wakd Posted July 17, 2009 Share Posted July 17, 2009 Hi Everyone, Have been reading these forums for a few weeks now as my fiancée and I have just become parents to two little Pug puppies. They are just on 9 weeks old and we have had them for a week. They are brother and sister litter mates. My question is about their playing/squabbling. We have started training them not to play fight/nip/mouth when they are sitting in our lap or on the lounge with us. We correct them and if they continue they get put back down on the floor and they seem to be learning not to squabble when they are with us. When they are on the floor they play a lot, and some of it looks very rough. Occasionally one or the other will let out a yip, and occasionally they will growl at each other. My question is should I let them play fight like this while they are sorting out dominance, or should I try to stop them when they are rough housing? I understand puppies will play fight and nip and bite each other, but it's hard to tell the difference between playing and actual fighting. If I clap my hands and yell at them they generally stop for a moment or two, but then get back into it again fairly quickly. What do you think? Thanks, Ben Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aziah Posted July 17, 2009 Share Posted July 17, 2009 I never sell two baby puppies together so I'm not much help to you... Puppies will often squabble over jellyfish if it continues and you're concerned, give them time out. You should be spending time with them as individual regardless... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sandra777 Posted July 17, 2009 Share Posted July 17, 2009 Firstly - two pups at the same time when you're obviously inexperienced - whoa, bad move and bad bad breeder IMO they aren't sorting out dominance, not at 9 weeks. They are PLAYING. Let them play in whatever way they like so long as it doesn't involve wrecking the house or doing something you don't want them to do as adults (running inside, using the lounge as a trampoline, whatever - you set the boundaries). Keep an eye on it if one is much smaller and/or milder natured, but if they're pretty evenly matched then let them play freely with each other. You need to get them used to being separate and definitely need to give them a lot of one-on-one time. They absolutely must learn to become individuals or you will never get the best out of them as pets and also, if one should have to be hospitalised or if one dies young (sorry, but it does happen) the other one will be inconsolable. Puppy school for you all ;) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gretel Posted July 17, 2009 Share Posted July 17, 2009 Firstly - two pups at the same time when you're obviously inexperienced - whoa, bad move and bad bad breeder IMO they aren't sorting out dominance, not at 9 weeks. They are PLAYING. Let them play in whatever way they like so long as it doesn't involve wrecking the house or doing something you don't want them to do as adults (running inside, using the lounge as a trampoline, whatever - you set the boundaries). Keep an eye on it if one is much smaller and/or milder natured, but if they're pretty evenly matched then let them play freely with each other. You need to get them used to being separate and definitely need to give them a lot of one-on-one time. They absolutely must learn to become individuals or you will never get the best out of them as pets and also, if one should have to be hospitalised or if one dies young (sorry, but it does happen) the other one will be inconsolable. Puppy school for you all In your opinion! I'm sure with some breeds it is definitely not a good idea to have siblings together. I have sold two Cavalier pups together two or three times and it has worked very well. They are company for each other ;) I have one of the pairs here staying with me at the moment. They are three years old and I have them to stay quite regularly. They are very well balanced, happy, loved dogs. Never having owned a pug I have no idea if it's a good idea or not and I'm not going to comment. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poodlefan Posted July 17, 2009 Share Posted July 17, 2009 If they're not drawing blood. If both are happy to initiate and play. Let them do it, its play. However, you need to be very very sure to give these two plenty of time apart. Two dogs over bonded to one another is making a rod for your backs. Make sure they get a chance to develop as individuals, not just as a pair. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nekhbet Posted July 17, 2009 Share Posted July 17, 2009 desex them ASAP before you end up with puppies ... yes they will do it. And yes I have heard from people 'oh but they're brother and sister they know that and they wont!' then a litter pops out a few weeks later! Before 6 months both of them! pups play, its part of growing up. Growling is not all bad its a vocalisation dogs have as part of play. The nips are them telling each other OI THAT HURT! which a pup SHOULD be learning! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
luvsdogs Posted July 17, 2009 Share Posted July 17, 2009 I would never get 2 puppies together. It's something I learned years ago & hear it often at my obedience club. My last dog was still with one of her sisters until nearly 12 weeks & I'm sure they taught each other bit inhibition as she's not a biter. Agree with the others it's so important to treat them separately, train separately & when the time comes walk separately at least 3 times a week. You want them bonded to you & not so much to each other. We get many ppl with 2 puppies of a similar age in the one family & they are so obsessed with each other that its hard to teach them anything. Good luck with them, would love to see pics. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigDaz Posted July 17, 2009 Share Posted July 17, 2009 You are in for a hell of a time, I know, I have two female Staffy litter mates, but hopefully it works out in the end. The following is just my experience, there are experts here that know a lot more than me. As others have said, separate them as much as possible and for a decent period of time to try to stop any separation anxiety. We didn’t do this enough and our girls hate being apart, they do cope, but they are constantly waiting for the other to return. As far as the fighting goes, my girls were much the same, play fighting almost nonstop when they were puppies, but being Staffy's they always came back for some human attention. We let them go to an extent but stopped them when it got too heated, we still have no idea which is the more dominant and they are nearly 2 years old. You may get a lot of negative comments on this forum in regards to having litter mates, we got so many we were looking at returning one of our girls to the breeder, but we are glad we didnt, we have two beautiful Staffy's who so far are getting on really well, hopfully it stays that way. Having done it, I would never reccommend it, but since you already have two, it can work out well but can be hard work. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wakd Posted July 17, 2009 Author Share Posted July 17, 2009 Thanks for the advice everyone. We are well aware of the issues of having litter mates, and having to spend one on one and separate time from each other. We will be walking them separately when the time comes and they are spending some days apart from each other already. We will also be getting them desexed as soon as possible. We have both had experience with puppies before (me with a Staffie actually BigDaz), just not two at the same time! Thanks again everyone. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Willow Posted July 18, 2009 Share Posted July 18, 2009 Hop onto the Pug thread (it's the subforum in "General Dog Discussion").....all the puggy people hang there, and you'll get lots of support & advice Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Longclaw Posted July 18, 2009 Share Posted July 18, 2009 (edited) There's a thread in General - I think it's one of the ones about dog parks - which includes a great post about what constitutes 'good' play and what is unacceptable. I'll see if I can find it. edit: Ok, pages 2 and 3 of this thread - have a read of the info posted there and it might help you differentiate between playing and fighting. Edited July 18, 2009 by Longclaw Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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