raising two males

[valskinner]

Hi, I am raising 2 male rotties at once they are 2 years old and have been togather since they were 8 and nine weeks old. I was wondering if anyone else is doing this? They have not had a fight but they do growl at each other sometimes and I just divert their attention to something else . I have never let them roughouse with each other. I also have a 3 year old spayed female

[BostonRott]

You forgot a word in your post: "yet." You're being given warning signs, if you continue to ignore them, you're going to have problems.

No, most people do not do this, it is not smart to raise 2 same-gendered animals who are close in age. It can be done, but usually with much diligence and experience and knowing what to look for.

Once a fight happens, they must be separated permanently, I hope you are able to accomodate that.

[spidey]

Sorry, but this is a really unwise thing to be doing, and I'd seriously question the credentials of any breeder, rescue or shelter that would place two puppies in the same home, especially if they are the same gender. Same-sex, similar-age dogs together is a HUGE risk factor for fighting, and many people in your situation end up having dogs who must be kept separated 100% of the time. I have been in this situation myself with two males and I will never put myself in that position again, it was horrifically stressful. You need to be spending time one on one with each dog on a daily basis, working on obedience, you need to learn how to break up a dog fight as safely as possible, and frankly, I would never leave these dogs free together when you are not present, it is likely time to start crating them at night and when you are out of the house. Dogs can and do seriously injure or kill each other when brewing, long-standing resentment turns into a fight. I had more than one late night trip to the emergency room with my males when someone accidentally allowed them to come into contact with each other and I can assure you that this kind of "lockdown" situation is far from unsual when you have same-sex, similar-age dogs living together. Do a search here, and you will find many threads on this exact subject. Good luck, I'm sorry to be a downer, but I think it's really important that you recognize how serious this suitation can be, and be prepared in case it turns out that way. By no means does every situation like yours turn into a nightmare, many people manage to keep same-sex, similar-age dogs together happily, but it is definitely a textbook scenario for problems.

[angellove]

Hi Valskinner,
My Fiance has two GSD's from the same litter both neutered males and we have no problems with them. One is very much the dominant dog, the other is several dogs lower in the pack - they have 6 dogs in total. So because of this relationship the passive dog doesn't challenge the dominant one and they are 6 years old now.
This of course is just my experience.

A lot will depend on your control of the animals and their individual temperments. I have found more problems with two females disagreeing rather than males. There are plenty of posts on here about male/male and female/female pairs.

[Sargeant_C]

I have two males, not the same breed, but very close to ages. I am lucky and so far no fights. However I do take things in consideration and do the what if this happens etc. I am always watching for signs and if need be then I do have the ability to seperate the dogs for good. I can do a schedule where each dog has family time and training time. You do have to stay on your toes and I hope that my boys get along for the rest of their lives. But I know that something can happen.
Although they get along great now do you have a solution if the day ever comes that they do not get along? If so then enjoy them now. If not then work on a plan and this may include finding one a new home. You have to be prepared.

[Staff's]

I may have an unusual situation but I have two intact males (littermates) that are going to be eight in November. They love each other and live with us in the house. I do not leave them alone together but they ride free in my car and have the yard together when we are home. We won the brace at CRC when they were two. I would not advise anyone to do this but for us it has been nothing but pleasure. They have at times growled and postured over different things but I rule the house and if I say "STOP IT" they do it. As I said I am not advocating selling two males together or keep two yourself but this was just the only way for us. If a picture tells it all ---on my website home page is a picture of them together and the reason we kept them is in a newspaper article on the site. Good luck with your boys and may you enjoy them as much as we do ours.

[Luvs]

I personally wouldn't raise two same aged males or females in the same household. I think you are just asking for trouble. For those it has worked out for, that is great, but there are many for whom it doesn't.

It was hard enough raising two littermates (male & female) and making sure that they each got what they needed, I couldn't imagine if they were both males or females and reached maturity at the same time This summer Keil decided he no longer likes other adult males. I can only imagine the problems we would have if there was another adult male in the household.

BTW, I will NEVER have two puppies at the same time again. It worked out for us with Akasha and Keil, but I wouldn't be willing to "hope" that it would work a second time. I do think when you have two puppies at the same time one of the puppies doesn't fully reach their potential.

[Lorrie]

I would personally raise two boys before two girls ... we have 3 boys of our own at home .. 6yrs, 3.5 yrs, and 2.5 yrs.

And yes there are issues .. with the young boy "coming up". There is no violence .. nor will I allow any. However is a situation you have to be aware of and manage continually and most homes are not able/capable to do that.

We also have a multitude of foster dogs coming through the house ... of both gender. 2 weekends ago we had the 3 boys and 2 girls ... and no issues.

One of our policies is that we do not adopt dogs of the same sex ... meaning if you have a female we won't place another female in the home. The only exception would be an old dog and a pup.

It really truly depends on the dogs ... and the home. I know a VERY capable trainer that kept two male littermates and yet could not avoid the ensuing fights .. if she couldn't do it ... no one could with those two dogs.

Yet I have seen less experienced homes where 2 females co-exist nicely.

It is possible ... just not advisable.

[Judi W]

Although we can all list cases where these same sex, same age groups work out, in the case of Rottweilers, it is really more luck than skill (although not everyone will admit that). You cannot know what tolerances or what status seeking, or lack of status seeking, a dog is going to have as its natural character when it becomes mature. While the dogs are quite accepting of their status with the people they work with, that does not determine that they are going to gracefully accept a low order within a same breed or breed type dog pack. You will rarely find disagreements with greatly disparate breeds. Your Rottweiler will probably not consider any competition with the smaller breeds, but will usually feel competition with same sex, same breed/size. Many breeds have a heritage of working within dog packs. That is not the case with this breed. It is a strong-minded breed whose heritage is to work one on one with a human partner. A big difference between that and those breeds such as hounds or sporting dogs who were intended to work in groups of other dogs.

It is always best that your selection of household dogs take into consideration the compatability of the individuals. It is not a very nice life where fighting takes place and even if the home is carefully segrated, that tension is always there and affects not just the people who must stay alert, but the dogs.

[winniecnm]

As you can see from my signature, I live in a three dog household with two sisters and an unrelated male.


At 9 mo the sisters got into a nasty fight, Jasmine got the better end of it, but both were buggered up. There were very subtle warnings that a fight was going to happen in the months before but nothing overt.

Now they are 6 years old. They have just gotten to the point where they can be allowed to see each other off lead with us standing neaby constantly supervising. We knew before we took Nik in that this disagreement was a distinct possibility and there ARE times I wish I had reconsidered my decision to keep both animals. They now live two seperate lives and I have about another 6 years left with this living arrangement.

2 100+ pound animals going at it is nothing to shrug your shoulders at. It is very scary and thankfully in our household it has only happened less than 5 times. I don't startle easily and i'll tell you a bitch fight is very scary to see. I have heard that two males will back off each other before one of them is killed though I would not bet the bank on it.

I would strongly consider rehousing one of the dogs. Especially if there are children around. When you have 2 dogs that fight you have to make a LOT of sacrifices, think about car rides, vacation times, worrying about someone watching the dogs and having problems with them, and having to figure out the best way to break up two beasts that are intent on ripping each other's throats out.

If you are determined to keep both, you have been warned about potential isues (the growls). Have a plan in place and provisions to securely separate the dogs should a fight occur. BTW - Jasmine blew the door off her chain link kennel one time to start a fight with sis so make sure seperate provisions are quite sturdy......I would only give them high value items while they are in seperate crates. And according to my bitches, a high value item includes a stick lying on the gound - enough to cause an all out ruckus

[gomer9855]

Wow, I'm impressed by the people who can make such amendments to their dogs. Two seperate lives for two dogs in the same household. I couldn't do it. The stress would turn me into a basket case.
Hopefully, we'll never be in a dog-fight situation with Frau and Faust (Frau being a wussy submissive girl, Faust still unknown at 4 months) but if it came about, Faust would be finding a new, quality home. Frau was here first, Frau comes first.

In the meantime, they love each other! Hope they keep it up!

[bfiney]

Just be very, very careful. I had 2 females that lived very successfully together for 5 years. They were inseparable. 1 was decidedly alpha the other very submissive. Then the male alpha in the house died & the alpha female tore her ACL. The entire relationship changes & terrible fighting ensued. Be ever so vigilent.

I personally will never have 2 males or 2 females of any breed or any age together. I've had problems with 2 males not in the same breed or age group.

[winniecnm]

Originally Posted by gomer9855

Wow, I'm impressed by the people who can make such amendments to their dogs. Two seperate lives for two dogs in the same household. I couldn't do it. The stress would turn me into a basket case.

It certainly is not easy. Once you have the provisions and routine in place to keep the dogs seperated it is not so bad. I don't feel stressed about the living arrangement anymore because I have adapted. But I certainly would not do this again. And I would not recommend it to anyone else. For the first time in over 5 years my two bitches were able to drink from the same water bucket together and not growl.

I hope that everyone that has two same sex/same age dogs continues to have harmony in their household. Just be prepared for the chance that it could quickly turn into the vendetta (as my husband calls it) Nik and Jas have.

[colonal and boss]

so wat about all the control and training that everyone speaks so much about on this site, does this no longer mean anything to your dogs if u have two of same sex do they no longer hear wat u say or care?? and wat about people who run these puppy farms i went to see some rotts at one of these places and she had something like 40 rotts all living on one farm how is this so??

[Staff's]

I am sure that 40 Rottweilers are cramped in small runs and more than likely NEVER let out to be with people or other dogs. The poor things probably don't even have names, just AKC numbers to sell puppies from.

No one is saying that their dogs can never live with other dogs just the fact that if you love two dogs and they decide they can't live together then you are responsible. Most dogs do not live the way our dogs live. They are in runs or yards or TIED OUTSIDE. Therefore most people don't have to face this discussion we are having.

I have a wonderful book by Jim Pettengell THE NEW ROTTWEILER. He is a world authority of Rottweilers. He has a entire kennel of different ages and sexes eating out in his yard in separate dishes. Now maybe some might say that is stupid and dangerous but these dogs have lived in harmony all their lives. Different people and different dogs! If you watch closely you will see the problem before it becomes one and if two dogs do not get along then they must live separated.