lister1 Posted October 31, 2011 Report Share Posted October 31, 2011 I've got a 2 yr old bitch, springer x weimeraner. She works well and is a good dog. I then got another bitch same breed and she is now 18 weeks old. I slowly introduced them and all was well. I split the dog run in two so then had seperate areas, I then changed the run so they shared a run but had separate sleeping areas. Then after a couple of weeks I changed the run. This time I made it so they shared a run and bed area. On Friday the older bitch seemed a bit down. I didn't think anything of it, so Saturday. I took the older one for a shoot and she did really well but when we got home she was very affectionate towards me. Sunday I was busy so the dogs had to spend a fair bit of tome in the run together. Sunday eve the older bitch wouldn't settle down on her bed like she would normally. This morning I let them out for a run, but all the older one wanted to do was get in the house. I then got there food readu, put them both on the run and when the older one went to get some food the younger one growl at the elder one. I wasn't sure what to do. I got in the run with them and kept them both apart and made sure they both fed seperatly. It was the only way the elder one would get any food. I'm now not sure what to do. I don't want them to bully each other. Anyone got any advice? The elder one is due a season any day. So it could be that she is just very emotional, she gets a bit sensitive when in season. Maybe they need to us kept apart. Cheers Lister. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bi9johnny Posted October 31, 2011 Report Share Posted October 31, 2011 whenever there are two dogs together you will always find the younger one try's to be the more dominant in my experience feed seperate so as they both get fed and there is no competition for food it's natural for there to be a top dog i always make sure they know it's me and yes mate they do get iffy when due in season just like any bitch Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
working dog Posted October 31, 2011 Report Share Posted October 31, 2011 Ive found that two dogs will fight and back off once they sort out the pack order but two bitches can get nasty. They should settle down but its worth keeping an eye on how they behave and separating them when they are on their own for a while. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arwen3513 Posted October 31, 2011 Report Share Posted October 31, 2011 your older dog will likely give some leeway to the pup, most will allow a puppy to torment them to a degree. and especially if she is getting maternal with her season due. i would feed seperately, but make sure the pup has no issues with you being near the food bowl, continue to pay attention and put the older dogs food in first, so the pup will learn her place, the first bitch to have a season will often become the leader so the young pup may well back down abit. continue to keep them seperate when you are not around to prevent any aggro getting out of hand and not being there to correct it. jan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lister1 Posted October 31, 2011 Author Report Share Posted October 31, 2011 I think I might put the second sleeping area back in, that way they can have their own sleeping but can still have some interaction in the shared run area. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
unclestuffy Posted October 31, 2011 Report Share Posted October 31, 2011 Our puppy (although a dog) soon got he hang of eating his own tea after being snapped at by our bitch a few times, although she went into a funny mood as the puppy began to grow going from top dog to out of the way whilst the eldest dog put the puppy in his place (and still does now even though his foot is in a bad way) We have had to let our dogs sort out the pecking order (without blood but fur everywhere) but it is a happy pack again with all the dogs curling up together by the fire. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pavman Posted October 31, 2011 Report Share Posted October 31, 2011 yep all sounds perfectly normal, Mine have seperate runs next to each other they sleep and feed alone but come out together for a walk/training but i tend to work them alone if i can unless picking up a lot of game or the younger one wants all the birds and the old one gets a munk on Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lister1 Posted October 31, 2011 Author Report Share Posted October 31, 2011 I suppose the best way is to make sure that they know I'm boss and let them sort their order out between them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.