Two puppy success stories? Feeling in over my head

[Aobcd8663]

I finally decided to get a puppy from a coworker who’s dogs accidentally got pregnant. I picked out the runt, a sweet baby girl and someone else picked out her brother. However that person bailed on him and in the time frame of waiting to get them they had bonded well. I decided to take both. What could go wrong?

Honestly it hasn’t been that bad. They do play together well, and they’re catching on okay to commands. But fear and anxiety as to whether I’m doing this right has set in.

The pups are going on 9 weeks so I know they’re going to have lots of puppy energy and setbacks. However when they play with each other I can’t decipher what behavior is okay and what I shouldn’t let them do. Because sometimes they stop on their own and other times it stops when I break it up because one nipped the other.

Is there anything I should or shouldn’t be doing? Anyone with success stories or even a reassuring word that it gets better? Anything would be appreciated.

[Aobcd8663]

Oh for sure. I always watch them during play time and make sure they’ve got a toy in their mouth or redirect them to a toy if they’re biting something they shouldn’t

[adaline]

I would make sure you don't fall into the trap of letting them get away with bad behaviour just because of their size, though.

Lots of small dogs are allowed to jump, mouth and bark because they're so small they won't do any harm/hurt anyone. It's still an undesirable behaviour and should be stopped if possible.

[Aobcd8663]

I knew about litter mate syndrome so I do crate them separately, and we do potty separately. If I can I walk them separately as well.

I personally haven’t had dogs but almost all my relatives do, as well as my friends so I’ve always been around them.

They’re very good pups in general. I forgot to mention that they’re Chi Chons, a Chihuahua and Bichon mix so they’re tiny tiny! She’s 2.5 lbs and he’s just pushing 3. We’ve done lots of socializing with other dogs big and small as well as people and they’ve been extremely well behaved in that realm which I’m thankful for. They snuggle up and play nicely right away with new people.

[adaline]

Have you read up on littermate syndrome?

You need to toilet train both dogs separately, feed them separately, walk them separately and take them to separate classes.

It's generally not advised to get two pups from the same litter, but what's done is done. Most of them go on to be happy, healthy dogs but it will take a lot more work than just one pup alone.

peachonaleash.com/littermate-syndrome-dogs/

[BiteyShark]

Are you able to separate and do individual training?

Have you googled littermate syndrome?

I don't have any experience of two puppies but have seen someone come to training and they were advised to give them individual training which they had started to do because they were struggling to get them to focus on anything but each other.

[Lou573]

Have you had dogs before OP? I know even experienced dog owners tend to avoid getting two pups together as they learn from each other rather than you.