Multi dog household - fight broke out, advice pls

Just a quick summary, we have two Bullmastiffs one male, one female, a male collie x and a male greyhound, all neutered.

My female mastiff is 4yrs old and is a dominant girl to the others, in the past she has had a couple of 'goes' at my greyhound who is now 11yrs old. This is what first prompted us to test her thyroid as this was out of character. It ended up she is hypothyroid and she has been on soloxine for approx. a year now and it is well controlled (just had bloods) she is also on metacam for arthritis in her right hind where she had a TPLO a couple of years ago. Plus unfortunately we know she has hip dysplasia. Sorry about the waffling thought some background might help. She is quite a nervous girl out and about in spite of lots of socialisation as a puppy, there was a definite change after the long period of restriction after her TPLO. Ok the main reason for this post is yesterday I had an awful incident, we were then going out for a walk so I know everyone was in a heightened state of excitement we were calmly walking down the alleyway from my house when I saw a dog go past over the road (mine are on leads) so I turned to walk back a few steps to wait a minute before we proceeded. I'm not sure what happened but I think they probably got bundled together and my greyhound tripped, whether he knocked into my female I don't know? But she suddendly flew for him and knocked him to the ground, now it was probably seconds but it seemed like forever I was trying to pull her off him so he could get up, he was crying, but then the other two joined in, so as soon as I pulled one away someone else was having a go at him, I'm afraid I lost it and was screaming at them to stop which I know wasn't helpful. In fact my n
Neighbour heard me and came round and thankfully managed to get my greyhound indoors to safety. I got the others back in the garden, unfortunately my neighbour opened my door and my greyhound came running out? Which confused me, why would he want to come ack out where the others are? They were all set to have another go but I was prepared this time and got them indoors. The two mastiffs were also having the odd snap at each other and my collie x. Despite being very shook up remarkably my greyhound has one small cut on his back I think where he was on the concrete and a little bruising to the inside of his thigh. From what it sounded and looked like I thought he was going to be torn apart. My female had a small cut under her eye, whether the greyhound did this? I don't know. I'm not quite sure what answers I require from this post! Apart from is it common if a fight starts for your other dogs to join in? I think that's what upset me the most as especially my male mastiff is so soft and he loves Norman (greyhound). In fact now all is calm again after half an hour we reintroduced them one by one and Ruby (female mastiff) was even licking Norman round his muzzle and wagging her tail. Obviously Norman was unsettled yesterday evening but the other one who it seemed to effect was my male mastiff who is two years old, after the event he seemed very distressed for a long while, is this normal? Just want other peoples experiences and how they handle these situations, I'm afraid once my husband came home (always these things happen when you're alone) I just burst into tears and thinking I should have never have had two Bullmastiffs I'm not tough enough to handle them etc., etc., poor Norman didn't deserve this and I'm blaming myself for this in a round a bout way.
Any advice greatly received.

It's not unusual for others to join in a ruck, they all get worked up and frequently anything goes.
I deal with it by having dogs that do as they are told when I bellow at them to "pack it in" practice makes perfect as they say. I also don't crowd them all together down the side access way as although that is the way we leave the house I have trained them to only come down it one at a time when called and then put them in the car.
I'm sure you're probably more upset by it than they are, dogs on the whole are pretty forgiving.

no real advice im afraid but can relate to what you went through. When i used to walk my dogs together if another dog across from where we were walking barked or stared over my two would redirect on each other as they couldnt get to the other dog and its awful trying to part them, as mentioned unless theres more than me walking them i now walk them individually and its cut alot of stress out though my girl at the moment has query ruptured crutiate so not much walking with her.i wish you luck i must say as well walking them individually as calmed both dogs down maybe cause there getting there own bit of attention

Aww I can totaly understand you feel rubbish, but it sounds like a situation where the dogs were all hyper and too close together and with your girl being a bit reactive then that just tipped her over - and of course the others just reacted
sounds like it is just one of those things and if noone is hurt and its not something that has been building up for ages then likely just overexcited handbags

I would however not really advise you walk them all at once just incase - and try and stay away from bunching them up like that when excitment is high

Yes, it is not unusual at all for all to pile in if there is a squabble between two.

With ours if something has kicked off, I immediately step in to ensure the one that fights hardest doesn't get involved. Dropping or throwing something metal that makes a loud clang can work if you don't want to shout. ( I have dropped a metal food bowl which interrupts the fight and then quickly tell them THAT IS ENOUGH!)

I never walk my collie next to the dobe as the collie is reactive and if he reacts to something and redirects his aggression towards her and gives her a nip, she will not tolerate it and all hell will break loose.

It always looks and sounds worse than it is and can be quite frightening.

Can not really advise as mine don't (as yet anyway) fight each other.
But I can say its not unusual for all to join in, with the hype of it all etc.,
As your Greyhound is an oldie would it be better to walk him separate maybe. Maybe them being bunched up just triggered your girl, I know once a Rotti had a go at one of my girls and All went in on the Rotti ''Pack it in'' or ''Leave it NOW'' bellowed is a useful tool

I would not get too concerned, it sounds as though your dogs have superb bite inhibition as, after all, if they had actually meant business your greyhound would be torn to shreds by now, espeicially with their paper thin skin.

Another case of all mouth and no trousers.

I think this hot weather does not help, I know it makes ME tetchier.

This, combined with over arousal, frustration at having to wait instead of proceeding to the walk plus your bitch's poor genetic blueprint had the outcome you described.

It is normal, just as it would be normal in the playground, at football matches etc.

Chillax

I handle them by not allowing it to happen again (in theory!) I also tend to do a lot of training with the ones who might be more proactive----sounds like your bitch might be a candidate.

Good luck

rune

Thank you everyone for replies, has made me feel better about the situation, especially what you said about bite
Inhibition Smokeybear, thank you.