mins to 30mins) It does usually do the trick but I feel so bad cause we are at work all day and he is just happy to see us. I really want a better way to handle him.

Bexley is next to rockdale it is in sydneys inner southern suburbs.

I have a 9 year old Rotti x mastiff. He is quite big and I am not a huge person. Sometimes he gets so excited to see me (and i am honored that it appears to be only me - but still) that he will jump and run and barrel me over. He came from the pound about a month ago and at first I thought he would settle down once he had settled in. Not suprising he did not show this behavior in the pound. He knows sit and down (with hand gestures) but doesn't seem to understand calm - or follow directions when excited. My question is - Can you teach an old dog new tricks? Could a 9 year old benifit from obedience lessons to make him better behaved? I would love to take him to off leash parks but I worry that his manners would be lacking and that he would get excited and not answer my call. I live in sydney (bexley) - if you do think it would be benificial, can you suggest a place for him to go to obedience lessons, and also how much it should cost (approx.) Thanks for the advice

We once had a puppy that did this (quite disturbing as her other bad habbit was face licking) She came to us from unknown origins so we dont know the history before (though we do know she came with mange) - anyway she ate her own poo and hte vet said it was because she wasn't digesting it properly and wasn't getting all the nutrients out of it. essentially food was going straight through her - so the poo was "still tasty to her". I can't remember what he gave us but we had to give her something medical to help. Maybe you should talk to a vet about this.

Growing up my family had a Lab x GR - she was older than me, so she had been with me all my life. She was very much loved and my best friend. When she was 16 my mother made the decision that it was her time to go and she just needed a hand getting there. Looking back now as an adult she was at least a year over her time. We had kept her alive, suffering chronic athritis amongst other ailments of age because we were too selfish to let her go, we loved her too much. YOu are the only person who can make the decision because you are the one who has to live with it. There is no definate wrong or right time but you just have to answer one question - are you keeping them around for you or for them. I hope you can make the right decision for both of you, my deepest sympathies.