Neapolitan Mastiff Welfare UK

THE TAMING OF NINA

 

"To explain Mick (my partner) and I (Alison) fostered and then went on to adopt Nina a Neapolitan Mastiff from Neapolitan Mastiff Welfare to join us and our Neapolitan rescue – Hughie. This explains how we have to date managed to tame (and are still taming, there is still a journey to travel) a very highly strung dog who came to us with a series of complex issues:-

 

We collected Nina on the 27 October 2008. She arrived in a very stressed state after a series of journeys. She had been put into kennels by her previous owner who had relinquished responsibility of her for 2 days, then transported to Nottingham where she was collected, then placed into kennels for 4 days in the north west region and then arrived at our home to be foster with a view to adopt.

 

Mick transported Nina home in his car from the kennels and I drove home in my car – Nina went nuts in the back of his car trying to get through the car guard rails biting the rails - this was our first experience that Nina was terrified of men!

 

She instantly calmed down when I got out of the car.

 

Our first 2 weeks with Nina were hell – she was constantly showing aggression towards Mick even to the point of biting him once – (when he tried to stroke her when she was in her bed).

 

Trying to get her settled at night was challenge and then it was off to bed at 9pm for peace and quiet – the same experience as having a new born baby I suspect.

It did create tension between myself and Mick.

 

We sought advice by email from Jaq Bunn, Neapolitan Mastiff Welfare’s consultant behaviourist, and took up her recommendations in the use of a DAP room diffuser, DAP collar and DAP spray along with a specific nutritional supplement in her food and Bach Rescue Remedy drops in her drinking water. I openly admit I was rather wary of using these products but I have been won over by the products and after a period of a couple of weeks we started to see a calmer dog developing in Nina along with being  calm and consistent and getting Nina into a regular routine.

 

We had a visit from Jaq and she made us realise that Nina was being defensive  and we can only assume from past experience Jaq has seen with other dogs, experiences that we have seen when we have adopted and owned in the past that she was afraid of men and has been ill treated by them in her past.

 

Jaq showed us how to deal with the number of complex issues we had to overcome:-

 

• Aggression towards Mick – With Nina’s barking at Mick, it was explained that Mick should stay with Nina to gain her trust, not make eye contact and just to let her get used to his scent and presence and gradually with time to try and stroke her.

 

• Fear of Males – Mick took time away from work when our roof was being replaced and although he did not spend 100% of his time with Nina, she had to become reliant on him for food and walking her when I was at work. During that week when he was washing down the garden, she developed her first play instinct with water and they started to form a bond as she loved playing with water coming out the hose pipe.  She also showed her first instinct in playing with balls and toys, so when I came home and she  brought me (the female) a ball I encouraged Mick to play with her and she came to realise that playing was with Mick (the male) and not the female within the home.

 

• Food Guarding – when Nina arrived she had and still displays major food guarding. (In the first 2 weeks she would steal food off the top of the work surfaces in the kitchen)  You have to have your wits about you and not leave anything at all about, she will even climb into the kitchen sink to lick bowls etc out. – you just have to be one step ahead of her.

 

• When she is fed she lunges at her food bowl as if it’s the last meal she is going to get to eat, and wolfs her food down within seconds. We are slowly teaching her to sit, lie down and stay until her food bowl is on the floor and it is slowly getting better – again a technique obtained through Jaq.

 

We doubt we will never change her instincts around food and so both of our Neapolitans are fed separately to overcome the problem.

 

Nina had never lived with another dog and so introduction to Hughie was slow and for a period of short times on each occasion over a period of weeks, they now can’t wait to see each other in the morning, walk happily together and Nina will wait for Hughie if he is lacking behind when out walking.

 

We are now at the stage when walking Nina that she will do her best to be as close to Mick as possible and also if he is behind with Hughie she is looking around for both of them and waits for them to catch up. Recently it has got to the point where Mick can now take hold of both dogs after the initial excitement of going for a walk has disappeared and he can walk both dogs in either hand calmly. This is remarkable considering she used to show aggression to him.

 

Nina now responds better to Mick’s commands than the mine in the house!

 

Nina has learned to play tug and release and she has developed into a very vocal dog – letting you know when she wants to go out for her business, when it is dinner time and treat time.

 

Nina has also taught Hughie how to play, a thing he has never done before which is lovely to see.

 

Nina is a very intelligent dog she can open doors, fridges, cupboards, catch her toys and ask for the fire to be lit – she is a getting to be a right show off.

 

As time progresses we are sure she still has room to calm down a lot more and develop more with us.

 

How we have got to this point is by listening and following the advice you receive from a behaviour specialist – we wouldn’t be here now if it wasn’t for Jaq’s constant emails and advice.

 

To any potential adopters please do not worry about asking for and listening to the advice given, it doesn’t matter how silly / small the question you feel may be, without Jaq’s help we may have had serious issues integrating Nina into our household.

 

If adopting a Neapolitan be prepared to have to wait a period of at least 6 months to see the release of the true character of the wonderful creature inside.

 

Please remember you are adopting a dog that can weigh as much as a human and may not have been given the treatment they deserve."