Multiple Males Co-existing

1103 Views 7 Replies 8 Participants Last post by DogBuddy, May 12, 2008

GSDOwner2008

Discussion Starter · May 11, 2008

Okay, so most of you know by now I have Apollo, who is Five months old. He's very well mannered, house broken, and very easy to train. He's very sweet and affectionate and everything you would want your dog to be.

Well, there's a long story behind why we're getting another puppy, but it's a male. I know it's probably not a wise idea to get another puppy, however since we are getting him, I want to do this right. Being that they are both males, will they fight when both of them are older? They aren't littermates obviously, but they do come from the same father.

Will Apollo's good nature rub off on the puppy? Since he's house broken, and has learned basic commands, shouldn't he help the puppy learn to do these things easily?

I've also read that you should keep the puppies seperated from each other so they don't bond too much with one another, would that be true for my situation since they aren't littermates? Should they still be seperated for training, feeding, walking? Should they be seperated for doing their business outside?

I know I've asked a lot of questions, but I want this to go as smoothly as possible. I want Apollo and the new puppy to get along like brothers and I would love for the new puppy to be as well mannered as Apollo. Thanks in advance for your responses.

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selzer

· #2 · May 11, 2008

I do not keep puppies separated and never had any that were more bonded to each other than to me.

Will the dogs fight? Maybe.

I think what you need to do, if you want to keep them intact at least until they are mature 2-3 and possibly forever are the following things:

1. Start them in training classes now and make a commitment to continue training classes for two years minimum.

2. Do not introduce an intact female to your household. Sorry, but boys can be great buddies, but when the hormones are that close, once the bitch comes in heat, it can be very bad. Three's a croud.

3. Practice NILIF or some other type of pack order deal that makes it clear without force what the pecking order is. I would not worry so much about which pup is more dominant, instead, I would make sure they both know that the people are way above them. Make them sit when you open a door, walk first down the hall, learn to use a slight tone change in your voice to express things to your dogs.

4. Ensure that if it becomes necessary, you have the means to keep the boys separated completely. If you do the first three things properly, it shouldn't be necessary, but if both of these pups are very dominant, you never know. Providing training and leadership are the biggies. But if it happens, it should not mean that one dog needs to be rehomed.

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JakodaCD OA

· #3 · May 11, 2008

Along with selzer's advice...For a time, I always had multiple males, since that was my preference..

Every situation is different.

The first two I had were 4 years apart, no problems, the 2nd one was not neutered until almost 3, I then brought in a female (trouble

) and when she was 1.5 I brought in another male..The last male was not neutered until almost 3 years old.

I honestly did not have male problems and they all lived together IN the house..

I think it really depends on the temperaments, the first male was always regarded as the 'king' of the castle by the other two who were more than willing to let him 'rule'..

I also think keeping them separated depends again, on the dogs..I have always had atleast 4 dogs at one time, and never have I had any of them bond to another dog more than me..

just my experiences
diane

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doggiedad

· #4 · May 11, 2008

Originally Posted By: GSDOwner2008Okay, so most of you know by now I have Apollo, who is Five months old. He's very well mannered, house broken, and very easy to train. He's very sweet and affectionate and everything you would want your dog to be.

Well, there's a long story behind why we're getting another puppy, but it's a male. I know it's probably not a wise idea to get another puppy, however since we are getting him, I want to do this right. Being that they are both males, will they fight when both of them are older? They aren't littermates obviously, but they do come from the same father.

Will Apollo's good nature rub off on the puppy? Since he's house broken, and has learned basic commands, shouldn't he help the puppy learn to do these things easily?

I've also read that you should keep the puppies seperated from each other so they don't bond too much with one another, would that be true for my situation since they aren't littermates? Should they still be seperated for training, feeding, walking? Should they be seperated for doing their business outside?

I know I've asked a lot of questions, but I want this to go as smoothly as possible. I want Apollo and the new puppy to get along like brothers and I would love for the new puppy to be as well mannered as Apollo. Thanks in advance for your responses.

i don't think they'll fight when they're older.
Apollo's good nature can't hurt things.
i think Apollo will help in teaching the new pup
should they be seperated so they don't bond with each other more than you, i don't know about that one.
seperate them for training.
i wouldn't seperate them for feeding.
i wouldn't seperate them for walking. i would seperate them during walking if training was going on.
i wouldn't seperate them at potty time.
i think the puppies will get along just fine. i think by Apollo being 5 months will help in them getting along because he's so young. Good luck.

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Cathygirl

· #5 · May 11, 2008

Tank and Max are brothers with the same parents but a year apart. I have owned each since they were 10 weeks old. Tank can be bossy to Max but believe me they LOVE each other and they never fight. They are both neutered. Tank is very loving and always cleans Max's ears and eyes and is very persistant about it. They (and Jessie my girl) bond to each other, but they are really bonded to my husband and I and really only want to be where we are. We are all together in the house, no one is ever crated or needs to be, all eat and drink out of the same bowls, and know where they can be in the house and where they cant be unless invited. Works for all of us and they respect our opinion and just go with it.

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BlackGSD

· #6 · May 11, 2008

I would seperate them for training, (They cannot concentrate on YOU when they are distracted by the other pup.)

I would seperate them for "potty time" because if you don't they will be playing unstead of "taking care of buisness". (At least while the new one is still a baby. After BOTH are housebroke, then it won't matter.)

I would seperate them for feeding becasue if yo don't there is the real possibility of food guarding from either one of them, AND the chance that the older one will steal the little ones food.

I would walk them SEPERATELY and together. They NEED to learn how to behave when alone. Just like they need to learn how to behave when together.

And don't forget to be VERY carefull that Apollo doesn't hurt the baby, a 5 month old can easily injure a little baby. (Even accidentally.)

Unfortunately, the only way to know if they will fight when they are older is to "wait and see". They might get along wonderfully all their lives, OR the may one day decide to try and kill eachother. There is no way to know which way it will end up at this point.

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Cassidy's Mom

· #7 · May 11, 2008

Lots of good advice from the other posters, the only thing I'd differ with is feeding separately. If your Apollo has guarding issues, maybe, but if he's a well behaved boy, I'd rather they learn to eat nicely side by side from the beginning. Which means I'd supervise while they eat, and be ready to step in if problems start to occur.

I've always practiced NILIF with Dena, and she was a very easy, sweet puppy. When I brought home Keefer a year later, I had them BOTH sit for meals and wait to be released before eating. I stayed and watched until everyone was finished to make sure that there was no guarding or attempts to steal each other's food. Now that I've had them eating meals side by side for a long time, I no longer bother watching them eat. I make them down, set the bowls on the floor, wait for eye contact and then release, and go back in the house. (I feed in the garage.)

If you want to make absolutely sure you never have a problem you can certainly feed them separately. But for me, I want them to learn what I will and won't tolerate, and act accordingly, so I train them that way from the very beginning. We eat meals nicely, or we don't eat.

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DogBuddy

· #8 · May 12, 2008

Well, I am a not GSD owner yet, but I have owned Intact males who lived together. I had two male Rotties who lived together every day and nearly ever minute of the 10years they shared together.

I think it all depends on the temperament of the dominant male. In my case "Moose" was one year older and had tons of patience with other dogs. Moose when challenged seemed to know just how to ignore "Bear" and side track him with play.

Had Moose had a difference personality things could have been much different.

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