Two Dogs Alone?

[cathypede]

I have a 9 month old male and a 6 month old female cocker spaniels. Both are neutered/spayed. They fight over bones and some toys. Also, the male barks alot for no reason--if you just look at him, etc. He barks alot at my husband when he gets close to me---when my husband hands me coffee in the morning, the dog barks and sometimes grows at him.

The male is enrolled in obedience training to start within the next few weeks. I hope it helps. However, I talked to the trainer and she said the dogs should be separated when no one is home. I did both have them in the kitchen. I had one pet taxi that is actually the females. I would leave it open so she could get in and out of it during the day. When I go home at lunch or after work, many times the male is in the pet taxi and she is in the dog bed. The trainer told me they are probably fighting when I am not at home and that it is a bad idea because she knows of cases where dogs got into such bad fights that one is severely hurt. SO, I went and bought another kennel and have separated them. MY QUESTION - I wanted TWO dogs so they could keep each other company. Now by separating them I have basically negated that whole thought process. I don't want either of them to get hurt though. Do you think that when they get older they can be out of the kennels and just have the run of the house? Or will they always have to be kenneled now. I am CONFUSED.
Thanks!

[aly]

This is why a lot of shelters and rescue groups won't let you adopt two puppies so young. Because they are close to the same age and probably pretty close in size, the pack order is not as clear and there may be struggle for the top position. If you manage the problems now, it is quite possible that you can leave them alone together when they are older. Your trainer gave you great advice to seperate them for now. Work on their training and keep observing their behavior when they are together while you're home. You may come to a point where you do feel comfortable leaving them alone together.

I am glad you have the male enrolled in obedience because it sound like he needs some socialization. I would talk to your trainer about his growling at your husband. That is not acceptable behavior and you should address that immediately. Ask your trainer how to handle it though because one wrong move could make the situation a disaster.

And even though your dogs will be alone while you're gone, they will still have wonderful companionship when you are there. I understand why you want them together when you're gone too though. Just keep working with them and they may get to the point where that can happen.

[KYS]

I agree, having 2 pups together can be a problem.
Another thing you can try:

Remove all toys and bones from the yard when you
are not home.
(anything they could possibly fight over)
See if that works.
Of course their is no guarrentees, since dogs
can find even a twig to fight about.

If not wait till they are older than remove all toys
and bones etc. and leave them together and see
what happens.

I had to separate my dogs for 6 months, when
Rocky was a adolecent (sp)
He was getting into fights with Sheba.
(I also removed anything from the yard they
could fight over.)

Once he matured, I still kept the yard free from toys
and bones but was able to leave them together when
I was not home.

They haven't had a fight in 3 years now.

[lovemyshiba]

I have 4 dogs, and only 2 of them stay together when they're home alone.
The 2 who are together, stay downstairs in a room I have set up just for them--toys, an old futon, water dish, and a radio.
The other 2 stay upstairs, but not together, a gate separates them.
My 2 females have fought before, and I will never trust them alone together--it's too scary to think about what could happen.

With yours being so young though, I'm sure if you follow the trainer's advice, and socialize them, they will be able to stay together someday.

[cathypede]

Thank you for your advice! We will just have to keep working with The Bandit!
C

[WWFanz]

Originally posted by cathypede
Also, the male barks alot for no reason--if you just look at him, etc. He barks alot at my husband when he gets close to me---when my husband hands me coffee in the morning, the dog barks and sometimes grows at him.

When we had Puff, he used to do that around alot of men, mostly my dad. We thought manly because we think he was the "dominate male" of the litter. His ears would also stick up around me, or anyone else. But around most men... they'd go back behind his head. But after we had him about a year, right before he died, he was getting more friendly.