Can a Brazilian Mastiff puppy live safely with small Rat Terriers?

Question

I wanted some advice on a dog breed before deciding to add the puppy to the family. I currently have two smaller dogs (rat terriers) and I was curious if a Brazilian mastiff (fila) could safely cohabitate with my existing dogs. I know Filas can have an agressive side if not trained properly, but I wondered if it were an issue if raised from a puppy around the other two even though he will grow many times their size. thank you! Pet's info: Dog | Rat Terrier | Female | spayed | 5 years and 1 month old | 9 lbs

Jennifer Summerfield, DVM CPDT-KA · Accepted Answer

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.

Can a Brazilian Mastiff puppy live safely with small Rat Terriers?

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