Is my Neapolitan Mastiff mix puppy safe with young kids?

Hi there. If you have children and other pets at home, I would strongly recommend getting a puppy with known parents, who have the kind of temperament you're looking for. A rescue pup with unknown parentage might turn out to be just fine, but it's much more of a gamble.

Anytime there is a great size difference between dogs in the same household, there is significant risk that the smaller dogs may be injured at some point - either during play, or in an actual fight if this were ever to occur. This doesn't necessarily mean that you can't have both large and small breeds in the same home (many people do!), but it does mean that you should be aware that this is somewhat risky for your smaller dogs, even if the new pup is raised around them. You should also be aware that genetics play a huge role in aggression towards other dogs - so if you do opt to get a Fila, I would make very certain that the puppy comes from a line of well-bred dogs with no history of dog aggression. This doesn't guarantee that you won't have any problems, but it will reduce the risk. If you prefer a less risky option, you could opt for another small breed that is a similar size to your rat terriers - this way, even if issues do crop up between the dogs as they get older, the odds of serious injuries or death is much less.

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Mike. This can be a hardy breed combination. The biggest problem I tend to see is joint disease (mainly arthritis) due to large size of these dogs. This can occur as the dog ages. Keeping the dog very lean throughout its life will help to protect the joints. The other big issue is that some of these dogs can be aggressive. So I think proper socialization and obedience training starting as pups is important. This helps to form a well adjusted dog. Most of them that j see are very sweet. I hope this information helps!

Hello and welcome to Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Different breeds of dogs will have different temperments that they SUPPOSED to have in regards to kids, other dogs, etc. That being said, every dog is different and dogs also need to be trained to be OK with kids and other dogs. This requires exposure in safe and gentle settings to kids and other dogs so that they learn that kids are OK . It is important to teach your kids how to behave around a new dog, and to learn the signs that the dog doesn't like an action that is occurring. Also, small children and babies should never be left with dogs, since if a dog decides to attack or bite, serious damage or death can occur to small children. If you are wondering about a particular breed, please ask again about that breed. Best of luck with your new doggy.

I do not blame you for being very concerned, and I'm sorry for your daughter's injury. Because you cannot teach an eighteen-month-old how to respond to the puppy in such a way as to minimize the possibility of another incident, there is a reason to believe it could happen again. I would return the puppy to the breeder if you can, explaining the reason why. Perhaps Buzz is just not suitable for a home with small children. There is such a thing as temperament testing, which can be done through your local kennel club. Though not foolproof, this can give you some idea how a puppy will react in a variety of circumstances. This may not be the breed mix for you, or it may be that you simply need to go to another source for your puppy. There are many factors involved here, and I would be happy to discuss the situation at length with you. If you are interested, just click on the prompt to initiate a consult.

With proper supervision and enough energy, a new dog can certainly be a welcome addition to a family with a baby. However, this decision varies widely from family to family since a new dog will require a lot of training, attention, exercise, and supervision. There is never a guarantee that it is safe having a dog around a baby. Dogs and babies or children should never be left alone together without direct adult supervision. That said, many dogs and babies live together safely and successfully. Babies and young children must be taught not to pull on dogs’ fur or tails, take toys or bones from them, or interfere with their food or treats. This could result in pain or resource guarding, which can lead to aggression in even the most tolerant of dogs. If you are rescuing an adult dog, be sure that the dog’s temperament has been evaluated around babies and children. Should you choose to adopt a puppy, be aware that the puppy will have more energy and a bit less awareness than an adult dog and could accidentally jump on a baby or cause accidental injuries. Essentially, this is not a straightforward decision and you must consider your entire family dynamic and ability to factor in this additional responsibility.

I would get Bentley in with a professional behavioral expert immediately, and do not introduce her to your newborn baby at all. I'm very concerned that she has already lunged at your 4 month old niece, and that is an aggressive behavior that could have extremely serious and even fatal consequences. The safety of your baby is paramount, and I would not allow Bentley anywhere near your newborn because she already has a history of lunging at babies. You need professional help managing this behavior, and it may be honestly that rehoming her is best. I know that this would be extremely hard, but you can't have an aggressive dog around a baby. Have her seen by a professional behavioral expert first to discuss training if you want to keep Bentley, but until they feel it's safe, keep her completely separate from the baby. It may seem like I'm overreacting, but I know of cases where this has gone fatally wrong. The last thing I would ever want is for that to happen to someone else, so I will always advice extreme caution. Speak to your vet first thing Monday about a referral to a professional behavioral expert. I hope this helps!