Dog Community

Ok, now mulitples, more than one bitch!

Posted : 12/3/2006 6:40:25 PM

This is the hard part for me, Ive had two bitches before and it was fine, Maya is so laid back, Roxie passed away a few months ago. Hubbie wants another Bitch, ( you'd think havin me around he'd be all set) [

] I want a male. A female is available, 6 months old, Im a little apprehensive. What do ya think? I know about all the horror stories, I guess Im just scared.

calliecritturs

Posted : 12/3/2006 6:52:28 PM

Right now I've got two females and it's NO problem because Kee is so totally not dominant. She's a little old female who has been thru heck and is just plain delighted to have a place where the food is good. Luna "Plays incredibly well with others" -- she got an A+++ on that part of the dog training card. (She was reared at doggie daycare LITERALLY -- the gal had her there every time the doors were open *sigh*). She plays better with dogs than bonding with humans!

Beyond that -- I wouldn't try it. My circumstance was specific in that BOTH dogs are unusual and both get along incredibly well with others -- and often the problem with two bitches doesn't happen for a good long while til the newbie gets comfortable and matures into "I'm hot stuff" age. But two females THAT close in age? Wouldn't be made in heaven for me.

calliecritturs

Posted : 12/3/2006 6:54:15 PM

Oops I meant to say this -- this is a 20 year decision. It's not "oh if it doesn't work she can move in with Mom" or something. And something that simply 'builds' and doesn't come to a head for months can cause incredible family problems for the humans. IF you get forced into this I'd sure only do it as a 'foster' for WEEKS before making that decision, and everbuddy's gotta be spayed before move in!!

Boxermom4

Posted : 12/3/2006 8:54:28 PM

7 years and 6 months, close in age? Sorry, Im not following[

] Sorry, Im sure it's me.

sallya

Posted : 12/3/2006 8:59:38 PM

I have always had girls. They were all small dogs and got along great. Never a problem.

Boxermom4

Posted : 12/3/2006 10:04:33 PM

The little girl found a great forever home, I don't feel so bad now. I'll keep my two for now, I did love having three but, we'll wait for the perfect little boy that needs us[

]

Kali Barlendokk

Posted : 12/3/2006 10:50:06 PM

Might I add that, as a Boxer lover, I can't stop looking at your gorgeous babies! [

]

loveukaykay

Posted : 12/3/2006 11:22:59 PM

For a while we had Kayla, Lucy and Minnie. They were fine together. Then we had Kayla and Lucy only who were always fine.

Bailey and Minnie have lived together now and Lucy stays here sometimes. I wouldnt hesitate about the females just based on my experience which has been no problems at all. When this house sells and DH and I figure out where we are going to live we may get another dog and Im sure itll be female.[

] We just have to get our living situation straight.

jennie_c_d

Posted : 12/4/2006 10:19:02 AM

Crate and rotate SUUUUUUUCKS.

I'll never have two bitches, again. Of course, my two were introduced in the absolute worst way. Both were adults. Both are terriers. Both are bossy little girls. Teenie had no socialization, and Emma had been hypersocialized (I literally took her EVERYWHERE the first year, she babysat, dog sat, went to work, to friends' houses, resturants, etc). Teenie doesn't know how to back down, and now they're not allowed to touch each other. It is NOT fun to have two dogs that you have to keep seperate, for the sake of their lives. I'm hoping to reintroduce them, when Teenie's training gets a bit more solid, but they may never get along.

rwbeagles

Posted : 12/4/2006 10:34:32 AM

I have 3 bitches here right now. 2 which have grown up together...and an older bitch who is the mother of 1 of the others. There ARE "fights" here, and I have one of the most biddable breeds around...Beagles.

The 2 young girls are the ones who fight...Nonnie will still put her daughter on her back and tho Sandy plays at mounting or pawing her mother Nonnie only indulges her so long before she IS taught a lesson. Nonnie completely ignores and will not discipline or interact with Ellie...who is not "her" puppy.

The key here is that the 2 young girls can be stopped with a word from me, right now...and they play normally afterwards, and there has never been blood drawn. They are puppy squabbles at this time...nothing more. But...neither bitch has cycled yet and that will change as they age up. There WILL have to be one day, an understanding reached by the both of them.

It would be simpler here if Nonnie would take responsibility for the two but she won't, she only will take on the 1..her daughter. Ellie therefor remains confused and is not the type to accept a lesser status...as her mother was the top bitch before she was rehomed. I think that Nonnie would allow herself to be dominated by Ellie when she's older....but never her daughter....not without a fight. So it's always left between the 2 youngest to sort themselves out...and they are about equal in MENTAL strength and "ganas" to be #1....but Sandy outweighs Ellie and if it comes down to brass tacks....Ellie would lose.

Sex and breeding status play a role...spayed bitches are different to a point...depending on WHEN they were fixed. An older bitch who's cycled and maybe had a litter would likely retain her more bitchy and status driven instincts...than one 'done' at 8 weeks-6months old.

If I were strictly looking to have pets...I would have a dog and a bitch...both fixed...and if I got another dog after that I'd avoid doubling up on bitches. Simply because they MAY be fine for years...but if one day they are not...a bitch fight is ALWAYS, ALWAYS worse and the effects longer lasting...than a dog/dog issue.

snownose

Posted : 12/4/2006 10:56:24 AM

If I were strictly looking to have pets...I would have a dog and a bitch...both fixed...and if I got another dog after that I'd avoid doubling up on bitches. Simply because they MAY be fine for years...but if one day they are not...a bitch fight is ALWAYS, ALWAYS worse and the effects longer lasting...than a dog/dog issue.

Totally agree with that.

I used to breed Huskies, and let me tell you I could write a book about bitch fights.

I have 5 males now, and life is sooo much easier[

] ( I wonder if that applies to the human race, too[

])

nyiceprincess

Posted : 12/4/2006 4:00:30 PM

We have 8 females and 4 males now.We have NEVER had a bitch fight.All the fights we have had here have always been males.The females even sleep in the same bed together.I dont know if its just a fluke but most everyone here gets along really well!

cakana

Posted : 12/4/2006 4:36:20 PM

I'll never have two bitches, again.

Nope, me either. I guess mine aren't really bitches since they're both spayed. I hadn't really thought about Gina's point about the timing of the spay. Buffy was spayed at about 6 months, maybe a little earilier. Sassy wasn't spayed until we adopted her and she was guesstimated to be about 2. Sassy's definitely the bitchier of the 2, so maybe waiting played a role in that. Beats me, but I'm not sure I'll ever have 2 dogs of either sex again, but absolutely not 2 females.

sooner

Posted : 12/4/2006 4:44:48 PM

I have two females. One was spayed sometime before I got her at two years old, the other I got at 8 weeks and had spayed at six months. In ten years, we've never had a fight, but the older one is VERY alpha and the younger is VERY omega. I don't know if that's because the younger one was put in her place from the beginning or if that's how she's genetically wired, but it worked out well. Based on my experience I would have two females again, but I'd do it the same way - introduce a very young puppy to an older spayed female.

Boxermom4

Posted : 12/4/2006 7:29:37 PM

ORIGINAL: Mista Tumnus

Might I add that, as a Boxer lover, I can't stop looking at your gorgeous babies! []

Thank you so much!!!!!