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SAVAGE SISTERS | If you're thinking of acquiring siblings from the same litter I have only one word of advice...DON'T !!!

Raising four legged sisters is not easy - Daisy and Seven fought like demons when they were little and still have the occasional scrap. Anyone who has bull terriers will know that a fight between two of them is extremely unpleasant. When they fight they are not playing at it - they are capable of being very aggressive although this doesn't mean that they always are of course. Many people are nervous of "that type of dog" but one of the qualities bred into bull terriers was not to turn on their human handler. Obviously this courtesy doesn't generally apply to other animals...

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Small scrapping puppies are not generally a problem to separate but can you handle two adult dogs having a go at each other? In the case of Daisy and Seven I was warned - after we took them both home - that we'd have trouble with a gruesome twosome. I was also told that after they had been through a season or two their attitudes would change. Thankfully this proved to be true and Seven "coming on heat" at six months was the only thing that saved her from being re-homed (nothing personal Fatty but one of you needed to go). They have gone from having two serious fights a day (when very small) to a scrap perhaps once every three or four months. At least they now tend to make a lot of noise rather than do much damage.

Be warned that two is definitely enough for "a pack". Whether it's chasing cats - real or imaginary - or having a snarl at other dogs these two really egg each other on and can behave in a truly revolting manner. I don't believe either of them would behave so badly if they lived in a single dog household. I guess bringing any two dogs together can create a pack but I assume that getting two of the same age increases the likelihood.

Okay I admit it...there are some benefits to having two bull terriers instead of one. For example wave a stick over their heads and watch them spinning round in demented circles. Daisy always spins clockwise and Seven anti-clockwise. Who know why but it's amusing to watch! It's true they enjoy playing with each other but from my personal experience bull terriers care rather more about having human company than the company of another dog. It's been a learning curve to rival Everest and has turned out - so far - basically fine but I don't think I will repeat the experience. If you've read this and still fancy taking on siblings don't say you haven't been warned!

home | Cyd's story: part 1 or part 2 | index of holistic health issues | Daisy 'n' Seven | email