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The doghouse

3 dogs, 1 inside and 2 out - would it work?

38 replies

talksensetome · 11/01/2017 12:33

This is just putting the feelers out and not decided so just asking here how plausible it would be.

I have an American Bulldog who is very much a pet dog. He is always in the house unless he wants to go outside and he is never ever left out there.

my newish bf has two dogs, they are working dogs and he has a huge dog pen for them in his garden with igloo kennels inside and space to run about etc.

Anyway as he is spending more time at mine he is feeling guilty about leaving the care of his dogs to his dad who he lives with.

He has been mentioning that my outdoor brick double shed would make an excellent dog kennel and he could put dog beds in there, that white floor stuff and fence off part of the garden for a run. Add a thermostat heater, saw the door in half so they can come and go as they please etc.

It seems feasible in terms of practicality with a bit of effort but when I was wondering is would his dogs not be upset that mine is in the house with the humans while they are stuck outside?

Would my dog be jealous that they get to play together and he is excluded?

Basically would it work out? I don't want my pet dog being turfed out like his dogs because I don't agree that dogs live outside, I think they are part of the family. I don't even cage my dog.

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Blackfellpony · 11/01/2017 13:02

Could you not bring his inside too?
I would try it but I'm soft Grin

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talksensetome · 11/01/2017 13:15

I wouldn't trust his dogs around my kids, they are security dogs and trained to bite. They are probably safer than any other dog in reality as they are also trained to stop biting on command but it just makes me uneasy. We have visits at times but we are on full alert the whole time, I would never relax!

Plus I don't think we can fit an American Bulldog, a Rottweiler and a Belgian Mal all in my house, plus me, him and my three children Grin

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tabulahrasa · 11/01/2017 13:34

How are the practicalities of it going to work? With two dogs that can't be inside with your children?...

And if I remember rightly they're both entire and will still need to be separated from each other.

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talksensetome · 11/01/2017 13:38

That is my worry Tabulah, they are outside dogs but I have an inside dog, how would they gel, how would it work? I just don't know which is pretty much my question. Would it work?

He wouldn't be living here, just when he stays over he would like to be able to bring them.

They are indeed both intact although the bitch is going to be spayed straight after her next season so I imagine when she comes into season he would bring one of them to stay at mine the whole time so they aren't together.

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TrionicLettuce · 11/01/2017 14:08

It's not so much the living situations for the dogs that would concern me but whether it's sensible to have these dogs around your children, particularly as your BF has already shown an inability to appropriately manage them.

Studies have shown that fatal dog bites often share common factors. There's a good summary of them here.

To me, having his dogs living (or staying) at yours would match enough of those factors that I wouldn't be comfortable with it at all.

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JigglyTuff · 11/01/2017 14:26

You've got three children and you want to keep dogs on your property that you don't trust not to bite?

You're insane.

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tabulahrasa · 11/01/2017 16:08

I don't even mean with your dog though...

Will the children be able to use the garden? Will you?

Has your dog met these dogs?

What is it that he's feeling bad about his dad having to do? If it's time consuming - is your BF just going to be then spending loads of time outside? If it's not, how is it actually imposing on his dad?

Is the mal noisy? (Rotties tend not to be so much) is having them there going to cause issues with neighbours?

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Costacoffeeplease · 11/01/2017 16:15

Madness

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Hoppinggreen · 11/01/2017 19:35

These are the dogs that "accidentally " mated aren't they?
If you don't trust them around your children then they shouldn't be anywhere near them.

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talksensetome · 12/01/2017 10:29

Thank you for that link Tri there is enough information in there that confirms that my reservations are right.

Tab He was suggesting fencing off a portion of the garden (large garden) which would leave the children plenty of space to play and me to hang washing and make use of the patio area so I wasn't worried about that part.

My Dog gets on well with the bitch, he has only just last night met the dog and although they got on well for a bit after an hour or so they start getting sick of each other and the pup started to be aggressive to my dog. They started off chasing and playing all happy tails wagging then when the pup had enough he growled and snarled and was snapping at mine and it was quite intimidating for me, I wouldn't feel comfortable handling that situation alone. BF quickly stepped in, corrected the pup and made them both sit calmly for a bit, then I took my dog home while he did some obedience with the pup, sit, come, stay, etc and then took him home to his own house. My dog never snarled back or snapped at his dog, he just took it.

I don't know what he feels guilty about, it was just a passing conversation that he isn't spending as much time with the dogs as he should and his dad is feeding them etc and wouldn't that shed make an excellent dog pen. So it's not a plan that is going ahead, just an idea he mentioned and as ever I came here to get sensible advice from people that know more about dogs than I do.
I am really grateful for all the advice I receive on here and I always take it on board. He will just have to spend more time at his own house with the dogs.

As an aside, does that sound like normal dog behaviour or would you recommend keeping them separate from now on, is it because he is a pup or will they be ok when they get used to each other if we walk them together more? I don't want my dog getting bullied!

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MadameCholetsDirtySecret · 12/01/2017 10:31

I have a dog and love them but no way would I have security dogs near my children or another dog. Fence or no fence.

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GlitteryFluff · 12/01/2017 10:34

I agree, fence or no fence I wouldn't have them in the same place as my kids.

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tabulahrasa · 12/01/2017 10:36

"They started off chasing and playing all happy tails wagging then when the pup had enough he growled and snarled and was snapping at mine"

At a guess, your dog was ignoring the subtler signals from his dog that he'd had enough...in which case yep a bit of growling and snapping is pretty appropriate behaviour.

Is your dog normally a bit excitable and over friendly?

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JigglyTuff · 12/01/2017 10:40

How long have you actually been with this bloke? I really don't like the sound of him. He 'accidentally' let his dog's mate, you ended up sorting out the termination. And now he's moving in.
With his two aggressive dogs and your 3 kids. Oh I know he's not actually moving in at the moment but his dogs and he'll move soon after.

Sorry, I know you didn't ask about your relationship but there are big red flags. And it is your user name. He's really landed on his feet with you hasn't he? You know he's bloody irresponsible and he wants to mate his rottie. Wonder who'll end up looking after the pups Hmm

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Isitjustmeorisiteveryoneelse · 12/01/2017 10:49

tabulah I think op means the 'pup' was the one snarling and growling. Is that right op? If so, no that's not ok. How old is the 'pup' if a few months old, then it sounds like your dog is letting the pup have its puppy passport on bad behaviour but if he's being a bit too submissive and the pup is getting growly/snappy then as the pup gets older your dog may no longer put up with that behaviour. Doesn't sound like a safe or predictable scenario for the future. I certainly wouldn't be agreeing to it.

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Isitjustmeorisiteveryoneelse · 12/01/2017 10:54

Sorry didn't word that very well. What I meant was if his dog is a puppy I wouldn't expect the puppy to be the one showing the 'corrective' behaviour towards the older dog. I'd feel uncomfortable about how that would develop in future.

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DaftJelly · 12/01/2017 10:54

I wouldn't have 'security' dogs within fifty feet of my kids. Particularly not ones owned by someone as irresponsible as your bf.

Please don't.

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talksensetome · 12/01/2017 11:03

I agree that the dogs won't be staying over, I thought it could work with his two outside but thankfully you lot have spelled out it wouldn't be a good idea. I am glad I asked.

Tab my dog is more reserved, he will play but always waits for other dogs to approach him and initiate the game. He doesn't approach strange dogs or anything.

Jiggly there aren't going to be any pups, she is booked in on Monday for the first injection and will be getting spayed after her next season. I can understand your point of view and I do appreciate your concern, I can see the red flags you can see and I will head over to relationships if I feel the need but I can deal with him if he gets too pushy.

The pup is definitely the more dominant one, he was getting my dog to lie down and be submissive to him. my dog happily did it with tail wagging and would have a roll around then get back up. No snarling or growling at this point. the bitch is dominant over my dog too though, he is just a big soft dog that goes along with anything for an easy life. I thought the pup was dominant because he is bigger and intact where as mine is neutered?

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KinkyAfro · 12/01/2017 11:08

Neither of you should have dogs...or kids for that matter if you are considering this. Absolutely fucking stupid

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PleaseNotTrump · 12/01/2017 11:12

Your boyfriend is correcting the dog for growling? I thought that was considered to be a bad thing as the dog will go straight to a bite without warning. No, not near your children.

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talksensetome · 12/01/2017 11:12

Well Kinky that is your opinion. I don't see what is so wrong with asking advice from knowledgeable people as to whether a situation is feasible and then taking the advice offered. I have already said I will be saying No to his idea and not going ahead so there is no need for you to be so rude.

I asked the question because I wasn't sure it was a good idea but realised I could have been over reacting. Everyone here has said its not a good idea and I have accepted that. To say I shouldn't be allowed kids is ridiculous! Its not like I was suggesting my kids share their room with the dogs! They would have been separated. but as I said it won't be happening.

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talksensetome · 12/01/2017 11:14

Please that is what I said to him. Those exact words. He said he didn't correct the dog for growling but for being aggressive to my dog, he was snarling and snapping at him and trying to bite him.

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DaftJelly · 12/01/2017 11:16

You sound like a level headed, responsible parent and dog owner.

Your boyfriend sounds like a bit of a twat if I'm honest. Am I right in remembering he's very young? I think it might be time to move on.

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talksensetome · 12/01/2017 11:21

Thanks DaftJelly I am trying my best with my dog, I never intended to get a dog, I rescued him when he was going to be sold on facebook to the highest bidder so I know I don't know everything and am muddling through as best I can but if there is anything I am not sure of I ask for advice.

I have a habit of attracting twats to be honest so you are probably right. he is indeed young. Twats with dogs seems to be my thing lately.My dog belonged to another twat I was seeing!

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Isitjustmeorisiteveryoneelse · 12/01/2017 11:25

Ok, that's a bit more info. But how old is the 'pup'? Some dogs are more dominant and some more submissive, that's normal, but it does sound like your dog is quite submissive and if the pup is a naturally more dominant dog your boy could end up not having a particularly happy life with the other two dogs around. If the pup is anything up to six months I would have expected your dog to let it get away with this 'rude' behaviour but when the pup started to growl then your dog should have been allowed to do the correction himself. Your BF correcting the pup himself is understandable but ultimately the wrong thing to do. The two dogs would never develop a normal relationship if he kept doing that. Anyway, sounds like you've made up your mind. I think you've made the right decision.

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