Bonded pair

[Lynn5707]

Hi,

We are fostering two yellow Labs that we have had since just before Thanksgiving. They are both heartworm positive and will be getting their last shots next week. These two dogs were surrendered to the local dog pound, not much is know about their history. They were in pretty rough shape initially, and are doing better.

These two have most likely fended for themselves forever. One is estimated to be about 8, the other about 6, but to us he seems younger like maybe 2-4 range. As you can imagine it is hard to find a home for two dogs. My question is, do bonded dogs end up doing OK if they get separated? Any advice would be appreciated.

Thanks!

Lynn

[SunDance]

No experience with this but wanted to send good thoughts that you'll get them placed together. Thank you for fostering.

My gut feeling is that their reactions would depend on the individual dogs and their actual relationship dynamic...as with the death of one affecting the remaining one. Some dogs don't seem to notice that the other one is gone and others will show signs, sometimes extreme, of mourning. Add to this scenario, though, a change in owner and environment, too...so potentially more severe. Potentially.

My first Lab Brutus came to us at 3 and never looked back...he was mine the minute I met him (in his previous owner's house). Sat on my foot and looked behind, up at my face. Bru wasn't leaving another dog but he was leaving an owner (with kid...nice people who just couldn't take Bru to Florida with them due to heat and Bru's intolerance...good relationship with Bru). So....people/environment switch wasn't a biggie. We also had another dog (and two cats) who warmed up to Bru fairly quickly so his settling in was fast.

My present girl Sunnie came to us from a shelter (stray, no background, probably at least 6) and it was pretty apparent even at first that she was needy enough to want to be an only dog. Too bad...she was also pregnant and we kept little Danny. To this day, 10 years later, I still think Sunnie might appreciate being the only dog and be one of those who doesn't notice the absence of another. Dan, on the other hand, mourned our one cat...his best buddy...for about 6 months after Charlie died. If Sunnie goes first, I'm pretty sure Dan will get even needier (nut didn't fall far from the tree).

Do they display signs of separation anxiety when one is walked without the other? Maybe "test" them with something like this if you don't already know....that might give you an idea of what impact the separation aspect of the equation will have. Change in owner/environment would have already been neutralized a bit when you took them in since they were together.

Again, hope you'll be able to let them stay together. That would be one less change in their lives.

[Lynn5707]

No experience with this but wanted to send good thoughts that you'll get them placed together. Thank you for fostering.

My gut feeling is that their reactions would depend on the individual dogs and their actual relationship dynamic...as with the death of one affecting the remaining one. Some dogs don't seem to notice that the other one is gone and others will show signs, sometimes extreme, of mourning. Add to this scenario, though, a change in owner and environment, too...so potentially more severe. Potentially.

My first Lab Brutus came to us at 3 and never looked back...he was mine the minute I met him (in his previous owner's house). Sat on my foot and looked behind, up at my face. Bru wasn't leaving another dog but he was leaving an owner (with kid...nice people who just couldn't take Bru to Florida with them due to heat and Bru's intolerance...good relationship with Bru). So....people/environment switch wasn't a biggie. We also had another dog (and two cats) who warmed up to Bru fairly quickly so his settling in was fast.

My present girl Sunnie came to us from a shelter (stray, no background, probably at least 6) and it was pretty apparent even at first that she was needy enough to want to be an only dog. Too bad...she was also pregnant and we kept little Danny. To this day, 10 years later, I still think Sunnie might appreciate being the only dog and be one of those who doesn't notice the absence of another. Dan, on the other hand, mourned our one cat...his best buddy...for about 6 months after Charlie died. If Sunnie goes first, I'm pretty sure Dan will get even needier (nut didn't fall far from the tree).

Do they display signs of separation anxiety when one is walked without the other? Maybe "test" them with something like this if you don't already know....that might give you an idea of what impact the separation aspect of the equation will have. Change in owner/environment would have already been neutralized a bit when you took them in since they were together.

Again, hope you'll be able to let them stay together. That would be one less change in their lives.

Hi,

Thanks for the input! So far, the one couple wanting them together decided they couldn’t afford two dogs. We have a retired couple wanting one of dogs and would be with him all the time, so that may be OK. We will see how they do before anyone comes to meet either boy this weekend, to see what happens when we separate them for short time.

thank you!

[barry581]

Our local Lab Rescue, Lab Club of the Potomac will keep bonded dog together, and some do take a long time to find their new family. Personally I think it's just the right thing to do. I would hope if something happened to me, and my dogs had to be re-homed, they would be kept together.

[labsnewfy]

There are homes out there that will take two keeping the boys together - I was looking at two newfie boys age a year old I would hate to see them separated since they have been through so much together but sometimes the rescue I volunteered for would to see how they would do without each other. Is there another foster home that would be willing to work with you keeping one for a long weekend? In some cases they find their independence and did well apart in other cases not so much.