male dogs together

[Julian Bielewicz]

I have a dilemma. I own a young Labrador while my wife has a young English Pointer. Both males. At the moment they share the 'back' verandah and although they have their own beds they choose to share one bed. In a word, at the moment, they get on like the proverbial house on fire (great chums).

We have been advised that it is not a good policy to allow the two dogs to continue in this friendship - they will apparently become too 'dog orientated' and should be separated; that is in 'cages' along side each other but not able to actually 'touch' each other.

I am in the process of building 'kennels' down the backyard. Should I build two inpendent BUT adjacent runs (with a kennel in each) or is it permissbale to have two male dogs share a run?

The 'run' will be some 6x2m with two dogs sharing the space or should I make it 6x4m [that is, two runs of 6x2m adjacnet to ech other] if I have to build two separate runs to keep the dogs apart?

I hope that makes some sense to someone out there.

Julian

[Kirsty Blair]

Hi Julian,

I have to adamently disagree with whoever came up with the idea that your two dogs shouldn't be permitted to share quarters (or beds). Provided that the dogs are properly socialised with people during their critical development period (between 7 weeks and 3 months of age) they will always have a very strong bond to people. I'm assuming that the dogs are trained and worked individually, not in pairs, and that they get one-on-one attention from their handlers.

People, being egocentric creatures, tend to forget that dogs are pack animals and require physical interaction with others of their kind to lead a full and happy existence. I would not suggest separating them unless, at a later date, they developed issues regarding agression as their hormones start to kick in.

All my dogs co-habit and I've never had a problem with focus and work intent when they were taken away on their own.

On the other hand, I have used kenneling to ensure that the dog isn't worn out from playing with its mates before training. I will kennel the dog an hour before training is scheduled thus ensuring the dog is bright, fresh and has its brain switched on for the work ahead.

Just my thoughts,

Kirsty

[Kerry Webster]

Hi Julian,

There are so many people I know who have several of their male dogs together, including myself, and have no problems whatsoever.

I have two male labs, one is 4 yrs, the other 5 yrs, and, I have only had the 5yr old for almost 18 months. Both entire, and they get on wonderfully together. I have two spayed bitches as well, and there is no jealousy displayed by either male.

I do have adjoining separate kennels for them when I do, want to put them away. (much the same as Kirsty does). The younger male was an escapologist for a while, and could bite through wire. One dog escaping was bad enough, let alone two.

Kerry

[Gareth Tawton]

Julian,

Someone always has to be different. I have pretty much always had males. I have had both the situation where they all get on and can be together without so much as a raised hackle as well as a dominant GSP who belted the daylights out of my lab. Early on these two had got on like a house onfire. I think kenelling males together is fraught with danger. Sure dogs are a pack animal and need some level of interaction. However in the wild if two males don't get on. One belts the other until the weaker is submissive or is forced to leave the pack. (in simple terms) While locked in a kennel there is no escape for the weaker animal if a fight does break out. It takes just one fight, one toothhole to permanantly disable a dog. Is it worth the risk?

Sure I would agree with allowing the dogs supervised time together. My 3 males are often loose in the yards together. I would not leave them locked in the confines of a kennel together for extended periods of time. Having a pair of kennels gives you the choice of seperating if and when the need requires. I also think if you are serious about training and trialling your dog having certain styles of dogs locked up increases their desire to be with you and retrieve when the opportunity comes.

Decisions, decisions,


Gareth

[Annie Warner]

Hi
I have always kept my dogs together. They are pack animals as others have remarked, and they really enjoy the company of another dog especially to curl up with if it is a cold day, or when training is all done and they are at rest.....after Carlin came to me I have no photos at all of Carlin and Crash where the 2 boys are not in actual physical contact!
Also I have noted that dogs that are kennelled seperately tend to get almost over excited when they are let out with other dogs, they then can get a tad over excited, that is when trouble could arise if it is going to, that is when the dogs get a bit hard to handle, when they are over excited.
I cannot think it would be a problem to have your 2 boys together as I think you said the pointer is your wife's dog so I guess she handles him?
Thinking back to my youth, misspent in England, true working gundogs often all spent there non working time around the Aga stove in the game keepers cottage, along with an assortment of other animals, these were dogs that were in work almost all the time too.

Annie

[Prue Winkfield]

My experiences have been mixed. We had two male dogs from the same litter and they faught very badly. Later on I had two males with several years gap. They got on really well until the older dog got to about 9 years old then the younger one started picking on him and in the end actually killed the older dog (I was overseas at the time and people did not follow my instructions). These two were fine as long as I was around but no way could they be left together. I have heard of this happening with bitches as well.

[Leanne O'Sullivan]

I have to agree with Gareth on this one. I think you need to remember that dogs in the wild have the choice to leave the pack. We don't give our dogs that option.

I'm not saying that males won't get along, I have 3 that get along very well (for the moment at least) but I keep a very close watch on them and have the facilities to separate when required.

Leanne

[jeff b]

Hi Julian

I tend to agree with keeping kennelled dogs separate. I have 8 working bred labs at present and all kennelled individually, the exception is 2 older retired females aged 14 and 12 who do share a kennel. All the kennels have their own runs and I also have larger exercise runs for the dogs to spend supervised time together which is important.

The problem is that dogs, male or female, can develop status issues between them which can get serious, this can happen even with the most placid dogs. Many years ago I had a 11 yo collie and a 3 yo GSD, both bitches, they lived, slept, played and did everything together, one day for no apparent reason, the GSD killed the collie and there had been no warning signs.

Any potential conflict is more likely to develop when the dogs are alone, resource or territory issues can surface, when dogs are left together it is natural for one to aspire to a higher position, the problem is when the other dog does not agree and the flashpoint will often be over the tiniest issue.

I believe separate kennelling also helps with the training, as the dogs become more orientated towards the trainer/owner for their enjoyment as well as being able to take them out individually for training or working without overly upsetting the other one.

Your dogs no doubt get on extremely well, especially with you around, but they are dogs and you do not want a situation whereby, should there be a problem, there is no escape route.

Jeff