dog breed?

[Whisper]

My first thought was also bullmastiff. I think he at least has quite a bit of it in him, though there may be more breeds than that in his history. He isn't as "extreme" in his features as a bullmastiff, so I think he's either a mix or just a badly bred bullmastiff.
He looks like a sweetheart.
My old Rottweiler Harley used to sit in my lap like that.

 

[robstaine]

oh ok cool, bull mastiffs dont have an underbite do they? he has about an inch of under bite :S

 

[Zoom]

They do, maybe not that big, but I'm also guessing that since he was a shelter dog, he doesn't have the best breeding behind him. Mastiffs seem to develop underbites pretty quickly anyway, even in good lines. And if he does have some boxer in him, they all have underbites, so that would make sense.

 

[robstaine]

his temperment is sweet once he gets to know you, but he has fear agression as he was found in a very bad condition. he growls,barks and lunges at stangres if they come in the house. and out on the street as well if they aproch him, also hes not keen on dogs especially ones his size or bigger.

 

[Zoom]

Bullmastiffs used to be used as guardian dogs to game wardens who were looking for poachers. They aren't the most stranger-friendly breed out there to begin with, nor do they necessarily get along well with many other dogs. You can always work on this so that he knows what is an actual threat and what isn't but I'm just saying that he's also got those breed tendencies.

 

[robstaine]

yeah, we are correcting him every time he has a go at someone, but he still does it everytime. not sure what i can do to distinguish when he has to protect us and when he doesnt. he has a bad leg at the moment so doing training with him is difficult. i weanted to take him to socialising classes, but the only ones i can find are for puppies hes about 3 years now.

 

[lizzybeth727]

The pain in his leg could possibly be contributing to the reactiveness to humans. I really wouldn't take him out around people a lot until he starts feeling better, so he doesn't learn any associations (people = pain in the leg).

Also, DO NOT CORRECT him for reacting toward people. He's reacting because he sees the stranger as a danger, and when you correct him you're reinforcing that when he sees a person, bad things happen.

not sure what i can do to distinguish when he has to protect us and when he doesnt.

It's easy - he should learn that he NEVER HAS to protect you! YOU should be protecting HIM.

Socializing classes are generally for puppies, that's true. But you can still take beginning obedience classes with a three year old, and a good trainer will be able to help you find the right option for your dog. Occasionally you'll find a trainer who teaches classes specifically for reactive dogs, and of course that would be ideal. You can check out www.apdt.com or www.ccpdt.com for good trainer searches.

 

[Saje]

yeah, we are correcting him every time he has a go at someone, but he still does it everytime. not sure what i can do to distinguish when he has to protect us and when he doesnt. he has a bad leg at the moment so doing training with him is difficult. i weanted to take him to socialising classes, but the only ones i can find are for puppies hes about 3 years now.

What have you been doing to "correct him?" You might be making things worse.

You might want to consider clicker training and look into this book http://www.amazon.com/Click-Calm-Healing-Aggressive-Clicker/dp/1890948209

 

[robstaine]

we are correcting him by tugging his lead gently and making the tskk sound. then reward him when he stops growling.

thanks for the links.

 

[Labra]

I agree...Bullmastiff mix. Could be purebred but badly bred, or could be a mix. Possibly Boxer or American Bulldog.

 

[noludoru]

He definitely looks Bull mastiff to me.. first picture just screamed it at me. I could also see Boxer, and possibly some Pointer (show line pointers often have similar muzzles, especially in the way they are set on the face).

 

[robstaine]

oh ok, i dont really see pointer he seems quite muscular in his built.

 

[lizzybeth727]

Have you found a training class yet??

 

[robstaine]

there are a few that we have taken our dogs where I work too, but hes too naughty to go to them, he will try and go for the dogs and people, so i want to get him out of that first before i try and train him if that makes sense. i cant find many in london.

 

[planet molosser]

Sout African Boerbel?

 

[angelicfruitcake]

oh ok cool, bull mastiffs dont have an underbite do they? he has about an inch of under bite :S

My KC reg Bullmastiff has about the same...and she often gets her jowls stuck like in your picture :rofl1:

 

[robstaine]

lol thats cool, I wish he was a full bull mastiff but I doubt it. all the bull mastiff pictures I have seen they have a big nose and all in all fuller face, Gus has a thinner muzzle that points upwards a little when you see his profile.

 

[robstaine]

I have researched some other breeds what do you guys think about him being an Alano Espanol or an American bandogge Mastiff. not sure how common those breeds are in the UK

 

[HoundedByHounds]

I personally, don't think he is a purebred anything LOL. He has a high percentage of Bullmastiff and possibly Boxer or another breed. I doubt very, very seriously that he is purebred...let alone one that is uncommon. That's just me tho.

 

[robstaine]

some guy came up my my sister and said he had a dog that looked like him and he said his one was an american bull dog cross pit...