Leaving Multiple Dogs Unsupervised - Page 4

It's not about arguing, GSDguy,

it's about an open discussion forum regarding leaving dogs unattended
& not being a good idea, per the casual pet owner may be reading this thread
as anyone else would know this is not a good idea

Good day, yep!

Bettawolf, I know it's not about arguing....but that's what I and others were doing more so than an open discussion of any sort.  I'm pretty sure I did state in my posts that I don't suggest to others to do this..... Anyway this is my last comment in this post.  If you want to continue saying anything to me on the subject, put it in a private message. 

I find this an interesting thread. When I was growing up on the farm we had several dogs, all free roaming. We had GSD/Border Collie crosses (sibs), and multiple crosses of God knows what...whatever city folk liked to dump in the country, often pregnant females...in all that time we never, ever had any issues with the dogs not getting along...and at one time we had 13 of the mutts. My folks would feed them, bless their hearts, until we found homes for some of them. We'd find a home for one and someone would dump another. Never ending parade of dogs. We never had less than 3 at one time. There was no fighting over food or for affection in our pack. I don't know what we did that worked so well with our dogs but the first time I heard of dogs fighting like this it blew my mind. Deb

Debi, could it be that they weren't all "permanent" residents, and didn't get as territorial since there were changing numbers? Dynamics in a changing group are far different than a static one, imo. 

Jenni I know I said I was done, but I can relate to what DebiSue said.... I know of numerous packs of dogs just in the neighborhoods I walk through with my dogs.  Those dogs are extremely territorial and have lived there for years, in packs of four or more for some of them.   I also know of people who have had multiple dogs for years, many different people, whos dogs are left unattended, one has four dogs (Pit Bull, Blue Heeler, and two other mixed breeds), and I know one who has 9 dogs, and another who had I think 6.   Not one single one of any of these have ever experienced a fight among their dogs and they "did" have time to become territorial.  I don't know where you live Jenni, but here where I am in TN it truly is extremely common to do this, and most people in general here don't think anything of it.   These are not people I've helped with their dogs (other than the one with the Blue Heeler, but that was a people biting problem and the dog is perfect around people now) either, just your regular pet owners.

My bestfriend has a Rottie mix, Labrador and an Italian Greyhound pack that co-exist. Maybe it has to do with proper introduction and maintenance. A rescue joining in a pack existing for only 6 months, might not be enough time to get into the mainenance phase.

True to some extent Jenni78 but for the most part some of those dogs were with us for years.  The resident 3 until they died of old age.  Others for several years.  They even got along with my cousins dogs for several...we lived with 5 acres of open field between our houses so we were all, kids and dogs running as a pack LOL.  I know that it does happen.  I've know people who can't let two dogs out at once.  Just find it interesting that it's an issue at all. 

Especially in the UK 'crates' are a relatively recent introduction (from the US). Dogs weren't separated, and generally speaking so far as I know, issues were relatively rare (though I only know this from 'hearsay', not from any studies or statistics. It's just how things were. Outside kennels and runs, other than for breeders is also something that is quite unusual in the UK even now and years ago again was unheard of, (pet) dogs just lived in the house (and stilll do) and if you go out, they usually remain in the house.  Then again we are talking maybe just a couple of dogs. I think once you go over a certain number you have a different situation entirely.

Out of curiosity, I wonder how much we upset the balance by separating dogs and allowing limited interaction, interrupted to suit our timetable, and by doing what WE think works better? I wonder does it interfere with the natural dynamic and actualy cause issues which may not otherwise arise?  I wonder also whether our continual 'worry' over dogs being together/separate heightens their senses and perhaps introduces tensions that may not be there otherwise.

Personally I have never had more than 3, and usually it is 2, 1 male/1 female, always neutered or spayed and they are free together in the house when I am not around. They have usually been raised together, or a new introduction has been a puppy and I would be very cautious about introducing a new dog and would never leave a new dog with an existing dog unsupervised until they had been with us for some time and I was very, very sure of the dynamic.

 

Hi Abby! I think what you said has merit. I was thinking to myself, is it this crazy world, or what? when I read DebiSue's comments.
I know my group of 4 got along very well, although I will admit I did the crate shuffle whenever anyone was in heat. (3 intact bitches, 1 intact male). Then Kali, who was clearly the Alpha, & in charge, died. Now I dare not leave her 2 daughters together, in heat or not. They WILL kill each other. I have laid down the law, but since Bitty has had EPI, she is just crazy to kill her sister. Her sister has no issues, with Bitty or any other dog, & approaches her sister with a wagging tail & head up. But Bit hackles the minute she sees her, & nothing seems to change this. 
I think we invest in our animals so completely, we forget they are, after all, animals. We don't know what they are thinking, for sure. I know my critters pretty well, I can read them well; & Kali & I had a bond deeper than human friendship. But I would STILL never leave them alone unsupervised, because they trust ME to keep them safe.
End of story, for me.
jackie harris