two puppies at the same time?

[cordonbleugh]

Hi, I have the opportunity to get 2 puppies from the same litter - actually, I was going to get both, but after a very heated discussion with my Dad, I gave in an told the breeder it would be just the one.

However, since then, I've been doing a lot of reading, and obviously raising 2 puppies at the same time is extra hard work etc, I was already prepared for that before my confidence in doing it was knocked.

My question is, would you say its harder to have 2 pups at the same time, or to bring a new dog into an already established pack later on down the line?

TIA

I'm a SAHM by the way, at home al day every day, DD goes to nursery for 14 hours a week.

So I have got the time to put in the effort.

From everything I've heard from people who've tried it, 2 puppies at once is a nightmare - not only do you have double the puddles, but you have to do all their training separately so they bond with you, and not form an unholy, house-wrecking pup alliance. Most breeders don't let two puppies go at once, for that very reason; they don't want to get two hooligans back in eight months' time. It's easier to introduce a puppy once your first dog is through the adolescent stage, the idea being that the adult dog helps to 'train' the puppy in general manners.

[looks at puppy hanging off pretending-to-sleep older dog's ear. Wonders if this is necessarily the case]

2 puppies together learn their behaviour from each other, rather than having human time to be socialised and have the chance to learn not to chew fingers/ankles/toes (delete as neccessary ) Everything is more than doubly difficult, it's like one step forward and two steps back, as the 2 together get out of hand and forget everything they've learnt! (can you tell I'm talking from experience?)
It is do-able, but takes an awful lot of dedication and work, and TBH, you'd probably enjoy the experience a whole lot more if you get another puppy in a year or so

The Kennel Club recommend that breeders do NOT sell two pups from the same litter to the same owner. They already have a bond with each other which only gets stronger and therefore they don't bond with you as there owners in the same way making training harder. They effectively become a "pack" together and not part of your pack.
There are a pair of labs locally who are litter brothers and their brotherly behaviour has earned themselves the nickname of "The Kray Brothers"!!
If you want two, get another in a year.

Thanks guys, the second pup that I was going to get has been sold to someone else now anyway so I guess it was fate!

My pups mum is going to be bred again next year, so I will wait and get one from her next litter

Little Alfie comes home on friday so expect a few more threads from me lol

Good luck! How exciting and love his name.

lol no, I'm definately going to wait!

Im very lucky that the breeder is lovely, we text all the time, she is a qualified dog trainer and very happy for me to bombard her with texts/calls regarding training/behaviour etc.

Mine are 3 months apart and there hard work. Id say a year apart is great.

We had 3 puppies. puppy 1 was 6 months when we got puppies 2 and 3. I also had a baby and 2 under 5. Twas a mad time, but i coped. Not sure who is more feral, the children or the dogs at times though.

wow synt !! 3 puppies and 3 young children!! Madness.

I do still have the option to get another - one of the boy pups in the litter has had no interest at all, so theres the possibility of getting him if nobody else falls in love with him!!

or a friend on facebook, her dog has just had a litter, they will be ready in about 7 weeks and they are only asking £100 for them

or I wait until alfies mum has her next litter next year, but she will be bred with a huge american bulldog so Im not too sure wether that mix will be a good idea with young DD

My 2 are one month apart, but my boy was 17months when we rescued the girl, who was 16months.

previously i had 2 pups together and it was a NIGHTMARE!.......but only to being with, once they hit 1yr it was fine.

id def recommend reading a bit of cesar milan.

my two are now 19 and 20mths and get on great, love to play with each other and snuggle up to sleep! they do get bosterious(sp) but i send them out in the garden to play.

training hasnt been a real prob and i now have 2 dogs who walk beautifully by my side, come when called etc. (only 995 of the time with the rescue, but we are getting there!!!)

good luck! what dog are you getting??

I have 2 pups from the same litter, its not as bad as everyone makes out if you put the time in individually too.

They are adorable together

I'm intruiged as to what breed your pup is? Also, I wouldn't be in a rush to get another puppy from a breeder who is churning out litter after litter from the same bitch without much of a break. Presumably she is going to mate the bitch at her next season

The major problem with getting two pups at the same time apart from the work etc etc. Is that you will have to work really really hard to not let the puppies bond with each other more than with you. Initially it is dead cute that they choose to do everything together but as they get older they will become more of a pack. They will get more rewards and pleasure from being with each other and you can have mega behavioural problems at a later date.

To avoid this you have to spend time with the pups on their own, walk them individually, play with them individaully, get them used to being on their own which can be a nightmare. Also all through life you will obviously have dogs of the same age and all the problems that may bring.

I personally love pups so would rather have them at different intervals so that I can enjoy every moment of them.

Two pups together can be done but is really really hard work I wouldn't do it.

I wondered this also wags.

We had two goldie boys from the same litter and didn't have any probs with them bonding with us etc. It was just a lot of hard work as others have said - double the puddles etc.
I wouldn't change it.