I can honestly say that I have learned more about dogs this past twelve months looking after all the different rescue labs than I have in 20 odd years of being a dog owner.
One thing that strikes me is we always think dogs brought up together are inseparable,will fret etc... of all the pairs of dogs that have arrived through the rescue in the years Ive been in the job I can honestly say that its not always in the dogs best interest to keep them together.
Examples
some time ago we had two in together the owner said oh Dog A, isnt really a good eater anyway often when they come here we give them seperate kennels next to each other this gives the dogs more room but still see each other dog A , we decided should not be with his mother and hey presto his appetite became better than ever.
second example dog and a bitch litter brother and sister always been together on observing their behavior we noticed the male dog totally dominated the bitch so we split them up when the bitch went out to play she was as happy as larry at last being able to have the toy,run around without being bossed and herded like a sheep the dog however howled the place down like a possesive looney
The bitch was rehomed and after a day or so the dogs personality began to change he too was benefiting from the separation he would share toys and play fair,without having to "Mind his bird" he could get on with his life.
Third example dog and bitch always been together owner says "oh he doesnt play at all never been keen on toys or anything",anyway we were struggling for homes and figured two very good homes is better than weeks in kennels and maybe someone taking two under sufference
So it was decided to stick to our ususal pattern seperate kennels ,eventually a home came up for the bitch who was very happy go lucky and went off without backward glance a day later the dog came out in the garden and instead of just ambling round looking fed up I turned around and he had brought me a stick ! I said what do you want lad ? anyway he dropped it so off we went to play and as i dont really like throwing sticks we eventually swopped it for a ball.
The dog instead of being miserable was also happy as larry.
So we need to ask ourselves do we get all sentimental about keeping dogs together at all cost ? do we do it for us or for the dogs? I know in some cases they can have a close bond with other dogs and cats.
What do others think?

Mattie you're now making me feel guilty about having two labs!! We didn't intend to - if you remember the bitch we bought - in season- turned out to be unexpectedly pregnant and I succombed to the temptation to keep one of her sons - much against my husband's better judgement. I still wonder if they would have been happier if we'd sold him. It would certainly have been much easier for us - they are wonderful, but it's very hard work! e.g. we walk them separately for training purposes, but actually neither of us could manage walking them together anyway! I just trust this will become easier as they mature...is it actually a myth that we humans believe that dogs like a doggy companion?
Cathy.

Sorry didnt mean to make you feel guilty we always used to get two pups to run on for showing but its just the last twelve months things happening have changed my views.
We actually have 5 dogs  here in the house  15, 14,10 2 and 8 months the oldies all do their own thing By Mattie the ten year old was a monkey up to recent years she dominated them all now she just goes with the flow,betty the oldest is a foster but ended up staying.
Ned bosses Annie the youngest so If God forbid I ever had to have mine rehomed Ned and annie would definitly go seperate

My three, my Lab and two Chihuahuas had a very peaceful and well bonded relationship before I got this Doberman puppy. They're all crazy about eachother.  I ruined their lives when I brought Lyric into the house. They're all really pissed off at me. He's 10 months old and I can just now see the light at the end of the tunnel, where he'll mature enough to stop irritating them so much. He paws, noses, hops around like a jack rabbit wanting to play and the only one that will play a little bit with him is my boy Chi mix, as he's still pretty young. The Dobe will entice Jose to chase him and then they run around the yard like lunatics or explore the woods together. The girls don't give him the time of day and are quite crotchetty with the poor, spoiled Doberboy.

Carrie

I suppose it just highlights the importance of giving each dog some individual time each day - but how anyone manages that with more than two beats me!
A naughty thought - would most children really prefer to be "only".....??? ;) I'm sure the more mercenary ones eventually work out that they get more parental time, more "goodies"...and eventually the entire inheritance.....(is there a smiley for "tongue in cheek"?)
Cathy.

You could be right Mattie a friend of mine has peke's and she has always had more than one normally 2 but sometimes over the years 3 or 4 well the one she has now "Betsy" 8 has never played. Or so she though but when the other peke died Jan 03 Betsy started to play. Now Ivy wonders if she was "bossed" around by Chang.

Karen

I think you're right, Mattie, my goldie, Ellie (who was 7 on Thursday) and my 9 month old GSD, Sasha, get on well, but it's only because Ellie is so patient.  Sash is a normal pup and loves playing with Ellie but tends to go on a bit too long and be a bit too rough for Ellie's liking.  After taking them out on walks together at first, I noticed Sasha was rounding Ellie up every time she got a bit too far away, bringing her back to me by the neck!  So now I take them out seperately as much as possible so that Ellie can enjoy her own walk and Sasha doesn't feel she has to keep an eye on Ellie.  It also means that I can use Sasha's walk partly for training as her attention is on me, as being 9 months old, she finds it more fun playing with Ellie than listening to me!!

Paula

when i was younger my family inherited a border collie, Gem, who's owner had just died. when she first came to live with us we also temporarily looked after her mother, Lassie. Lassie was definitely top dog, Gem wouldn't eat until after Lassie had finished (though sometimes Lassie decided to eat Gem's food too). Gem also wouldn't play.

after a few weeks the original owner's family decided they wanted to take Lassie and we were left with Gem. the difference in her was amazing, iimediately she ate her food straight away, loved playing ball and was extremely affectionate.

my family has always had 2 or 3 dogs at once, and there's always one who's 'higher in rank' than the others, but we've never had problems like we did with Gem and Lassie. i guess the main problems may occur when they are parent and child.

sarah
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