Two bitches success stories?

[BleakGarden]

We've got a 3 year old bitch who has always seemed in need of a playmate, this weekend we brought home a 9 week old bitch puppy. So far so good, they've been playing a bit and giving each other space. Since we brought the pup home I've had a few comments about two bitches being a bad idea, and that most likely one will need to be rehomed in the future. I feel like a bit of an idiot for not knowing this in advance, the more I google the more sick I feel about potentially having made a huge mistake. I would hate to do anything destabilise our 3 year old, she's very placid and submissive.
I suppose I am looking to hear other people's experiences, I was hoping they would be bonded at the hip, not fighting to the death, is it always disaster?

I have 3 bitches, they are fine. Just supervise, make sure your 3yo doesn't get overwhelmed.

Thanks @Tempnamechng that's good to hear. Yes we plan to always supervise, and use crates when we can't.

I've got two bitches. There is the very, very occasional row as you might get with any two dogs, but 99.999% of the time they love each other. They sleep together, play together and chill out together.

I've had two bitches previously and that was fine too. A friend has four, and they're fine.

It can go wrong, but mostly it doesn't.

4 bitches here... 2 spayed. 2 not. Oldest is 14..youngest is nearly 4..

We had two girls, fairly close in age but bought months apart.
Best friends ever.

I know someone who has 4! They have the usual handbags that I think all dogs that live together can have, and as they are big, powerful dogs so she crates separately them when she is out, but has no issues, and they generally get on and play really nicely together

My mum has always had 2-5 bitches (and the occasional dog too) since we were small children. She has 4 at the moment. There’s never really been any particular issues beyond a bit of natural argey-bargey occasionally. If you’re diligent with your training, it’ll be fine.

It’s fine. All dogs will have occasional snaps at each other it’s not a bitch thing.

Thanks everyone, I feel a lot calmer already. I'm in the first few days of new puppy when you haven't slept much and have spent the whole day clearing up pee and diverting nipping... it doesn't take much for hysteria to set in

I have way more than 2 bitches together! All different ages and breeds (rescue dogs) all introduced at different times. All spayed, but two most recent arrivals only spayed recently. No problems and I’ve had this set up for almost 20 years (with a variety of different dogs, obviously) I also have multiple boys too 🥰🥰🥰

Load of nonsense - honestly - you can get personality clashes with any dogs of either sex, but that's the old myth of females of the species always being rivals. I've have 2 bitches twice now and were good buddies. The only tension we ever had was between one of those bitches and a male rescue we introduced - but it settled down.

It absolutely can work fine - loads of people have multiple bitches and never, ever have a problem.

However the problem is that bitches can (and do) fight to the death, so if you have bitches that have started to fight, the safest thing is to separate them and find one a new home.

I've got 2 bitches and they got on great. Occasionally one puts the other in her place - pretty equally I'd say, not always the same way round. They seem to really enjoy each other's company. Kennels say they always snuggle up together on the same bed too although they don't usually do this at home!

I think breed can play a part too, some breeds are more dog social than others.

Three bitches, ranging from 10 to 2. 99% of the time they are friendly and affectionate. Every now and then middle girl (the boss!) slaps down the youngster. It's normally well deserved!

I would be worried if your two were the same age, or the older one didn't like other dogs. But I'm not even slightly concerned about the situation you describe.

I would add that the biggest fight I ever heard of between dogs in the home was two male JRTs. They'd always been fine together, owners went out and came back to both dogs ripped up and bleeding, and blood on the kitchen floor.

Thanks everyone, I feel a lot better this morning. I'm hopeful that if we keep a close eye on them they can have a good bond eventually. It's early days at the moment.
My 3 year old told the pup off for the first time this morning, she likes to sleep in the mornings and the pup came up mouthing her just as I was making a fuss of her. I'm not sure if it was too in her face or because she felt the pup was intruding on me giving her attention. She's been ignoring the pup since then. It's all part of the process I suppose, I just need to make sure she gets space when she needs it and reward the calm interactions

I have four, until my two old ladies recently died, had six.
Two are litter sisters, don’t believe that rubbish either as I’ve frequently kept litter sisters when I was showing & breeding. Get on together brilliantly, the only boss is the cat. Feisty Skye Terriers too.

I didn’t know this was a thing - we planned to have another bitch too. We have litter brothers and that was not something I’d repeat again. We almost rehomed one (with my parents) when they were 14 months but the snip seemed to calm them down. They still do, even at 15 years have a clash of teeth which isn’t nice.

I’ve had three bitches, three bitches one dog, and currently have two bitches and one dog. They’ve all got on great, but the problem is bitches do hold grudges. If they fall out you will never be able to have them together again, which I have had in the past. That’s when it’s stressful. But the same can happen with dogs when they get sexually mature, they start acting all Billy Big Balls and show off.

Make sure there’s no issues around feeding, and if your eldest isn’t spayed you might find she’s a bit grumpy with the pup around season when she’s hormonal. But otherwise enjoy your pup and remember it’s not allowed to post about a new pup without adding a photo

A very good book to have about bitches is “Book of the Bitch” by JM Evans and Kay White. When I have pups I always include a copy with my bitch pups

Ah sorry the photo!! Here she is. Thanks @DaisyMaisyFaisy I will check out that book!

Ah what a gorgeous pup 🐶

I'm not sure we're far enough in to call it a success story - our youngster is just 6 months - but she settled in better than I could ever have hoped for

They do play fight a lot though, which does get pretty tiresome

The old myth is that dogs fight to breed, bitches fight to breathe. i.e. bitch fights are far more serious than dog fights.

However, I cannot honestly say this has ever really played out in real life in any multi dog households I have seen. I have known many all-female homes that have been a picture of good friendship. Some have been difficult but no more and no worse way that mixed or all-male homes.

There’s a post right now about someone having to give one dog to her mum because the 2 bitches have started fighting horrifically.

It’s not a myth but it mostly occurs in littermate syndrome cases. And getting a puppy with an existing 3 year dog is not in that category.