terrier bitches together

Question
Hi there. I have a Patterdale terrier girl who has just given birth after accidental mating with a mini Schnauzer terrier. I have found wonderful homes for most, but I would like to keep both a bitch and a male from the litter. I'm advised that terrier bitches living together tend to fight. My girl as gotten on well with small bitches in the past, but not so well with larger males. Does the fact that they would be mother and daughter/son make any difference to their scrapping or anti social behaviour to one another? Thanks. Laura

Answer
Laura -

The combination of 2 females varies quite widely depending on the individual personalities. It is true that, in general, terriers are much less tolerant of dogs of the same gender than other categories of dogs are.

For instance, I can't foster male cairns because my jack russell will not tolerate them.

The other factor here is that since the pups are mixed, I trust you would be spay/neutering them.  That can make a big difference in the aggression levels between individual dogs as well.

I know I was not able to give you a definitive answer, but again, it's a prognosis I just couldn't make.

-Beth