Same Sex aggression?

[GoldenLife]

We have been meeting more people in the breed (Westie's) and have now come across a problem.

We both have fallen for terriers as some of the owners and breeders we met had more than Westie's and we have met a few different terriers now and the Westie still remains the terrier for us apart from us both really liking the soft coated wheaten terrier but obviously too big for mom but I have my eye on them now for when I can get a bigger dog in the future.

The one thing we keep being told is not to get a boy because terriers are known to have issues with dogs the same gender not all have told us this the owner who had Westie's and soft coats said her soft coat is fine with other boys but her past Westie's hated other boys so now she keeps to opposite genders.

Is this a terrier thing I know a few of you here have terriers? This became an issue because I look after an intact male beagle a few time a year for a few weeks at a time when his owner has to go away for work. I never had this issue with my Golden and he was also intact both dogs got on fine is this definitely an issue in Terriers?

 

[SkylarkAscending]

Yes. My JRT hates other dogs and has done so from a pup - he was neutered to see if it helped, it made no difference at all. At home he is as soft as anything and totally loveable, but when I tried to adopt a 42kg greyhound, he chased it out of the house

Interestingly his sister is even more aggressive when the red mist comes over her - but she only fights with her brother! She is the one who will not give up until I remove her from the area

 

[skinnydipper]

Is this a terrier thing I know a few of you here have terriers?

No, not a terrier thing.

 

[CanteringCarrot]

Maybe it is more prominent in certain breeds or types, and I kept hearing about it, or reading about it, when I was doing research on the Cane Corso a few years back. I do know many that keep multiples fine.

My CC is female and lives with another female (Lab) just fine. She's also played with all sorts of males and females. I've known some CC's to be a bit funny about other dogs but it was usually because they were rescues and/or didn't have a good upbringing. One was rather impartial to females and preferred males.

So I think it has a lot to do with the dogs upbringing perhaps? Or you may get some that are just hardwired a certain way. My dogs are socialized with other dogs from a very young age, so I'd like to think that helped.

Mine go to a doggy daycare from time to time and it's a mix of so many different dogs (including 2 gorgeous brindle Mastiffs that I would've gladly taken home ). It's somewhat amazing how it just works. You get some with quirks, like the tiny Italian greyhound that is a sex pest (neutered), or some that are less "social" than others and do their own thing, but overall no real quarrels. The owner is dog savvy and has a good way of introducing dogs, feeling them out, setting the tone, and not allowing certain dogs to attend if they don't pass the test.

Anyway, my rambling aside, it's probably not going to be a consistent terrier thing and will likely depend on the individual. The only things you can do to better your odds is socialize early and not tolerate certain behavior(s).

 

[SkylarkAscending]

Sadly CC that doesn’t always work - hence my boy! Grew up with multiple dogs, well socialised from as soon as he was old enough, never had a bad experience with another dog….. his dad is just the same apparently, they have to shut him away when I visit as he won’t have another dog in his house (other than his son who has been there since he was born). I know a lot of JRTs like it

 

[CanteringCarrot]

Sadly CC that doesn’t always work - hence my boy! Grew up with multiple dogs, well socialised from as soon as he was old enough, never had a bad experience with another dog….. his dad is just the same apparently, they have to shut him away when I visit as he won’t have another dog in his house (other than his son who has been there since he was born). I know a lot of JRTs like it

That's why I said some are just hardwired a certain way

 

[SkylarkAscending]

He is such a soppy lad as well

 

[Jenko109]

I don't understand why you would breed from a dog who seemingly has a genetic predisposition for dog on dog aggression?

There are plenty of male terriers who get on just fine with dogs of the same sex.

 

[BallyRoanBaubles]

I guess it would depend on the individual dog, I had two intact males (was as one had just been castrated for other reasons) who got on absolutely fine and get on with my friends intact male but they have known him since a young age. Mine aren’t terriers tho

 

[GoldenLife]

I don't know if any of you have heard of the Guisachan gathering in Scotland to mark the anniversary of the Golden retriever the last one I went to with my boy was in 2018 and there were hundreds of goldens all together not a cross word between them so maybe this is a breed thing. Either way I definitely can't risk a dog who is aggressive to same gender.

 

[SkylarkAscending]

I don't understand why you would breed from a dog who seemingly has a genetic predisposition for dog on dog aggression?

There are plenty of male terriers who get on just fine with dogs of the same sex.

Well quite, had I realised it would be like this….. but hey it’s easily managed and not a problem, so I don’t mind. And he did have George as a role model growing up, who was not your average terrier in any way

I’m sure it’s not a “terrier” thing but I know many JRTs like it so maybe a breed thing

I never had a cross word between any of the other breeds I’ve ever had, and I inevitably had 4 dogs at a time, mixed sexes, and introduced new rescues without a problem

 

[GoldenLife]

I guess it would depend on the individual dog, I had two intact males (was as one had just been castrated for other reasons) who got on absolutely fine and get on with my friends intact male but they have known him since a young age. Mine aren’t terriers tho

Are your dogs gundogs your avatar looks like a lab which will explain why their fine together

 

[Clodagh]

Are your dogs gundogs your avatar looks like a lab which will explain why their fine together

Not always the case, but gundog breeders tend to prioritise temperament as an aggressive dog isn’t much use on a shoot day. Although you do still get the odd one.

 

[I'm Dun]

Its not an all breed thing. Never seems to happen with whippets and we never had any issues with setters and springers growing up. Its something I always associate with staffies and terriers as they are usually the ones trying to pull their owners arms out to get to another dog to savage it.

 

[BallyRoanBaubles]

Are your dogs gundogs your avatar looks like a lab which will explain why their fine together

They are, my friends is a gundog breed too

 

[islander]

My Airedale bitch was fine with male dogs but didn’t always tolerate other bitches, l have read that it is an ‘Airedale thing’ as well.

 

[skinnydipper]

Its something I always associate with staffies and terriers as they are usually the ones trying to pull their owners arms out to get to another dog to savage it.

Was it a lab that attacked your whippet? Not a terrier or a staffy?

 

[Smitty]

I always have boys. I had issues with 2 rescue terriers initially, but after a very firm intervention, they got on fine.

My present male terrier was brought up with my older male terrier and they got on very well. He is perfectly friendly with other male dogs, some he absolutely adores and copies

I just simply don't allow fighting (runs and hides, with tin hat and supply of food for a year)

 

[Clodagh]

I just simply don't allow fighting (runs and hides, with tin hat and supply of food for a year)

Same. Mine are not allowed to have an opinion on who they like and who they don’t. Especially in the house. Pen does tell off dogs that are rude when out and about and I admit I accept that.

 

[splashgirl45]

My brothers westie was entire and was a lovely friendly boy with all other dogs. My two terriers I’ve got now are both friendly although the bitch is a bit reactive with bigger dogs, just barks because she’s scared. My dog terrier is neutered and is fine with all dogs and people , a very friendly calm chap. I think terriers can be a bit feisty but I haven’t heard that westies are usually . You just need to fully check out the temperament of both parents especially the mum. Good luck with your search

 

[skinnydipper]

Of course there is always the possibility it could be a behavioural problem not a breed trait

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

We have had multiple dogs, as a family since I was 12, dogs and bitches. Like Clodagh, we just don’t allow quarrelling, let alone fighting. We have had 7 bitches living here at the same time; Labs/Jrts/ Rotts/GSDxLabs/Border Collie along with regular visitors; Dalmatian/
Staffy/Lab to name but a few, they have all got along. The terriers got along with the others just as well as the rest of them.

 

[DabDab]

Of course there is always the possibility it could be a behavioural problem not a breed trait

Terriers more than any other type do seem to fall victim to people generalising about the breed rather than trying to understand the reason for a behaviour in an individual dog. It does slightly break my heart when I see a clearly very distressed dog being dismissed as just a typical terrier, when the same thing would never be said about something like a spaniel when it was so clearly upset.

I have three terrier bitches together without issue (well, one is a terrier-spitz mix), but have no experience with multiple male dogs. My (now rather elderly) jrt has lived with a total of 8 other dogs at various points in her life and has never so much as looked funny at any of them.

 

[TheresaW]

Ours are all neutered, but we have 3 dogs and one bitch. None of the dogs would dare argue with her. The one dog who can be agressive will not argue with our own, or the 2 (bitches, one neutered one not) that visit regularly.

 

[SkylarkAscending]

I always have boys. I had issues with 2 rescue terriers initially, but after a very firm intervention, they got on fine.

My present male terrier was brought up with my older male terrier and they got on very well. He is perfectly friendly with other male dogs, some he absolutely adores and copies

I just simply don't allow fighting (runs and hides, with tin hat and supply of food for a year)

Perhaps I didn’t phrase my previous answers well enough but I assuredly do not either I integrated George (aged 11) with 4 other dogs without a problem, and Colin (as a small pup) later on with George and 3 other dogs, there was never a fight. That said, I know what could have happened if I hadn’t put in suitable precautions (which of course is my job as the owner)

Colin and Flora have had 2 fights in 3 years - one over food, which I will fully admit took me totally by surprise as I’d never previously known opposite sexes fight - and a second one when the cat next door was teasing them to a point of acute frustration and they turned on each other in that frustration. Each were learning points for me about their behaviour, and of course I make sure those flash points have never occurred again.

I suppose that for me I am always looking to remove any potential for conflict, so I wouldn’t now introduce another adult male dog to my household because I know there is that potential. Maybe I’m just lazy and go for an easy life but if there are other options then I wil avoid ones which might cause stress and anxiety to my dogs.

I did just have to come back for a quick update - I have 2 neighbours who also have terriers in our row of houses, one of their dogs has just barked (as it does every single time it is let out in the garden) and it reminded me that both sets of terriers are not friendly with other dogs.

 

[Smitty]

Sorry, it was not in response to anything you have posted!! I was replying to the OP

 

[SkylarkAscending]

Sorry, it was not in response to anything you have posted!! I was replying to the OP

Apologies - I didn’t think you were necessarily responding to me, I was agreeing with you that I don’t allow inappropriate behaviour

 

[Smitty]

I have read, and how true it is I don't know, that intelligent dogs don't want to fight and risk injury. It goes back to their wild roots and survival.

 

[Smitty]

Actually OP, the worst two boys I had for scrapping were a Springer x Collie I had from a pup and a Cavalier that was given to me. It was the Cav that caused it, he was a bit odd. A Lab x Collie I had refused to be near him, If the Cav sat next to him he would move , although the Cav and one of the scrappy rescue terrieriers got on fine. I actually think the terrier was very kind.

 

[deicinmerlyn]

My two JRT bitches respect and get on with each other. Never had a squabble in 8 years. Out, they’re fine if left alone but are grumpy if other dogs keep bothering them and will react.