Gwen

Terrier people have been telling me this for years and I have had one serious fight in 25+ yrs and that was my fault. It all depend on individual temperments, socialization, and the owners abilities to train/control their dogs. I will agree that some breeds, terriers in particular, are less tolerant of other dogs but they are still dogs. If sound temperment is there, it's up to the owner. Some can, some can't.

Oldearthdog.

That is what I thought - but these are people who have had dobies all their lives

I remember a while back trying to rehome a beautiful male dobie but none of these people would take him on as they already had a male.

I did eventually find a brilliant home for him but these dobie owners made me feel a right idiot for even suggesing they try him out

Gwen

A lot of breed specific owners think their dogs are either this or that. And if they are not socailized they would fight.

The only breed that I feel can not and should not be kept together are fighting bred Pit bulls or Tosas. A regular pit bull or Tosa puppy can learn not to fight his den mate, but I won't trust him/her after they were an adults, if a new dog came in the picture.

Some people say that the Rottie or Doberman males can't live together in peace. And I use to believe that but if the dog is well socailized there is no problem. I've seen this with my own eyes two Rotties males that never seem to have a problem and I remember a fence full of Dobbies back in the 80s never seem to fight. But of course I would never say never,when it comes to dogs or people. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

Another breed that can be tough in multiple dog homes is the Akita, Dog aggresive, Food aggresive, ect. My first female (now very old, but still a b----) is all that and more, Oh well live and learn, I love her no matter what. My current Male has been raised totally differant.
Rules of the house:
1 I'M the boss, I say when, where, and how.
2 See rule #1
3 If you forget rules 1,& 2 be prepared to get your rear kicked but good.
Male is 20 mths old. he will eat with cats tail in his bowl, meet other dogs (1st time through a fence) be polite to people wether he likes them or not. Because of the females nasty streak they only interact with me there to supervise. Male is dominant but always defers to me. I would say not only to know the breed you are getting but to know the individual dogs temperments, and never lose control. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

Gwen

You say these people owned Dobes all their lives.
That has nothing to do with a persons knowledge about dogs. You can say a person is a good auto mechanic because he/she has owned cars all their life. Maby not a good comparison, but you get my drift. There are "experts" like those Dobe owners everywhere. The nice thing about this board is, if someone gets to "all knowing" there are lots of smarter people to thump you on the head. I've got the knots to prove it. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

I agree Earthdog. 2 females (one intact), and 2 neutered males here. Started with male, he arrived at 1 approx when he was 2, a 5 year old spayed female arrived. 6 months later, approximately 12 year old blind intact female arrived ("the Boss"). 6 months later - approx 18 month old neutered male arrived. All house dogs, no crates/kennels, all live together all day and night. Only issue is I feed the senior boss lady in kitchen with the 3 kitties - or she would kick the others out of their bowls - and they would take it. No fights other than one when senior first arrived - she nailed the male as he has an ear fetish and she had a yeasty ear and was blind and did not know what this dog was in her face for and clocked him. No problems since. They all get along great, I can walk all 4 together. Interesting thing - to me anyway - is the 2 males are obsessed with each other - sleep together - play together, cuddle - groom each other - as if the females did not exist. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

My male perfers the company of females, in season or not.

<img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" /> What I like about having multiple dogs in my pack, is the different personalities and behaviors that you see. My GSD seem to go about solving problems and handling things a lot different then the Rotti/pit. Though I like the mix's, can do attitude, I wish she would wait until I show her the way first. True to her breed she is guttsy and willing to please but this can be good and bad. I think she may hurt herself.

Both of the GSD though different in personality will wait to see what you want then they appoarch the task at hand.

This play ground incident is an example:
I climbed up the monkey bars, the next thing I know here comes this 90lb black&tan blurr climbing behind me, she fell through half way up, she was unharmed. But the GSDs waited for me to tell them what I wanted.

I admire the gutsiness of the mix, but I have to watch her, so she won't hurt herself. Now when it comes to warning when a stranger is around or near the camp site the female GSD is the best detector. The GSD male seems to be the enforcer, he'll walk pass the females toward the tresspasser with a trout and stare that immeadiately make them start backing up.

Yes when I'm at my acerage their off lease unless we are training. It's a chain link fenced 5 acres compound, in the country its a dog heaven. Not quite man's yet. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

This thread has lurked around for a while.....not a million posts but nevertheless getting a bit stale. I'm gonna close it...if anyone has a new question on this subject they can start another thread. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />