Sorry this is a bit long...
I've got two boys, Rusty and Bolt who are father and son. Currently they are 2 years (father) and 10 months (son) and seem very stable. I had a father/son pair before, but they spectacularly fell out when the boy was 7 months old. I think this was because I wasn't very strict with keeping them from smelling the girls - so I'm now very neurotic about always cleaning out, feeding and cuddling this pair before going to the girls.
As a result I daren't bring them into the house for cuddles (where the girls and other 2 neutered boys live) and I have a very different relationship with these two. I wouldn't remotely describe them as neglected (they live like kings!), but they definitely have less interaction with me, and are given more time on the lawn than the others as apposed to floor/cuddle time etc... I suppose they just have a different kind of life...
If Rusty and Bolt do remain friends and are still happy after the hormonal phase (say at 18 months old) do you think I will be able to relax this strict regime at all - or will I have to be careful like this forever?
I can’t figure out if it matters how hands on I am – are they just as content living as they do now, and so would it be cruel to put them thru a neuter op and split them up for the sake of me being able to fuss them whenever I like? Or is it cruel to not give them as much of my time as the others? Obviously I am currently providing everything they need – i.e. fresh hay, food, veggies, water etc… and also check their health everyday even if it’s just a quick hello in the morning.
What do people think? I don’t have a problem with this ‘quarantine’ period if it ensures their bond is strong and it’s OK after 18 months to risk bringing them inside to play etc… The problem is if they do always have to be separate like this – is that OK?
I've got two boys, Rusty and Bolt who are father and son. Currently they are 2 years (father) and 10 months (son) and seem very stable. I had a father/son pair before, but they spectacularly fell out when the boy was 7 months old. I think this was because I wasn't very strict with keeping them from smelling the girls - so I'm now very neurotic about always cleaning out, feeding and cuddling this pair before going to the girls.
As a result I daren't bring them into the house for cuddles (where the girls and other 2 neutered boys live) and I have a very different relationship with these two. I wouldn't remotely describe them as neglected (they live like kings!), but they definitely have less interaction with me, and are given more time on the lawn than the others as apposed to floor/cuddle time etc... I suppose they just have a different kind of life...
If Rusty and Bolt do remain friends and are still happy after the hormonal phase (say at 18 months old) do you think I will be able to relax this strict regime at all - or will I have to be careful like this forever?
I can’t figure out if it matters how hands on I am – are they just as content living as they do now, and so would it be cruel to put them thru a neuter op and split them up for the sake of me being able to fuss them whenever I like? Or is it cruel to not give them as much of my time as the others? Obviously I am currently providing everything they need – i.e. fresh hay, food, veggies, water etc… and also check their health everyday even if it’s just a quick hello in the morning.
What do people think? I don’t have a problem with this ‘quarantine’ period if it ensures their bond is strong and it’s OK after 18 months to risk bringing them inside to play etc… The problem is if they do always have to be separate like this – is that OK?