Well they have finally arrived!!

[MyBuddy]

You know that many warn against having two males..

The two labs are actually a male and a female dog. It's just that they are so rambunctious they don't know how to deal with it. They've never had children either so maybe that has something to do with it LOL they have had a male and a female lab before but they were much different than these two. So she says. It may be that she's forgotten how they were as puppies.

 

[Max Hawk]

The two labs are actually a male and a female dog. It's just that they are so rambunctious they don't know how to deal with it. They've never had children either so maybe that has something to do with it LOL they have had a male and a female lab before but they were much different than these two. So she says. It may be that she's forgotten how they were as puppies.

Sometimes it just gets to loud and ya can't hear the movie lol..it just never hurts to let em lean some manner and that it's time to boom down..male on male..or female to male etc..I don't thnk make a whole lot of difference but my experience in the main had been two male dogs. There is always a difference in each pair ..just like humans some are really close and get along perfect and other have to have their little spats ..some like to play rough and some are mellow fellows lol.

 

[JanS]

I agree that they'll look like they're playing really rough sometimes but you learn to tell the difference between when they're just doing normal Doberman play and when they're starting to get serious.

I'm more curious about your umbrella icon. It's not part of the standard set on this site. Yet I know the full set of icons available on my phone don't work. Or do they suddenly work?

I've never seen an umbrella icon anywhere?

 

[My2Girls]

️ ️ ️ ️

Type "rain". The emoji will pop up and for some reason it doesn't disappear. Maybe because it's a typed word instead of the emoji buttons???

I'm on an iPhone.

 

[alphafemale]

They are very cute! And congrats!

I will third or fourth or whatever the spray bottle! Lol Only recently brought it out and only used it two times when Mila was harassing one of our shih tzus, and the other my eldest pom mix. Two separate times. One small squirt each. That was enough so now I even grab the bottle and she'll calm herself. Benefit of such an intelligent breed.

Love the pictures! Can't wait to see more.

 

[Max Hawk]

Oh I almost forgot because I was thinking of this the other day...I guess you probably know that even though some vets don't care when they spay or neuter your dog that for health sake now the best thing is to wait ..6 months etc is way to soon..So have you thought about what you will do when you girl first comes into heat and you still have an intact male? Kind of sticky .and just wondering if you had thought about it Most vets will want to spay or neuter at 6 month but more current thinking says at least a year and even better 14 months..Just thought you might want to know. I came across this video and although it's lengthy it's really worthy and I leaned much that I did not know.
Dr. Becker: The Truth About Spaying and Neutering

 

[Max Hawk]

See if I can put it here!

 

[Max Hawk]

Some one got on my case about this video and said she was anti-crop but I really don't care ..I don't mind folks who don't like cropping ..I just really don't like folks that outlaw it..here however I think she is making some valid points..Not so much problems with neutered males perhaps but I have know a lot of people who have had all kinds of problems with their spayed females..it at least in my opinion pays to wait until they are at least a year old. Just my thoughts. Years ago we did not neuter our males dogs and I still don't..The one Dober I had my very first was neutered young and developed an auto-immune disease and died at 3 ..so after that I left my males intact..I was told that neutering had nothing to do with his problem but still..I have shied away from neutering ever since. lol Maybe it's just that we cut about everything else off the poor beasties so there ya go..just my weird take on it all I guess!

 

[Dogs4Life]

So have you thought about what you will do when you girl first comes into heat and you still have an intact male?

I have thought about but haven't really talked with the wife about it. We originally wanted to keep Zeus intact but that may change. I figured we would have them both fixed but not really set one way or another.

My sister picked up a rescue dog from the HS a few years back and the pup was only about 7 months and was already spayed. She has had urinating problems ever since, so I totally agree with waiting!

 

[Dogs4Life]

And I guess to piggyback off my last but more looking for some advice

I would just be worried Zeus may try to pull rank on our older dog if he isn't fixed. I want the pups to get to a point (obviously down the road) to where I can leave them out of their cages when we leave the house. I just have no experience with dobes and how something like that would play out...

 

[Tropicalbri's]

And I guess to piggyback off my last but more looking for some advice

I would just be worried Zeus may try to pull rank on our older dog if he isn't fixed. I want the pups to get to a point (obviously down the road) to where I can leave them out of their cages when we leave the house. I just have no experience with dobes and how something like that would play out...

I would never leave both dogs out of their crate together unsupervised. Too many things can go wrong. If they are out of their chewing period (is there ever that time?) you can leave one in one room and the other in a different room.
Usually the females are the 'boss' not the males. The males are just bigger and can overpower physically but usually the female will stop that before it starts. Learn to read their body language so you can diffuse situations before they start and you can learn who is instigating the behavior and correct it before it continues into habit.

 

[Dogs4Life]

Usually the females are the 'boss' not the males.

I've already learned that Zoey is in charge and also the instigator lol. Zeus will be checking things out and here she comes from behind plowing right through him. Kind of comical to watch!! She will run around the one bush where there is a rock on the other side trying to get him to run into it.

So do most people here still cage their adult dog(s) when they leave the house?

 

[Tropicalbri's]

So do most people here still cage their adult dog(s) when they leave the house?

I do just from a safety standpoint. Usually I have one dog with me whenever I go to work and leave the other at home crated if I am going to be longer than a few hours. I will take a break and come home and switch up the pups with the last crated going back to work with me.

 

[Max Hawk]

And I guess to piggyback off my last but more looking for some advice

I would just be worried Zeus may try to pull rank on our older dog if he isn't fixed. I want the pups to get to a point (obviously down the road) to where I can leave them out of their cages when we leave the house. I just have no experience with dobes and how something like that would play out...

That is a very good question..and it just depends on the individual dogs and Dobermans are still dogs just like most any other large dog..( lol hate to admit it though) Here I go again bucking tradition but I have always left my dogs free when I go..I have always had two intact males. The big no no! .They get on the bed on cuddle until I get home most of the time. It's a very complicated question..how your pack gets along has a lot to do with you and how raise them. In my case they really are never crated, tied, etc..we have 8 acres for them to romp in and they come and go in the house as they wish...It simply makes for happy dogs and really there is no reason for them to not get along. I know everyone has a different situation and it really depends on so many factors..I think as they mature you will be able to observe and see if you are going to have a problem or not.
I have never had three together so I have no wisdom on that but I think the more you separate them the less they bond and become a whole ..They do learn to get along in most cases. I have of course heard some horror stories..but so far knock on wood I have never even been close to having them fight etc.
I wanted to add this applies to grown dogs..not puppies..hehe ..they are like the ocean never turn your back on em..

 

[Max Hawk]

I've already learned that Zoey is in charge and also the instigator lol. Zeus will be checking things out and here she comes from behind plowing right through him. Kind of comical to watch!! She will run around the one bush where there is a rock on the other side trying to get him to run into it.

So do most people here still cage their adult dog(s) when they leave the house?

I have only had a few females and yup they always rule ..isn't that how it should be??? Shhhh don't tell my husband I said that. I never have caged my adults.

 

[MarkChambers]

See if I can put it here!

That is an excellent video and one that needs to be heeded. Please DO NOT spay and neuter. If an intact pet is impossible then take the time to find a vet that will do a vasectomy for the male and tubal ligation for the female. The pups are rendered sterile but the natural hormones necessary to health and longevity remain unaltered.

I lurk around here as my pup is about 8 weeks away from coming home. I just enjoy reading but this one is too important not to comment. You may have to search and you may have to travel a bit to find an up to date vet but if you want what's best for your dog you will do it.

 

[Max Hawk]

I do just from a safety standpoint. Usually I have one dog with me whenever I go to work and leave the other at home crated if I am going to be longer than a few hours. I will take a break and come home and switch up the pups with the last crated going back to work with me.

I have never crated my dogs that way..Please don't think I'm being judgmental I know your a great dog owner .I always try to put myself in my dogs place a bit..would want to be in a cage all day ..nope. I don't know how long you are at work if it's only an hour or two I know they can handle it fine but still..I grew up with dogs and dad had hunting dogs. .When we had to be gone they had a big kennel to romp in. Don't get me wrong here I know the crate can be a great tool but I have seen that it can be abused ..I know you don't but I have even seen good breeders abuse it when they get busy and forget the poor dog hasn't been out of the crate for quite some time! We almost never crated back in the good old days! lol In a way it's almost become a fad...we always built a larger kennel instead of crating. Besides the boys here have a purpose ..when I'm gone it's their job to keep the critters away from my roses! lol

 

[Max Hawk]

That is an excellent video and one that needs to be heeded. Please DO NOT spay and neuter. If an intact pet is impossible then take the time to find a vet that will do a vasectomy for the male and tubal ligation for the female. The pups are rendered sterile but the natural hormones necessary to health and longevity remain unaltered.

I lurk around here as my pup is about 8 weeks away from coming home. I just enjoy reading but this one is too important not to comment. You may have to search and you may have to travel a bit to find an up to date vet but if you want what's best for your dog you will do it.

I have always had intact males and if I had a female I would for sure not have her spayed in the traditional way..I think they end up with even more bad after effects than the males that are neutered.. I want to say here that years ago we never did neuter our males the way they do now..and responsible owners keeps their dogs in ...so no indiscriminate breeding takes place..It's sad but much of this as always stems from idiots who don't care for their dogs.
I have seen so many female dogs ..not my own thank goodness but so many health issues. I have no idea how hard it is to find a vet to do the procedure the right way ..I hope things change a bit..if nothing else waiting until at least a year old.

 

[My2Girls]

I believe @strykerdobe had a link to a site that listed holistic vets that do the alternative spay/neutering. Maybe you can find one in your area.

 

[Tropicalbri's]

When I crate, my pups are ready to go in. They have had a long morning run and swim and they chill out from the heat outside.
As they have aged they are not crated as often. Before when they were younger they have destroyed so many things in the house like chewing Sheetrock, couch, linens, baseboards etc. so yes crating was necessary for their safety. As they have aged they can be trusted and are seldom crated except to eat or when they want to go in on their own.
My comment was to crate them when puppies until they are trustworthy being left alone. With my two I will not ever leave them alone together because they will start arguing with each other and I don't want to come home to bleeding dogs should it ever escalate.
That was my point with the puppies being free in the house. Too many things to get into that two puppies will do whereas one may not.
When I have to be gone for any length of time then my female will be in the bedroom with my beagle and female cat and Bogie will be in the living room. We don't have a lot of property down here anywhere that allows them to run free that doesn't have other (untrained) dogs blazing through so I use the ocean and nature trails for their exercise.
I did not crate my prior dobes but have learned with these two that it has made them easier to train and keep your home intact and less medical bills for FBS.
When I am home my front door is always open so they come and go downstairs as they please but because Bogie is a jumper he cannot be trusted with access to the outdoors without me here. (Momma's boy)
Edit here: when I crate it is for their safety not my convenience. But I do agree that many have abused crating dogs. Not in my house, even my birds have free reign outside of their cages.