Gillian Schuler

We've always had two male dogs in and out of the house, i.e. permanently living together.

The last two, a Briard and a Fila Brasileiro were easy to have together. The Fila joined us as the Briard was 14 months old and they could be left in the car together, even when other dogs were around. One negative effect, we had them together from when the Fila was 8 weeks' old. Not such a good idea for dog training for the Fila but for the "living together" very good. We could all four lie on the floor and there was absoultely no friction. There's a name for this in German "innerartliche zusammenliegen" but I don't know the name in English.

With our GSDs, it was different. The 14 month old GSD wanted to eliminate the pup (8 weeks) and on advice from the breeder I kept them apart BUT I let them see each other each day, the little one, in a open meshed run. One day, the door opened (I'd not locked it) and out came No. 2. From them on no problem really.

Last week, we took them to the breeder's ex-girlfriend for a few days whilst we were away and she let them run around in her "free area" with dog bath, etc. and the two had a great time. I don't let them run free together as a rule and was sceptic but too late - they started fighting as they sometimes do at home but, my "out" didn't work and Isabelle got hold of one dog by the tail before Toni got the other and the younger one seemed to bite the older one. Isabelle is now convinced the dogs cannot be left together and that we are inviting danger. We picked them up after our short holiday. Toni went to France to work and I was left with two "monsters". I kept them separate in that I left the younger one in the crate over night. I always go training with them separately anyway.

Neither was bitten at the breeder's place. As far as I can see it was a "comment fight" motivated by the fact that there were dogs of both sexes in nearby kennels.

I let them under supervision, as always, together and things are back to normal.

I'm not saying "everything in the garden is rosy" but I have the feeling, if I had separated them then, I would have to separate them for good.

Isabelle, my breeder's ex-girlfriend is adamant - you can't have 2 Leistungshunde Rüde together!! Leistungshunde Rüde = working dog males

It's a long post I know but I can't shorten it. Anyone had similar experiences. Would love to hear from you.

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Jerk is a noun not a verb in dog sport

My partner is very immature. Whenever I take a bath, he sinks my boats