Hello everyone

Just wanted your opinions / advice on this subject.

I currently have two lovely male dogs, they are my best friends, firstly pets but I also do a bit of showing and obedience.  Everything in our life revolves around our dogs, they get long walks , the best food , regular grooming and are really happy easy dogs.
(I am telling you this so you get the picture Im not bragging lol) 

My eldest dog is 6yrs, the other is 3yrs, and next year I am planning to add a 3rd dog, simply because I love them, have a lot of time for them and would really like a bitch. Reason is growing up we have always had dogs and I know little of bitches and would like to see what differences they have.

I would also like a bitch to show.

Now my questions are:  Is it going to be very difficult keeping a bitch with two entire males ?  (obviously they will hav to be kept apart when she is in season but how hard will this be ?)

Is a bitch likely to be more agressive or possesive with than a dog?  Do they get more snappy when in season ?

Will my dogs continually try and mount the bitch even if she isnt in season?

On my first thought, I did think I wouldnt contemplate a bitch as it would be too tricky etc.... but lots of people seem to keep both sexes without too many problems

Any advice?

I would go for another dog. 

Getting an entire bitch may mean that your boys will fallout and or become competitive when she is coming into season.  they will be aware of the imminent event of a season and possibly fall out long before you are aware.

Generally it is easier to stick to same sex if you already have more than one male.

The breed of your males may also have a bearing on your choice.

hi paddington bear i would agree with brainless on this, i would not want to put the two males friendship on the line, they may get on so well but you may find the two males cant tollerate each other when there is a bitch in season around,if you have the room to keep them completely seperated it could work, but the males will howl and could cause damage to your property trying to get at the bitch, and she may be just as eager to get at them when in season, were you thinking of getting a young bitch puppy? they may try to mount her before any season a dominant thing i beileve, the bitch can have mood swings when in season,just as much as some stud dogs can change when
they have been mated. all the best what ever you decide , molly

Thanks Brainless and Molly

What you have said confirmed my original worries ! BUT how do all these people with both dogs and bitches cope?  Surely they dont have fighting dogs each season do they? I certainly wouldnt want that!

I would like to hear from people that do keep both entire males and bitches and an honest opinion of how they manage it

Leonie

Hi Paddington Bear...

There's already a thread running on this from a few days ago...I think its on about page 6/7 of Active Topics. Some good points made and very useful advice given on there. If only I knew how to do links properly...:-) Perhaps someone clever can point you in the right direction?

>I would like to hear from people that do keep both entire males and bitches and an honest opinion of how they manage it

I have 6 girls ranging from 12months to 11 years... and 4 boys (not including 14wk pup) ranging from 12months to 3 years... on the whole they get on very well.. however.. one boy and one girl must be kept seperate regardless...

during seasons, I am lucky my girls are in sync.. I work a  4 way rota system.  boys kept well away from where girls go for widdles etc.. my house stand alone, so outside can be completely circumnavigated... doors lead out to all gardens and lawns (5)  I have a 5 bedroom house with at least 2 doors close before another opens...

Outside.. boys are kept to the south.. girls to the north.. there are 4x4ft gates for each to be able to get through before they could reach each other if an escape attempt is made... (These gates are open under normal circumstances and were erected specifically for this purpose)

The two older boys are kept completely seperated..they will spat, but one wont back down...

I dont go out to work, but If I do go out for any length of time.. my boys are crated 'just in case'.

Its hard work... but I also have the added advantage that I live on my own.. I dont have the worry that someone might just forget, and open a door that shouldnt be opened...

Hi,  we have a 2 yr old entire male and a 8 month old bitch.  She has had her first season and will be spayed before her second (I wanted her to mature properly first).  They get on famously, with the pup trying to be the dominant one (she will no doubt succeed sometime soon).  We knew when she was coming into season by Barney's sudden infatuation with her, following her around and general mooning.  We decided to hand him over to my mother in law for a few weeks holiday (season lasted nearly 3 weeks).

As soon as season finished, he was his normal self again.  It was hilarious watching them though, before they were separated.  Maisie was acting very provocatively and when poor Barney found a place to relax well away from her, she would deliberately move near him and practically sit on his face!

As a duo they are great fun and long may it continue.

> There's already a thread running on this from a few days ago...

Here it is : http://www.champdogsforum.co.uk/board/topic/109124.html

Oh, thanks Jane :-)

A Friend of mien with both sexes moves her girls to her Fathers property to avoid the boys fighting.

My friend's boy goes into kennels when her 2 girls come into season otherwise he turns into a bit of a humping nightmare and has been known to lift his leg on certain objects in their house