Dominance - Page 1

I have been told by a breeder that housing females together can cause problems with them coming into heat and/or conceiving....is this true? I have six GSDs; two six year old female sisters, a two year old female, an 18 month old female, a one year old female, and a nine year old male. They sleep in the house, the younger ones crated, at night, and go out into the yard during the day when I'm home. They are fed seperately in their crates, so there is no dominance issue over food. Generally, they all get along great, although there will be the occassional spat between two of them over something trivial. There are no real fights and none of them pick on others. There is a pecking order, as will be in all "pack" type situations, but it is seldom ever enforced, as the girls really have nothing to fight over. They clearly know me as pack leader and I strongly credit that as to why I am able to keep them this way. They all understand that fights aren't allowed and that picking on others will be corrected. When a spat starts, all I have to do is shout their names and they seperate immediately, knowing they are in trouble. Seldom do I have to correct them though, as most incidents last less than a few seconds. I do not leave them alone together when I can't watch them though, as I know fights are always possible and it would be of me irresponsible to allow one of them to get hurt by not being there to stop it. Most of the time though, they play in the yard like a litter of puppies...it's really cute to watch! Regardless, this breeder keeps telling me that I will have problems breeding these dogs if I keep them this way. She says that only the dominant female, or females, will come into heat, as would be the situation in a wolf pack in the wild. I have had one of the girls go much longer than normal between cycles, but she did eventually come into heat. Another began a heat cycle, bled for almost two weeks, and then just went out of heat, without ever swelling or standing for my male. This was a first for me and I have never even heard of this happening. But otherwise, I've had good luck with breeding. 

Does anyone have any input on this? In all honesty, I care much more about my dogs as companions and if they won't breed while being housed this way, then I just won't breed them. They are happy and healthy and I will not kennel them just to get them bred. I am just very curious about this and what others think.  I really appreciate your input....

you just negated your answers by making the next to last sentence on the last paragraph...so my answer to you wont make a bit of difference..you ask a question for help and then make the statement you arenot kenneling them just to get them bred....so whalla...

i do not believe in letting that many females run together in any ones home or kennel.....i wont go any further...as you said your not interested in kenneling them...

I am not asking for advice on how to get them bred, I am just asking for opinions on whether or not dogs living this way has an effect on their heat cycles and whether or not they conceive. Some breeders have told me that it does and others have told me that keeping females this way will actually cause them to come in heat at or near the same time...ie one coming into heat "pulls" the others into heat. I am just curious about this as I've heard it both ways and would like more opinions on the matter. I am just asking for knowledge, which is what I thought this forum was for...

I also run all my dogs together  and i have more then 6 dogs,i hate kennel dogs.I have never had a problem with my females not conceiveing and yes they can bring each other into heat.

Good for you for letting your dogs be part of your family and living together, It is a very loney life for a kennel dog.

I also was told if your dogs weren't kennel dogs they can't do schutzhund  ya right. Here is my website see for yourself that dogs can live together all the time and work and conceive just fine.  http://vomhausvianden.tripod.com

Yellowrose of texas why don't you like to run you females together do they not get along or do you think it makes them weak. I also bought Zico van't Linnershof  last year a 7 year male that runs  with my males and females and gets along just fine.I guess to each there own want ever works for them.

Take care Charlotte

When I was breeding a couple litters a year, I ran all my dogs together.  Several litter sisters, aunts, grand mothers etc.  All came in season and conceived.  Often came in simultanously or right after one an other.   Only dominant pair of wild canines breed, not true of domestic dogs.

Susan

my bitches tend to bring each other into heat i have had no problem getting them to concieve.

Thank you all very much for your responses. I am glad to know that others agree I am not doing wrong by letting my dogs run together! They seem so happy...I couldn't imagine how they would feel locked up in a kennel all the time...a lot like jail in my opinion, and my dogs aren't criminals! :) I can't help but wonder why this breeder would say this, as it seems to not be true....maybe there has been other reasons for her dogs not coming into heat and/or conceiving and this just seemed like the easiest thing to blame it on....?? If anyone wants to take a look at my "pack", you can see them at www.freewebs.com/rockinrkranch. I'm very proud of my babies! They are my kids!