Does anyone have Rotts or Mastiffs?

[cluckychick]

If you do how are they around ur chickens?

My son really wants a rott and there are some mix rottxmastiff that I can get a puppy but I want to make sure it's right for us, ya know.

 

[Three_Blessings]

We have two english mastiffs and one rotti. We have not had any problems with them around the chickens or our goats. I think it's more in how you raise them. If you get the dog as a pup you should have no problem teaching them to leave the chickens alone. Be firm with the pup that chickens are off limits. Rotts and mastiffs are great family dogs and very loyal!!

 

[Haviris]

We've had rotts in the family (I haven't owned one), I know atleast three while we had chickens. One sister had two, don't remember the female messing w/ them the male (mix) did once and they broke him of it. Another sister had one and he was a chicken and cat killer. I did manage to break him from bothering the cats (but only cats he knew), and he got better around the chickens, but I never fully trusted him.

I agree w/ it being how they are raised, I tried to tell my sister when hers was still a puppy that she was going to have trouble w/ him around cats, he was just way to rough. Her thoughts on it were she didn't plan to have cats or chickens so it didn't matter, well guess where he ended up? With us! And he had to live on a chain. After he got sick we moved him inside. I know he sounds terrible, but he was really a nice dog, w/ the cats he just didn't understand his own strength, I don't think he intended to kill them.

 

[greatplainschicks]

Hello
We raise mastiffs and ours will chase/harm chickens. Ours were here before chickens though. If you raise them with chickens I think you will be ok. Mastiffs are the best family dogs!!! I would be happy to answer any questions that you have about them. We just had a litter 4 days ago!!
Dan

 

[Shanay235]

At one time, we had Rotties, a male and female. My male was a 140 lb. brut. Both have since passed away but we didn't have any trouble out of them when it came to other animals. Of course, we made it clear from the day they were brought home it would not under any circumstance be tolereated. In the 12 years they were with us they peacefully lived with ferretts, ducks, gerbils, guinea pigs, birds, you name it. All we had to do was tell them "Easy, it's a baby" and they would almost adore the smaller critter.

Actually, now that I'm thinking about it, the male Rott was terrified of the ferrets.

LOL Nothing funnier (or more destructive) than seeing a 140lb. dog climbing over the back of a couch, or trying to get up on the dining room table to get away from a 2 lb. weasel.

 

[Shanay235]

P.S.

I really think it's all how you raise them. Last year we inherited a Boxer from my mother-in-law who had gotten her into trouble over killing neighborhood cats. Less than six weeks after he came to live with us he went from cat killer to sharing his bed with two of them.

The biggest trouble we have out of him now is thinking the cats are playing with him when they're really trying to claw his eyeballs out.

 

[SundownWaterfowl]

Quote:
Ive never had one, but it is how you raise them. With any powerful breed, you need to take extra precautions, and train them. I would suggest obedience classes, and remeber to SOCIALIZE!

Good luck!

 

[katrinag]

It REALLY depends on how there are cared for and trained. With any dog obedience classes are a must.
Moose my mastiff, plays with the roos that I have. He will run after them, then the next minute the roos are running him around in circles.

 

[Msbear]

We've always had rotti's on the farm when we were growing up. I rescued Ms. Bear

from the SPCA when I was 21. She was my best friend for many years before she passed. Rotti's are so devoted to their owners and want no more than to please. In Europe, this breed was known for its loyalty and many farmers had them. They would protect the livestock and go off to war with the sons. If you were wealthy enough to have one, it could mean the difference in coming home alive.

Nowadays, they are known for being gentle giants. The same dog that would let a toddler beat him up (my dad's) would not let the UPS man out of his truck just cause he wasn't quite right. I agreed with the dog. That dude was wierd.

Yes! They are fabulous with farm animals of all kinds. But they are protective of your farm. If another animal or person is not suppose to be there, they will know about it. Bill (my dad's dog, Kaiser Wilhelm III) hahahahahhaha would just chase off the animals. One look at him was usually all it took. Now groundhogs, that's a different story

 

[cluckychick]

My best friend has always had rotts and I've never had issues with any. My bro has a staffordshire terrier and he's a big sissy. My 71yr young momma takes care of him during the day when he's at work. He looks fercious but he's not. It is all in how their trained.

My friend growing up had two pit bulls, we use to dress them in baby clothes and push them around in a baby carriage. That was way before all the hype on the breed. Then one got in a fight with a junk yard dog and she had to be put down cuz she bit her master. He wouldn't have it around us kids.