Getting dogs of different breed

liger

Hi,

I'll be moving into a house soon and want to get a dog. Have been considering and researching a St Bern or Dogue de Bordeaux. As i cant make up my mind i am now considering two dogs ( Also they'd be company for each other when i'm not there). Just wondering if dogs of different breed will be okay together as they'll be raised from pups together.

Every time i think, ok i'll get a St Bern or DDB I end up running in someone walking the other breed. There was a lovely St. B at the pet expo the other week and only yesterday in town there was a DDB getting a walk down O'connell st.

mymo

There's no problem with getting dogs of two different breeds, just do loads of research so you know what you're in for, both health and temperament wise.
Good socialization is very important and a training class as the breeds you mention will be big.
One tip is don't get 2 pups together, they are much harder to train together.
I left 10 months between pups and it was great as the older one was mostly trained and the younger one just followed him.

liger

mymo wrote: »

One tip is don't get 2 pups together, they are much harder to train together.
I left 10 months between pups and it was great as the older one was mostly trained and the younger one just followed him.

Thanks for that, i was actually wondering if i'd be able to find 2 littters around the same time so that solves on that!!

Kya1976

I agree with mymos post.
I don't see any problem in having 2 dogs thats different breeds. I got 3 dogs, all different breeds.:D
And again I also wouldn't recommend getting 2 pups at the same time, its too much work, and a pup needs so much time so its easier to wait a while before getting a second dog:)

theghost

No problem with having different breeds but it would be helpful if you didn't get them at the same time. I found with toilet training, for instance, the newcomer was easier to train as she followed the older when told to go out to the toilet and saw what she was meant to do.

Sigma Force

Absolutley no probs as said with diff. breeds only issues would be if you got a giant breed and a toy breed because they can be clumsy and hurt a small dog by accident.

Two pups are more difficult to train but it's not impossible but these are big breeds, heavy and so would be hard to manage so you'd need to be physically strong to be able to walk them both esp. at the beginning until they learn how to walk nicely and puppy classes from the start would be vital.

Personally I wouldn't but if you're up for the challenge and able for it, then sure why not. Research both breeds well, larger breeds don't tend to have as long a life span and pet insurance costs a bomb but would be important for larger breeds that can suffer with health problems as they age because of their sheer size.

2 puppies no matter what their size though can be handful, they are great company for each other but puppies want their owners at the end of the day.

Our middle dog practically grew up with our parents dog they are small mix breeds but never had any problems they still get on great although my girl isn't as playful she likes to do her own thing and the parents dog tends to play with out youngest pup or older collie.
So even if you get two pups they may or may not be bothered with each other once they grow up.

lrushe

I've 3 dogs, 3 different breeds, 3 different sizes and all get on fine. As mentioned try to space out the age gap (there's 4 year between mine) and just do your research things like energy level compatiblity, some breeds can show sex agression so whether you can get 2 of the same sex or not, some breeds are healthier than others etc.

Chinasea

The dog pound has hundreds of poor abandonded dogs of all ages looking to be rehomed. Would this be a consideration? We have the puppy farming going on in this country and then we have so many unwanted dogs it just doesn't seem right.

cjf

Chinasea wrote: »

The dog pound has hundreds of poor abandonded dogs of all ages looking to be rehomed. Would this be a consideration? We have the puppy farming going on in this country and then we have so many unwanted dogs it just doesn't seem right.

So so so so true and finding homes for the biggies is alot harder than finding homes for the smaller guys! If you check out www.irishanimals.ie and www.dogsindistress.org you will see many of the bigger guys have been in foster alot longer than the typical small terrier. This is due to the fact that many people want smaller dogs. Please have a look around may not be an exact st.bernard or DDB but someone bound to steal your heart and never know sometimes these breeds do turn up for rescue! You could try breed rescues as many reputable breeders will rehome the dogs themselves if their owners cant keep them!

peasant

liger wrote: »

Just wondering if dogs of different breed will be okay together

No offence ...but I think you need to extend your research a bit

Don't just read breed descriptions, but find out some more about general dog behaviour and training before you commit.

Underneath their different coats dogs are dogs and pretty much the same, regardless of breed.

cjf

peasant wrote: »

No offence ...but I think you need to extend your research a bit

Don't just read breed descriptions, but find out some more about general dog behaviour and training before you commit.

Underneath their different coats dogs are dogs and pretty much the same, regardless of breed.

Breed most defo comes into it!! Their breed type or class should be considered and certain breeds are known to get along more than others!! Danes and Dobies are known to really be suited!! If you have a sighthound and a toy breed chances are the sighthound will chase the smaller dog as it views anything smaller than its self as fair game!! The job the dog was originally bred for should be considered when deciding on two types of dogs. If you have a working or utility dog a dog of that level energy and drive will not be suited to a low level couch potato! Breed descriptions are not the be all and end all but do give an idea of the most common traits in the different breeds and nearly always give an indication of what they were bred to do. While there are exceptions and all dogs are individuals there are common traits that owners of the same types of dogs will find in common!!

seamus

Any two dogs raised together as puppies will get along regardless of breed. Your difficulty arises when trying to rehome two rescue dogs whom either or both are poorly socialised.
I can see how breed may become an issue there, but you're more likely to have difficulties when there's a big difference in size moreso than breed.

OP, if you're interested in St. Bernards, a neighbour of mine rescued a female St. Bernard a few weeks back and then last week after the female lost the plot and almost killed my Staff, he found out that she was close to 50 weeks pregnant (and therefore ultra-protective). So in a few weeks he's going to have 3 adult St. Bernards and a litter of pups and he'll be no doubt he'll be looking to rehome them. I'll speak to him after she does give birth and see what he plans to do.

Just a word of caution on getting two large dogs, particularly St. Bernards. You absolutely need two people during the younger years of the dogs' lives when you're training them. St. Bernards reach up to 15 stone in weight, so are massively more powerful than you are. One person will just about be able to keep control of a single dog, but with two dogs, they haven't a hope. If they see something and decide to take off across a field, you haven't a hope of stopping them.

Training is key with large dogs, because you will not have the physical upper hand to control a big dog. The above neighbour has two male St.B's from pups and every week he has various different injuries from being dragged every which way by them. His girlfriend refuses to walk them since the day that they took off and dragged her for 50m along the ground on her back.

liger

cjf wrote: »

If you check out www.irishanimals.ie and www.dogsindistress.org you will see many of the bigger guys have been in foster alot longer than the typical small terrier. This is due to the fact that many people want smaller dogs.

Both Dogs trust and DID had St.Bernards for rehoming recently, I even went to the pound to have a look at the one on DID, but when i contacted them the dogs had already been reserved for somebody even though his out date wasnt near yet. The dogs trust ones had already been taken.

seamus wrote: »

OP, if you're interested in St. Bernards, a neighbour of mine rescued a female St. Bernard a few weeks back and then last week after the female lost the plot and almost killed my Staff, he found out that she was close to 50 weeks pregnant (and therefore ultra-protective). So in a few weeks he's going to have 3 adult St. Bernards and a litter of pups and he'll be no doubt he'll be looking to rehome them. I'll speak to him after she does give birth and see what he plans to do.

Just a word of caution on getting two large dogs, particularly St. Bernards. You absolutely need two people during the younger years of the dogs' lives when you're training them. St. Bernards reach up to 15 stone in weight, so are massively more powerful than you are. One person will just about be able to keep control of a single dog, but with two dogs, they haven't a hope. If they see something and decide to take off across a field, you haven't a hope of stopping them.

Seamus thanks, I'm waiting on a house to sell ( its sale agreed ) before i can close on the other one, Obviously the pups wouldnt be ready to go till about 8weeks but if all goes well i'd be very interested in homing one.

Also the new house would be very close to where my parents live and their King Charlie passed last oct so my dad would be only too happy to help with walkies.

Thanks for all the info from everybody.

cjf

Best of luck on your search any way! Remember that bernard from ashton pound she was not a DID dog and was reserved and rehomed from ashton pound. Worth keeping an eye out while you looking!

EGAR

he found out that she was close to 50 weeks pregnant

50 WEEKS?

seamus

Lol, days