This is something which I am contemplating at the moment. I'm not sure its the best idea, I may not even do it but would like people's thoughts on this.

I have 2 entire males, who at certain times can't be together as it would cause a fight between them. I know the triggers and with a behaviourist we are working on it and tbh i'm happy with the way things are, yes they could be better but i'm coping ok and they are doing well.
I do have a summer house the boys can sleep in, as well as a number of crates too.

I'm hoping to get a bitch of a different breed in the new year - now this litter is planned and sounds quite exciting. Anyway the breeder has offered to take the bitch back when she is in season so not to cause my boys any extra major issues. Now is this a good idea? Would it cause the bitch issues by sending her away, is this going to be of detriment to her? She will be well looked after at the breeders I know for sure.

I'm just pondering if I should be considering this litter or not. Its a breed i've always admired and would love, but thinking out loud whether I should really wait or not??
I've spoken to other people and my doggy friends think I should go for it, my non doggy friends think i'm mad to even consider another dog full stop.

I would send away the male, less risk (I couldn't feel easy trusting my bitch to kennels even assuming they would be happy to have an in season bitch h disrupting things) unless of course you have several males.

I have 2 males and my friend, the breeder has the space and set up for bitches. Its not a kennels either..

Forgot to add, still currently at home, so add in another entire male here..

It does look possible I may have someone to live in the near future, so that would mean moving out and I may possibly have the set up myself to deal with it.

I have a bitch that goes away when she's in season. She goes to a good friend who has secure kennels and I know she's spoilt silly when she's there. The first time was hard but now my bitch jumps out of the car happily when we get there and is more than happy to go into her kennel. It makes life easier for me, my pack... and my neighbours!

I should say, the first time was hard for me, not her!

Just wondered if it was a rottie you were having? :-) I know you've mentioned you like the breed on other threads, so if it is, perhaps we'll meet up a show in the future?

As for your query though, I had two males (like your situation) however when the bitch was in season, they completely astounded me, by being so soppy it wasn't a problem. I thought they would be at each others throats! With careful use of crates, excercise, etc etc we had no problems.

I think, for me, I would be too worried about her being in full season with other males around, even if I knew they couldn't possibly get to her. If anything did happen (and not just an accidental mating), I would be mortified.

Sorry as you are not going to like this but if your 2 males are already inclined to fall out, getting another, especially an entire bitch, will most likely exacerbate the problem, not to mention that the 2 males probably will not eat & will lose condition every time the bitch is in season.

and more than likely three weeks before the bitch actually comes into season.  After having two males who got on well at the start then hated each other and I also got caught int he middle of one of their fights, I'd be worried bringing in a bitch if they already have issues.

Its good reading all sides of the coin as i'm wanting to make the right decision all round. I know I can cope with another dog, its just if a bitch is the right way to go, which it appears may not be the case.
Perrodeagua,
How have you coped with this situation? Do you still have all 3 of those dogs? What changes did you make after the fight occurred?

Is the KC ok with bitches being spayed without any medical reason, if I wanted to have her done and continue to show?  Its not a breed i'm wishing to breed from, i'll leave that to others.
Would that make much of a difference if she was done once fully matured?
I do prefer males, but not wanting a male of this breed in my mix, that would be asking for big trouble ;-)

If your boys already don't get on, either another bitch or a dog could easily make things worse, but if you think you can cope it's your choice. Normally I would prefer to send the male away as I wouldn't trust any of my friends not to let a dog get to her (they probably wouldn't but if she's not in my sight, who knows!), but with your scenario of 2 dogs which could fight, and a breeder willing to take the bitch back, and hopefully capable of looking after a bitch in season and not letting anyone get to her, that sounds your best bet. I've had the experience of 2 dogs and a bitch, in my case they didn't fight until I got the bitch puppy, but it was a stressful 5 years of being careful with gates at all times, I couldn't have done it if they hadn't all been small breeds.

I had to rehome one of my boys, the fights were getting to regular.  Now think that my youngest boy also realised that my older one had cancer a lot earlier than we did.

> Is the KC ok with bitches being spayed without any medical reason, if I wanted to have her done and continue to show? 

The rule was changed by the KC about the time I first showed (as I still entered under the old rule which said neutering was OK as long as they had registered progeny).  they changed it to having to inform then that neutering had occurred, but no medical reason needed.

It has the rule in every show schedule under preparation of dogs for exhibition.

What I would remember is that the breed your hoping has a higher proportion of Spay incontinence than smaller breeds and I would advise not spaying until full development has been reached so this would leave you with at least a few seasons to cope with.

I personally would not recommend a duel sex household. I kept only bitches, until my sister was killed 2 years ago & her male dog came back to us(mainly as we bred him & it was the agreement). He was 6.5 years old & has settled in well but his daughter came into season within a few weeks of him coming & we just couldn't cope with a funeral & that aswell' so she went to a friend(& throughly enjoyed herslef whilst there). I have not done it again nor would I as I believe you should deal with the cards your given & a one off is slightly different than a permanant arrangement for many years.
Like I say, I think it would be unwise for you to introduce a bitch into your dog houshold but the final decision is yours.

As your not intending to breed then perhaps a male would be better, but I think Rotts may be one of those dog dominant breeds where males are not easy to keep together????

We have a lot of entire dogs in our family and those of us who have un-spayed bitches too ensure that the dogs are always sent off for a holiday with a family member or friend when a bitch is in season. It's always been that way, I wouldn't send the bitch away, the responsibility should be the owners from protecting her to cleaning up after her spotting.

If that's not possible then the next best thing is for you and the bitch to stay elsewhere with you still there to look after her. :-)

The 3rd solution and a last resort, is to close doors and dog gates etc and keep the dogs seperate, but many dogs stop eating, whine and get terribly stressed and frenzied, some even taking terrible risks to try to get to a bitch and human error of course, the worst pitfall of all.

Hi Barbara,

If the breed weren't so dominant then i'd go for a male, but they aren't the most submissive. The Lab that's here is so submissive that neither of my boys have any issue with him and get on very well, but thats him. A Rottie male I can't see being a good idea at all(much as I prefer them).
I was hoping a good strong bitch would put them in their place. Maybe i'll see if I can borrow one for a day and see how my boys react towards her and also each other.
As for seasons yes the breeder has coped for years with hers and I would trust her completely. If I were to have a bitch then spaying would happen around 2-3yrs of age, no younger.

I don't know what to do, but reading people's thoughts and opinions is going to help. I'm taking them all on board and will continue to mull things over. Also welcome any other views, whether its something i'm going to want to hear or not.:-)

We are planning to add a bitch in a year or so, our bitch is very submissive, We have one entire male and a neuterd male and female.
My sister will have the entire boy while the bitch is in season....but do have the means to seperate if need be, if she can't do it for what ever reason.
But want to balance it out a bit and would like a bigger age gap before i add another male :)

If my boys got on brilliantly, all of the time, then I wouldn't be questionning this at all.
I have the means if the breeder can't take the bitch to keep then split, my sister used to live here with her bitch and it was never a problem keeping the boys away that were in the house at the time.

Dexter you do have breeds which are easy going, well apart from the youngster, he's a live wire ;-), but it does help all of yours get on well with each other to start with :-)... Hmmmm What breed are you looking at bringing into your pack then?

> If your boys already don't get on,

Its certain situations that they don't, which we now avoid. They can be out in the garden during the day with no issues at all. They can be in the car together, on walks together and be fine. Anyone who knows me and on fb will see that they can be great together, and they will stick up for each other should the need arise too.
I've even got a shot of them laying on each other in front of the fire when it last snowed heavily down here :-)
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?id=685455612&aid=584735

I know many people who keep mixed households with no issues at all, but the last thing I need is for the dogs to fight over a bitch, now its working out if they would at the non season times.

hI Sue we had 2 males that got on till our youngst truned 9months old ,we also have 3 girls 1 in spayed seaon times were a mightmare we had to rehome 1 boy in the end the the youngst boy the boys were fine untill the girls came into the picture asseason or not the boys couldnt be together when the girls came out to play fights would start.
good luck in what you deside to do xx
love the pictures :) beautiful boys you have there!

> beautiful boys you have there!

They are lovely boys..thanks :-)

Hopefully going to meet up with the breeder next week and have a good chat about this. I have some other ideas rattling in my head, but not sure how viable they are until I speak to her :-)

Yes we are lucky we have no personality clashes with existing dogs (fingers crossed) but when i add another i want to try and not un settle things too much :)

Best of luck with what ever you decide and hope you sort out something that works for you and your boys :)