Leaving Multiple Dogs Unsupervised - Page 1

The thread below, "Please help spread the word" is too old to be "bumped" so I thought I would repost it for anyone new to the forum.
I just forwarded the thread to an acquaintance who I learned had recently added a third dog (a rescued GSD) to her household. She had no idea that she should NEVER leave multiple dogs unsupervised. Thanks to Keith for originally posting the thread.

http://www.pedigreedatabase.com/german_shepherd_dog/bulletins.read?mnr=481753

This thread has always stuck with me and I'm very careful never to leave my two GSDs (one cranky 2.5 year old female and one 9 month old male) unsupervised. My female wants anything the male has in his mouth (even a leaf) so things can quickly escalate if he doesn't give the item up fast enough for her liking. If one of us can't be downstairs with them then one dog is crated or kennelled outside. I'm comfortable being mocked for being overly cautious - it's preferable to discovering my female dead since my male already outweighs her by 30 lbs.

I leave all of my dogs together unsepervised with no problem, always will.  It just depends on the dogs, how you raised them, etc.

I have 2 unaltered females that are left alone with the run of the house. No problems here... I wouldn't throw another dog
into the mix at this point though. They can be out in the yard unsupervised with the one male I have.. don't trust him in the
house :)

Melissa

I leave my dogs together BUT when Voo and Mauli are in heat, I have to keep Sister and them seperate. Sister is an older spayed female who was jumped on as a puppy by one of my old dogs--when Voo jumps on her she just falls down, pees and lets Voo whip her. Voo is also like that pregnant as I found out. So I have to be aware all the time.................Now Voo and Mauli are best buds but like you said Melissa, I can't throw any more together with them cause I think they would pack up on her..................

 

Really amateurish question, I'm sure, but...here goes anyway.

Are there significant differences behavior-wise in altered vs. unaltered females?  I've only ever had spayed/neutered dogs.  And are there any recommendations for good (reliable) sources of info on various dog temperaments/personalities/etc.  IOW, something that would explain these nuances of dog behavior that seem to come with/from years of experience....ie. how two females might react together, how a third dog might impact the hierarchy, etc.

Thanks.

ETA: "temperaments/personalities" might not be the best words to use....perhaps the behavior differences in males/females and how they shape/transform a pack.  Hope that makes sense.

GSDguy, I sure hope you never learn the hard way how wrong you are with that thinking. Everyone I know who had a problem thought that until they came home to a dead dog.  

I leave Capri w/my old male mutt sometimes. I would NEVER leave 3 or more dogs alone. Ever. Over-confidence/under-estimation can get dogs killed.

Jen I agree and I hope noone ever has to find it out--not ever having had males before I can't comment, but those bitch fights are serious. I'll also throw this in the mix--how you raise them has nothing to do with it. I never would have thought Voo would jump on Sister and rip her shoulder open. She was raised here from 9 weeks old. I said I leave mine together but I am home most of the time. When I leave for ANY reason, whether it is a short store run or a long dr day, I crate Sister and I pen the puppies up. I leave Grandpa, Mauli and Voo out--and even when Mauli and Voo are in heat I seperate them when I leave because ya never know and it only takes once.

My PP Mal and my old dog got along OK. I came home one day and my poor Mal's head (her name was Mandy) was swollen as big as a basket ball where Sadie had just decided she was pissy--I guess--and gave her a good whipping. Zoom off to the vet. She pulled through and I never made that mistake again.

Vonissk

Only the naive, inexperienced, or just plain ignorant of the possibilities would disagree with what you just posted. 

I don’t disagree with anyone here and I think every owner knows their dogs the best, i had separated my original 3 for over a year until i was able to leave all 3 together in the back yard while i am at work, but that’s because my alpha was one and only alpha and other two never challenged her and are naturally submissive dogs...if any of the other two ever displayed even an inkling of a challenge as they matured I would have separated them and kept them separate...so it's possible to keep multiple dogs together....but even with that I make sure they are tired before i leave them...boredom/excess of energy will create more issues than anything else...