Do you leave your dogs loose together?

[straw]

Pretty self explanatory.... do you leave your dogs alone, unsupervised, together? I don't mean when you leave the house to go down the driveway and pick up your mail, but when you're going to be gone for a significant amount of time?

Coming from a 'pit bull' background I had it drilled into me that you never, ever, EVER leave two dogs alone together. To this day, I don't. The longest I'll leave them unsupervised loose together is when I'm in the shower, and even then, I'm not far away.

I don't typically have dogs in my house with a history of aggression towards other dogs, but I would never want to take that risk. I think it's reasonable to expect the occasional snark or argument when you have two or more dogs.

 

[RBark]

Never, it's just not worth the risk. For short periods of time, sure. But more than 30 minutes? No. That being said, Ollie was DA so he drilled that into me.

 

[release the hounds]

I had in the past. The ones I have currently, I don't.

 

[Finkie_Mom]

Yeah, I will leave the girls together or like Pen and Kimma. Generally no more than two at a time. And even then it's never for like an entire work day or anything. More for if I have to go to the store/take another dog somewhere for a bit. So really 2-3 hours max. Jari is still not trustworthy enough in the house for me to leave for an etended period. Once he is, though, I wouldn't mind trying him with Kimma on a more regular basis.

 

[Upendi&Mina]

Nope. Cara gets to be loose, everyone else gets crated.

 

[Torch]

Never for more than 10 minutes, like taking a shower as you mentioned. Even then I keep the door open or bring Rhys into the bathroom with a bone.I live by the adage "always expect a bulldog to fight". It keeps you safe, makes you aware of all possibilities, and doesn't allow you to get caught up in unrealistic expectations of your dog.

Growing up I had an intact male and female for 10+ years. So I was taught from an early age to separate the dogs when we weren't around. Then I had a single dog for years and researched bulldogs. I learned about DA, crate and rotate, prey drive, etc long before I brought my Amstaff pup home.

When I separate, my older hound dog is left loose and my young AST is crated. If someone is at home, say napping or not up yet, the AST gets into bed with them.

 

[Brattina88]

Yes. For short times. But for longer times they get crated, for other reasons

 

[*blackrose]

Well, considering when I worked my long shifts I'd kennel Cynder and Abrams together...yes. When Blackie and Rose were alive, they were never apart.

Now, my parents dogs? No. Chloe is very dog selective and temperamental and can't be trusted around other dogs.

 

[noludoru]

With his housemates, yes. We've left them all alone in the house for 2-3 days before with a dog door and tons of food and water.

 

[Catsi]

Yes, mine are together 24/7 bar training and food time. They are home alone together for about 7 hours a day, five days a week. I come home for an hour at lunch. It's somewhat risky given the size difference, but I like the fact that they keep each other company and after seven years with this arrangement I'm quite confident that it works for us.

One thing that I don't like is that I can't give them a nice big bone to chew on to keep them occupied because Abby can be snarky around food. Feed times are separate always.

I probably wouldn't intentionally get the combination of dogs I have currently again though, I'd go for dogs of similar sizes. If I felt the need to separate I wouldn't hesitate to do so.

 

[sassafras]

In the past, with other dogs, I have. With my current crew, nope.

 

[BostonBanker]

Yes, neither of mine are crated when I'm not home at this point. They are loose together for up to 8 hours at a time. We have had basically zero issues between the two of them over, and it is a risk I'm comfortable taking with this pair.

 

[JacksonsMom]

Yup. Well, it's only Jackson at my house, but when I stay for long periods at my dads, all 3 dogs stay loose together. Free roam of the house.

 

[skittledoo]

I won't leave the boys together unattended. They can be loose together if I am home though.

Cricket can be left alone with either boy.

 

[xpaeanx]

Depends on the mix of dogs. Though usually if I have one that likes to start things, that one is kept separate. But I generally crate all dogs individually for any substantial amounts of time, but that's bc I don't want them getting in to things in the house.

 

[Fran101]

Yup, for short day errands (less than 3-4 hours). Well Merlin is mine, Dixie is my housemates.

We take collars off in case of crazy partying but they are left alone together during the day a lot.
They are best friends. As well as amazingly tolerant and respectful of each other. I don't worry really even with leaving bully sticks or kongs with them.

If we are gone for longer than 3 hours or so, Merlin is crated. Just because he gets creative when bored and likes to shred paper

 

[MrsBoats]

I won't leave the boys together unattended. They can be loose together if I am home though.

This is how it works here. Ocean is crated and Lars is loose while we are gone.

 

[Tortilla]

Sally and Seamus used to be left alone together with free roam of the house. But Seamus is content to curl up in a ball and sleep all day, and Sally got like that when she was a senior, too. As they got older they didn't really interact that much (and they were never destructive in the house) so there was never really any reason to keep them separated.

Puppy will obviously be crated when I'm not home.

 

[Oko]

Cleo and Wesley stay home alone together. Feist isn't loose in the house yet, nor would I leave her with either dog.

 

[Sekah]

Normally, yes. Right now Mega is back to housetraining 101 so she's in an x-pen while we're out (**** winter), but normally I leave the two out together alone and have zero concerns.