Another One of Our Mutts For Your Viewing Pleasure - Page 3

Had a crossbred Alaskan husky/Walker hound bitch who was one of our best lead dogs, back when I had sled dogs.  She was a pretty soft bitch, temperament-wise, but she was fearless in harness and reliable on commands. When bred to one of my Siberians, this bitch presented us with 13 pups, and I ended up keeping the smallest female back for myself--and when I say 'small', I'm talking about 35-40# at maturity. Small but fast!  Anyway, had the mama dog, who had never so much as raised a lip to any other dog, and now here's baby girl, a bit better than half her mama's size, and they got on well...until baby girl went through her first heat.  That quick, as soon as baby girl was out of heat, I had both of 'em staked to the side of the truck as we got the dirt rig set up and the harnesses and lines laid out, when suddenly they launched themselves at each other, and within seconds, blood was flying.  An inch to the left, and the slash on mama dog's neck would have hit the jugular, and I'd have only been taking one dog to the vet's to be stitched up.  From that point on, although I could still work them in harness next to one another, or in the same team but different positions, I had to be on guard to keep them separated at all costs...because each was determined to kill the other.  Neither of them had any issues with any of the other bitches, either--just mother versus daughter.  Spaying one or both of the bitches may have absolutely no effect on the animosity, and no effect on whether it arises or not; in this instance, mama dog and baby girl were later both spayed (mama for age, baby girl because I wasn't going to breed a 35# sled dog), but it changed nothing. 

There's no explaining it...but when one bitch takes a dislike to another, you're unlikely to ever be able to repair the relationship between those dogs. 

vonissk, I'm sorry you're having to make such a difficult decision, and I know you'll always miss Sister...but you know you're doing what's best for the dogs involved, and which dog will more easily adjust to, and benefit from, the change in address, and you're lucky in that you've got a trustworthy, safe place she can go and get the same degree of care and love she's accustomed to having.

Hi Hexe, Thanks for sharing your story with me. I know with what you were doing it must have been so frustrating to you. And honestly it is a real pain in the butt to never know when they were going to get into it. Altho I had one crated all the time, when I left the house I crated them in different rooms just in case. We all know there are some who can break out of crates like they are nothing. And when I was gone I still worried.

Thank you for your kind words and encouragement. I always said I would never rehome one of my older dogs for a new dog--especially pets. But these were my options--either rehome Sister who didn't get enough attention as she did when I only had 3 dogs and nothing hardly going on with them. Or send Voo to Bec's and give up most of my dreams and goals I haven't fulfilled yet. I am getting older and don't have time to take 2 years to raise puppies like I used to. And it wasn't ez--but it was absolutely about Sister and what was best for her. You're right Hexe. I know she is safe and loved and cared for and not just locked in a box--even with period times to get out for a couple of hours each time to live in a crate is no way to live IMO. We go back and forth pretty regularly so I can see her and hear updates on her. AND of we never find her another home, she will live her life out there.

You're right about once they take a dislike to each other they can never be trusted together again. This isn't my first rodeo, I have seen it before. And this is the thing when you have a dog that is dog aggressive, you never know. I had one when I lived in another town and I would tie her up when I worked in the front yard. I never knew if a kid was going to walk down the street with a foo foo dog and she would get loose and possible hurt the child. I got to where I didn't trust her and I had gotten a puppy and when she tried to kill it, I decided that was it and I had her put down upon my thoughts, the advice of my vet and my mentor. I had a really good friend who lived down the street and they took her in for the night. Tried to convince me to let her have her and I said nope, you have a dog and you have small children. I would never feel right if something happened. Any naysayers that say that was wrong I say to you you weren't there and it has been almost 30 yrs ago, back when I was new in the breed............................

Thank you all for sharing the stories and the experience.  Bitches can be..well, just bitches sometimes.   

When I made the decision to keep Cirberus, I had to think long and hard how I would handle having 2 bitches in the home.  My current house is set up so they are easily kept separated.  They are still allowed limited play time (Rose actually cries if she does not get her morning playtime with each of the puppies) but it is under tight control with no distractions to me.    When and if I move in a few years, I will make sure I will have the same abilities in the next house.

Sigh, love the girls, but sometimes the guys are just easier.  

Wow, lovely dogs. Congrats to you, Joey and his owners on the live find, that is something to be very proud of!

Thank you very very much. Yes we are proud and yes I am very proud of our dogs--even tho some of them only have OFA certifications and UKC CHs I am still very proud of them because I know underneath that beauty is the ability and desire to do a job.

Well Fawn I only have the 3 bitches now and one of them is Voo's puppy. They are best friends. Also when Voo had the puppies she allowed Mauli to be the true grt Auntie--Voo and Mauli play rough but they have never had a problem--through heats, Voo's pregnancy and all. I am hoping things will remain the same with Puppy DeJa, as I call her. BUT as soon as I can get materials over here and get things put up, there will be a place so we don't go through what we have.