Does Anyone Separate Their Dogs When They Go Out?

[geo]

Hi all, I'd like anyones experience on whether dogs should be separated when not supervised, even if they are best friends.

One is a dominant female, the other a yound male, not at sexual maturity, so should they be seperated before so he gets used to being crated / kennelled.

I'd especially like to here from anyone with experience with amstaffs / bull breeds.

Thanks

[Dog_Horse_Girl]

If you're asking the question, that suggests that you feel the dogs might be better being separated.

We have three dogs: Ruby (mixed breed, most likely to be a staffy x), Lilly (purebred greyhound) and Molly (mini foxie x). Due to the size differences, we do separate them when we can't supervise but it's not what we necessarily always do. There are times when it's okay for us to leave them together so it's not a hard and fast rule.

When separating ours, we use baby gates so they can still see and hear each other, they just can't get to each other. This is what we do if we want them to use activity toys because Ruby is a bit possessive and doesn't share well.

Perhaps if you could give a bit more information, more detailed responses could be given.

[Bullbreedlover]

Hi all, I'd like anyones experience on whether dogs should be separated when not supervised, even if they are best friends.

One is a dominant female, the other a yound male, not at sexual maturity, so should they be seperated before so he gets used to being crated / kennelled.

I'd especially like to here from anyone with experience with amstaffs / bull breeds.

Thanks

simple answer

YES

we always separate our dogs when we go out.

Anything unforseen can happen.

[brigie bear]

Sorry, I only have 3 small ones but I never separate them at all. They have tiffs every now and again but never fight and really they arent left unsupervised too much anyway.

I do think if I had a bigger dog in addition to them I would separate them only because of rough play.

I second Lilysmum - if you're asking the question you must have a concern?

[Tilly]

My two are seperated unless under direct supervision - even if I am home.

Just because the pup is a total pain in the butt and the older boy is double the size. I have even witnessed the older dog trying to drown the pup.

[ninahartland]

No, never separate mine when we go out. They're not alone much anyway, but on the odd occasion they have been , I'm sure they sleep most of the time anyway :rolleyes:

I know the unforseen can always happen though.

[SkySoaringMagpie]

Yes, with five dogs I think it would be irresponsible to let them all run together unsupervised for hours a day. None of ours are DA but one is a bonehead, one is a resource guarder and one is a pushy submissive. So the risk of something happening when we are not around to intervene is too high for me.

The other two, thank god, are sensible.

[Leema]

My two are not separated. They get along well and seem to be quick to resolve issues when they do have tiffs. They are good with toys, good with food. However, I separate puppies from adult dogs (puppies are annoying), and separate foster dogs from my two (until I feel confident in their relationship). I also separate my two when she is in heat, 'cause he gets humpy (though he's desexed, he's still a nuisance).

If I felt like they would become possessive of items, if they tended to 'hold grudges' or have fights beyond a growl and a snap, then I would rather have them together under supervision only.

[Janba]

Mine are not seperated as older pups or adults but I do seperate young pups from the older dogs when I'm not there to supervise.

[geo]

Thanks for everyones input, it seems everyone has different routines, i guess it is a matter of what suits the dogs best. However my intention would be to train the pup now to go into a kennel he feels safe in and likes, (he is used to a kennel) and make it his, instead of letting him grow up and then being reactionary if they should have an argument, i feel maybe he would think it is punishment ...? and then wouldn't like the kennel.

Male is a pup and female is the adult and quite dominant with him, mainly when he wants to play with her, otherwise she ignoes him, she's the same with all dogs until she's ready to play, and when locked outside they mainly sleep.

[ruthless]

Crates and runs here. We don't even leave them all in the backgarden together unsupervised when we're home.

[Cosmolo]

Mine are separate only because Dexter has joint issues and can't play in the yard for even a few hours or he'll be cripple. That aside, i'd happily leave them alone together- 2 bull breeds and 2 ACD xs.

In saying that- i do know of situations where dogs were left alone together that in hindsight should not have been and owners came home to a dead dog. If i was in any way uneasy or unsure, i would separate.

[Teebs]

I dont have the set up here, I did try it once, but Kaos went nuts because she couldnt see Atlas, If i had the right set up and runs where they can see each other, i would do it

[Daisy]

Mine are seperated. The two greyhound boys are left together, usually in the house where they sleep all day. My sons staffy cross is never allowed in with the greyhounds, even under supervision, because for some strange reason he has a dislike for one of my greyhounds and has attacked him on more than one occasion (yet he is not normally dog aggressive). My whippet girl is sometimes in with my sons staffy cross, or if we have a foster she is allowed to run with the foster once I am sure they will get on ok. In fact I now usually pick my fosters with her in mind, she likes to have a playmate so I usually choose a young dog around her size to foster so she has someone to play with While my two greyhounds get on really well with the whippet, I don't like to leave the two boys unsupervised with any smaller dog, just in case they ever got a bit too excited in play. I will, however, leave one of the greyhounds unsupervised with the whippet, just not both together.

ETA I never run more than 2 dogs together when unsupervised. This stems from a very very sad and distressing incident a couple of years ago when I had several fosters, and one day when I was out one of my fosters was in distress and was attacked and killed by some of the other dogs :rolleyes: So now maybe I am paranoid, but I would never ever want to risk that happening again.

Edited November 15, 2009 by Daisy

[dogdude]

My experience is always separate same sex Bull breeds, and feed them seperately regardless of what sex they are.

I run my Staffy dog and Bitch together, but they still have minor tiffs every now and again. Generally my dog is happy to let my bitch get her way.

Bull breed v Bull breed fights are extremely hard to break up, particulary when your on your own. Things that you would expect to break up normal dog fights generally will not even be noticed when two bull breeds have a hold of each other. Not nice at all.

[OSoSwift]

My Dobes were always seperate unless I was there, but even then I had to be careful. They did end up having a big tiff and after that were never together unless wearing a basket muzzle.

The Stafford was seperate from the Dobes as well when we not were home, but could run with either when we were home no problems.

The Whippets are together, although I do seperate from time to time as our boy has some seperation issues that we are training for and now he is happy to be by himself but next to the girl. They are both entire so need to be able to be seperate for obvious reasons!

The Stafford is always seperate from The Whippets when we are out because they are young and sometimes a little silly and he is old with spinal (and other) issues.

Edited November 15, 2009 by Rommi n Lewis

[Odin-Genie]

Not bull breeds but my dogs are never separated. They are left alone for about 10 hours a day on their own (inside the house with access to backyard through dog door). They aren't possessive, they've never had a fight, and have no aggression issues. So I am entirely comfortable leaving them alone.

[kayla1]

No bull breeds here either but my three dogs are always left together. One of my dogs had to be separated initially as he was too full on for the smaller one, but now there is no problem. I always separate new foster dogs when unsupervised until I’m comfortable leaving them together.

[3Woofs]

My stafford girl and amstaff boy are pretty much always left together. Though they are separated when they have raw bones.

I think it really depends on the dogs. With my two the stafford has been top dog from the start and my amstaff boy is very submissive to her.

[conztruct]

Hi all, I'd like anyones experience on whether dogs should be separated when not supervised, even if they are best friends.

One is a dominant female, the other a yound male, not at sexual maturity, so should they be seperated before so he gets used to being crated / kennelled.

I'd especially like to here from anyone with experience with amstaffs / bull breeds.

Thanks

I have Bull Terriers and they have separate runs. I do let them run together but generally they have turns at being allowed the run of the yard. Why? Bullies play quite happily but they play rough and they keep going and going so this way helps to ensure they don't get filthy, overheated or hurt each other - they are still able to socialise as they are located right beside each other - although if you have an entire dog and bitch, you'll probably need further separation when seasons come around. Definately only allowed to run together with full supervision.