Raising 2 Pups At The Same Time

[puggy_puggy]

I'd put a gap between them.. the more the better. Based on personal experience I'd honestly recommend 5-6 years.

Now where is the fun in that. The pup annoys the shit out of the older dog.

The issues are not just about training the dogs. It is about natural sibling rivalry. Siblings, and pups of the similar age raised as siblings, can really love each other to the point of dependancy, but also, and at the same time, see themselves as complete rivals. If you have siblings yourself, though you may love them, could you really live with them peacefully. Sometimes it can work if you are fortunate enough to have 2 dogs of complementary natures, but more often than not it ends in tears (and sometimes bloodshed).

I have two pugs that are a nearly two years apart in age and they love eachother to death but are also rivals. The same goes for basically every other family of two or more pugs I know. I don't think that age is a factor. If you have more then one dog they are always going to be rivals.

[Bjelkier]

I have two boys, the desexed Lab is 4 years older then the entire samoyed and they never have issues, Mistral certainly didn't annoy Lestat when he was little and he was an insane puppy!

Personally I believe it works better that way as the older, trained dog can help teach the younger one the manners it needs in life and how to behave well in the doggy world.

Personally I wouldn't do it, getting two at once is just too much hassle in my mind but if you are set on it, the advice to train and work seperatly is a really good one. Time alone each to bond with people is very important.

There where two GSD in Mistrals obediance class, brother and sister (wonderful dogs) and they where a serious handfull, they hated being away from each other to the point where the owners couldn't even stand on the other side of a small circle without the dogs screaming like banshee's to get to each other, they where more focused on each other then the owners.

Good luck with your new arrivals, hope you can work something out that is good for all of you.

[Odin-Genie]

Thanks for all of the feedback! Because it's me and my partner that will be raising the two pups, would that make much of a difference for training and the like or would that be another problem to overcome?

Also, I was reading another thread:

http://www.dolforums.com.au/lofiversion/in...hp/t124102.html

about a similar topic and the feedback there was similar but also had alot of "It's worth it" comments. If anyone has any comments about this as well, that would be appreciated.

Thirdly

For those of you that have started a "doggy family" how did you go about doing it and what advice would give.

Again, thanks to all of you who gave feedback, it's really helped me rethink why we were doing it in the first place.

I got my second puppy when the first was 6 months old. We had time to train him, spend time with him and get him to bond with us. When the new puppy came, training was a lot easier since she followed Odin's lead. It wasn't a big age difference, so we had and continue to have loads of fun watching them play.

[benny123]

I have two rescue siblings that we adopted when they were 8 and a half weeks old, brother and sister, they're now two and a half.

The reason we did it was because we'd previously had a single dog that was very lonely when we went to work or out socially. He was very attached to us so getting another dog to keep him company was not an option - we tried by babysitting friends dogs but this made him more unhappy and quit unfriendly to our canine guests. So when he passed away we decided to get two dogs together.

I'll admit that puppyhood was not easy, and I can't even say the work puppy to my OH without him turning pale

However, we were consistent with training and asserting leadership. They started weekly obedience training at 4 months and had daily training sessions at home. They've grown into two very lovely, very obedient adults. They have totally different personalities, our girl is very active and loves ball games and agility whereas our boy is happy to be a spectator and cheer from the sidelines unless it involves swimming.

They get on very well and there has never been any issues of rivaly, jealousy or aggression so I guess we've been lucky.

[Lab lady]

Now where is the fun in that. The pup annoys the shit out of the older dog.

I introduced a pup to an older dog more than once and it has always worked out fine, gives the oldies a new lease on life and the pup gets some good lessons.

Edited March 9, 2009 by Lab lady

[blacklabrador]

I saw a couple with two GSD puppies last night. I don't know if they came from the same breeder but one of these pups in particular is extremely challenging in its behaviour and these little guys are only 12 weeks old. I can't see it lasting too long. What a mess.

[peibe]

Just to go against the flow.

If I was to get a puppy again I would get two at once.

I fostered two female pug pups that came into rescue at 7 weeks. I had them for 3 months. Yes it was double the poo & wees and double the food preperation but seriously these girls were no problem at all. They had eachother to snuggle and play with, and boy did they play.

The ended up being adopted together and are a year old now and I would say are very well rounded gorgouse little girls. Yes the bigger girl probably couldn't live without her smaller sister, or another dog, but saying that my younger pug couldn't live without her older brother so what is the difference?

Pugs are a totally different kettle of fish to other breeds, they are happy go luck dogs who really are easy to handle

I think Pug siblings would still be work

I rehome puppies often and I would never ever rehome 2 pups together and quite frankly for a breeder to do it aswell is irresponsible

Yes the dogs have eachother, but they never learn to be their own dog

[lucylotto]

Don't do it. It might look cute but it's very difficult to train then when they are so attached that you can't separate them easily. They get up to twice as much naughtiness too!

I can vouch for this. We got one then another rescue who is 2 months younger. Much harder to play and train as you have to separate them and they always competing. AND SO NAUGHTY!!!!!!!! DOUBLE TROUBLE!!! They have just been released from hospital after sharing a whole box of nurofen tablets (long story but gist is visitor dropped pkt) Not to mention the undies, shoes, glasses, furniture, pens etc they keep stealing and destroying. It is getting better but lots of work.

The plus is the fun and antics and they are great mates and company for each other. The challnging time is not the first few months but I found from about 6-7mnths on. Mine are now 9 and 11 months.

Good luck!

Edited March 10, 2009 by lucylotto

[Joan of Arc]

We kept two show girls from our last litter because between ourselves, the sire's breeder and another showie we couldnt make a decision at that stage. The idea was to keep them until they were a little older adn then choose. But you become attached etc...

Both do well in the ring when shown, both do well at obedience and one is shot over. They are well behaved and obedient and were never any trouble - I was concerned about the dominance situation when we first decided to keep them both but that didn't become an issue. Of course we were lucky that thier mother and our boy were both such beautifully behaved and possessed of such wonderful temperaments that they were very quielty raised.

Having said all that the biggest issue we have with it is that we have to have them in two different obedience classes because one of the girls gets a little separation anxiety from her sister. We also show in different classes - aside from the obvious reason of knocking each other out of the class - the same girl would rather look back and try to play with her sister. So when we are at training or a show they are not crated next to each other and dont socialise outside the ring.

As great as they are they are fast and furious puppies (only two last Sat) when they play or try to get through the same spot at the same time etc.. so I doubt I would do it again.

[snr]

I have 2 Labs A brother and Sister Littermates.

They are now 7 months old. I have found it challenging, Although nowhere near as bad As i thought it would be.

From the time we got them at 11 weeks old, We have made sure they get one on one time alone with us.

They are very bonded to eachother, Although I am extremely close to both of them, As are the kids and Hubby.

We have had them at obedience training same night but different classes, I have one and my 11 year old has the other in the other class.

It has worked out well that way. To be honest the hardest thing for me would be doubling up on everything, Vet bills ETC.

I get asked all the time if I had the time over Would I get one at a time. And I wouldn't They keep eachother company, It is great to see them together.

They have never fought over anything. They take turns to eat It is very cute to see. I think I have lucked out BIG Time with my 2 They are Marvellous.

Goodluck with your Decision.

I have to add I have heard not to get 2 girls Either

[Stitch]

I breed dogs and I am currently running on two female pups.

With all my experience both in showing and also in obedience I still do not recommend anyone doing this unless they absolutely have to.

I put in a lot of work with any pup I run on, especially socialising, walking on lead, general discipline, etc. and with two pups, to do the job properly, it usually means double the work.

You also run into the problem sometimes of the two dogs bonding to each other more than to you and also the problem of one constantly trying to dominate the other.

Unless you know how to recognise the potential behavioural problems before they become permanent, you only make more problems for yourself for the future.

I would suggest, as others before me have suggested, that you buy one, train it, socialise it, etc. and then say 6mths down the track, get the next one.

[charli73]

Sorry,

have to agree with the majority, DONT DO IT!!!

I found just one a bloody handful, and would wait until the first is at least 12 months for the same reasons as everyone else.. they may bond to each other not you, and if you wait it will be easier to train down the track..

There are 2 sets of siblings at our obedience school, both sets had to be separated as they couldnt be in the same class as they would play up and just run a muck... (labs and weinmaraners)

[raafy]

My advice after keeping 2 girls from our last litter "DON'T DO IT"

[Kaz]

All of the posts above have very valid points.

Personally I don't have a problem with siblings being raised together provided it is a male and a female.

Double vet bills - double the work - but I've done it a couple of times and have had absolutely no regrets. Never had any dominance issues and never had the dogs bonding too closely. The companionship is invaluable. I would never again have only one dog

[charli73]

My advice after keeping 2 girls from our last litter "DON'T DO IT"

Raafy,

Your two pups are SOOOOOO gorgeous, makes me want another one

[lucylotto]

My advice after keeping 2 girls from our last litter "DON'T DO IT"

they are adorable!