Thoughts on 2 puppies please....

[catanddog]

Hello,
Our very beloved dog was PTS at Easter 2013, and we finally feel ready as a family to get a dog again. I went to meet a great litter today, and have agreed to take one when she's ready. But it got me thinking, should we maybe get 2? Our long term plan, was to start with this puppy and then in a year or so get a second larger dog. Would I be off my rocker to consider getting 2 siblings now? If so what do I need to think about (obviously have had single puppies before but never siblings) and would it matter what sex they were (would get them snipped anyway)?
Advice please! I work from home, and they would be left very rarely, and we have a garden, and a large park at the end of the road, will sign up for puppy classes etc.....

I have a two year old retriever and a 7 month old lab puppy. The puppy has been and is extremely hard work. I have even considered giving her back to the breeder. However she has turned a corner now and things are much better. I would think very carefully. I would never have a puppy again let alone two. Good luck.

We had two once and in some ways it was easier. I could leave them for a bit longer and they chewed each other rather than our things. Training was harder, though.

Would I be off my rocker to consider getting 2 siblings now?

In short, yes!

Google "littermate syndrome".

It can work but it's far, far more than double the work of a single puppy. Everything (training, feeding, toilet training, walking, classes) needs to be done separately. Even if you do everything right it can all go wrong and require one of them to be rehomed.

I did this and would never do it again. House training was really difficult as you can't praise them individually and they did bond almost exclusively with each other.

Having littermates... "is a slippery slope to a NIGHTMARE and a catastrophe and a wholly unenjoyable puppy/dog owning experience."

A quote from a fab article, you can read the whole thing here:

www.facebook.com/notes/dog-training-advice-and-support/littermate-syndrome/786862834662609

Thank you all for your advice.....it's much appreciated! I'll put it down to a moment of madness (nothing like an adorable litter to do it!)