[PefeFoesk]

To answer the original question, no, you do not HAVE to separate them. That is your choice to make. But if not separating them results in injury or death to one or both of them then you will have to live with that. At that point there is no choice remaining.

[nilliraq]

Only you can decide if keeping your dogs separated is right for you. But, you MUST be aware of and live with your choice if you allow them to be together unsupervised. You have to be prepared to walk in your door to a dead/dying/seriously injured dog or two. To me, that stress just seems pointless when crating is so darn easy!

My dogs all get on with each other marvelously... I can even have high value items out without issues. But would I ever leave the lot loose together? No. Do I separate EVERYONE ALL the time when I am gone? Not exactly. My male Saluki is loose in my room, and my male APBT is tethered to the couch. I know my Saluki - he'll not bother the APBT, neither in play or otherwise. The others are crated. There have been times when I've run outside for a moment and left loose my Saluki and 6 month old APBT puppy. The puppy tends to wait at the door, though he did stay sleeping on my bed the other day after his first weekend of lure coursing because he was so wiped out lol

So, in the end.. It's up to you. Your dogs have a history of scuffles, and I would take that into heavy consideration. But.. You are not doing your dogs any harm or depriving them of any companionship by keeping one crated while you're gone

[Grenader]

I would have thought this was a question that you basically answered your self in your original post.
If it's not clear now after all these reply's then I don't know how else to make it more clear.

We have 3 dogs. The SBT and Lab are 10 and 9 yrs old. They have been together for 6 years (1 year under my ownership). They have never gotten into a scuffle. Even play time, the lab will get to the ball first but see the SBT coming and just walk away.
Now our newest APBT on the other hand is just over a year. She will try to start a play session with them at any moment if we don't have bones/kongs out for her. This intales chewing on they legs to get them going. Neither are very big fans as they are old and just want to lay around.
The APBT is blocked off in the dining room/living room with a wall mounted babygate and another portable baby gate stacked on top. The other two are behind closed doors on the second floor in our bedroom. They are completely satisfied with this. If the SBT was more active/aggressive, they would all be seperated but my gf says that in their years together they have never showed aggression over each other, wether it be bones/food what have you. I trusted her judgement at first and have since, seen its very true. They are lost with out each other, and you can tell when they are not in the same place together for a certain amount of time.
When we leave (and dont take any of them with us), this is the routine EVERY time. Never once will I leave all 3 un supervised for more than 3mins ( APBT is usually looking out the window for me and if she isn't I check on them). We have to take everything off the edge of the counters/tables, put shoes and anything easy accessable away EVERY time we leave the APBT in the kitchen/living room. It was a hassle at first but the more you do it, the faster it gets. It takes all of two minutes to seperate them, put gates up, pick up our mess.

Crate/Seperate them! But in the end they are your dogs. Do what you want.

[Zhgrlpil]

everyone answered your question. you just didnt get the answer you were looking for i suppose. do what you want.

[Sleflanna]

look, i get it. being a pit bull owner is a huge responsibility and i am learning as i go. i don't think i know everything or have all the answers (hello ego!), otherwise i wouldn't have joined the community to ask for feedback.

these communities should be a place that we SUPPORT each other as owners & share our experiences. i have been reading through many posts/replies on this site & with the exception of a few truly ignorant remarks, people are jumping down each other's throats when we should just be helping each other.

[Sleflanna]

Really, it's up to you. To me it's kind of like playing Russian roulette.

Yeah, the dogs get along NOW, but who can say what goes on when you're not home? Pit bulls can get into it over ANYTHING. Sunbeams, dust motes in the air, someone walking by outside with a dog, crumbs on the kitchen floor. Just because your dogs get along now, doesn't mean they always will, which is a chance all pit bull (and multiple dog) owners take.

Thanks - you make some good points. I appreciate the feedback.

[Sleflanna]

Gotta be thick skinned to have a bully, regardless of how "mean" someone may think someone in here is being it doesn't hold a candle to how mean the bully haters out there will be towards you and your dog.

that is very true....i just want to be responsible & do right by them.

i agree with the posters that say the dogs should be separated - better to be safe than sorry. i was just wondering if i was just worrying too much - i know now that my worries were valid.

i wasn't trying to say that my dogs were any different or arguing the point that they shouldn't be separated - i just wanted to gather information about what other dogs owners do. maybe i should have just asked that question ("Does everyone separate their dogs when they're gone") in my post instead of giving the whole back story...

[KuRoregioNka]

YOU asked, and I quote "Do I HAVE to separate my pitties?" I answered your question....

If you are comfortable with the possibility of coming home to a bloodbath then by all means let them be unsupervised when you aren't home.

If you are looking for a more "supportive" answer to your question here goes......

Yes you should. A responsible owner will never take the chance that their Pit bull type dogs will not fight.

Funny though, cuz it kinda means the same thing... and I also made the font pink and pretty for you.

[opergolon]

We have 3 dogs at our house, they usually get along great. The 2 pit bulls have never had an issue with eachother, but the female pit and the lab x bernard get into small scuffles every now and again, none of which has been any worse than a shredded ear. The labx will break up the fight on his own due to sheer size difference (160lbs vs 55lbs) but we always separate the dogs when we leave. They all get crated even though they would just sleep. But we do not want to take any chances.

[Teareerah]

If one of those dogs ever got hot, a door wouldn't stop it, let alone a baby gate. I wouldn't risk it. There really isn't a point.

[ONLINEPHARMACYCHEAPILLS]

I have a PB little over one year old and a chow thats 2 years old and a wennie dog that 4 years old and they have always been together. The PB grew up with the other two. Have had no problems but i dont leave toys out when i'm not home and there fed in different rooms. They tend to sleep most of the time when nobodys home and then go nuts playing and running soon as you come in the door. I am quick to to stop them if they play to rough and they settle down fast at sound of my voice. Also i only put one toy out cause the PB thinks everything is hers anyways lol

[WumibBesowe]

Its better to be safe than to be sorry.....

[bikersfan]

Well, you got a lot of input/advice and are going to do what you want to do.. I do not have a bully breed at the moment, but my dogs are seperated when someone isn't home.

My suggestion to you is you get a breakstick or two and learn how to use it. Sorry but spraying your dogs with water or clapping your hands is not going to always work if they are engaged in a big fight. Pit Bull Rescue Central sells them and so does ColbyDogs who is a member here. I would get two of them or more to have. They are only supposed to be used on pit bulls, not other breeds so please keep that in mind.

Here's a sticky how to responsibly use a breakstick!
Responsible Uses of a Breakstick

[KuRoregioNka]

If you are comfortable with the possibility of coming home to a bloodbath then by all means let them be unsupervised when you aren't home.

[gypearteday]

Just don't put one to sleep if it kills the other!. why risk it?!? These dogs have a genetic history.

[PefeFoesk]

No worries, I just want you to know why some people here can appear to be so blunt and "brutal" with their replies sometimes. It isn't personal by any means. The classic example would be the dog park thing, that seems to be one where all the "advocates" want to insist their dog is different, an exception to instinct and temperament, etc. When I was younger and not quite as aware I thought it was no big deal too. I learned differently not due to problems with other dogs in the sense of fighting, but due to some health issues due to all the bugs and parasites and crap that can often be found in those type of places. We were all new owners at some point.

[crazuMovies]

To answer the original question, no, you do not HAVE to separate them. That is your choice to make. But if not separating them results in injury or death to one or both of them then you will have to live with that. At that point there is no choice remaining.

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