Tips for raising 2 puppies?

[PuppoTroub]

I know it is frowned upon to get 2 from the same litter but it's not normal circumstances and I'm looking for HELP and tips on how to best go about it not judgments on my choice to do so.

Technically only one of them will be mine but they will both be staying with me for the first 4 to 6 months, with the other pups owner taking her out for one on one walks when ready and seperate socialisation.

But the morning, night and other routines will be in the same house.

I know it's an unusual set up, but we do have very valid reasons which I don't want to get into, as they are private.

But I really would appreciate any help or tips in this area as it's goi g to be a busy time.

Thankyou

[Snugglepiggy]

Not necessarily a disaster.We have a brother and sister -springer spaniels - and they are fantastic.However when we got them-from a KC breeder who was only having 2 litters max from her much loved dog ,and a fantastic set up at her home even we as experienced dog owners who ran a dog boarding business found the first few weeks hard going.But also great fun.
I should stress though that we pretty much separated them during the working day.Me walking and training the girl and DH the boy.We took them to training classes separately.It is very time consuming OP and our responsible breeder only allowed us to take 2 because we had the time and lifestyle to do it properly.We had initially only chosen one,but she had still not found a home for the other when we visited again.And we had aways had 2 dogs,albeit different ages.
It's a massive ask to have you basically house and behaviour train a dog for someone else.They should wait until the time is right to do it themselves.
Also pugs are notoriously difficult to house train.I am sorry to say it doesn't sound a great idea.Also are you fully prepared for innumerable toilet run outs in the dark and cold.Really ?Sorry to sound negative but please be realistic.

[MustardScreams]

Even people with working dogs don’t generally pick littermates, unless absolutely exceptional. Or like you said they have kennels and separate handlers for each dog.

2 pups in a house is a disaster waiting to happen.

[tabulahrasa]

The thing is, you’re getting blunt responses because what you’re proposing is a lot harder than one puppy, not twice as hard, more than that.

They need to be completely separate most of the time, how can you do that? And make sure they’re getting everything they need.

People who run on working dogs tend to kennel them, you’re in a house...

[MrsFoxPlus4Again]

I think your crazy taking all the hard work on for something else. They aren’t in the position to look after a pup so therefore can’t have one simple really. Silly to agree to it. Yours might not be sad with the separating but theirs probably will be.

[sillysmiles]

If your dog is going to remain with an established dog - what is the other dogs set up when s/he goes to their new home? Will they be alone or with other dogs?

Because - assuming there is no alternative options - I'd try separate the pups and leave the one staying with the resident dog and the one going on their own to get used to not having a doggy family around.

Aside from everything else I think you are crazy taking on toilet training/training two pups and doing all the hard work for someone else.

[adaline]

I appreciate you're not hearing what you want to hear but taking two pups from the same litter is highly irresponsible and you could do a lot of damage to both animals.

I know you're probably doing this with the best of intentions but if you're still reading, please reconsider. What will you do if the dogs hyperbond and can't cope apart, or if they become dangerously aggressive? Just because they're pugs, doesn't mean they can't do some serious damage to each other or a child.

Please be careful if you go ahead and be prepared to give one up if necessary.

[BiteyShark]

It does sound like you are getting the raw end of the deal here. Without knowing who the other owner is are you sure you want to do all the hard work e.g. the toilet training, cope with the biting, adolescence etc. Will there be any 'blame' if they don't end up with a dog they want (thinking training/behaviour/health etc)?

Make sure they pay and take ownership of insurance as you don't want to be out of pocket (my dog has cost thousands in insurance claims in his first year).

[WhatAStupidIdea]

I’m sorry to say, I agree with all of the above. Unless you’re an expert (and even then it’d be a huge task), this is likely to go very wrong - regardless of how much you’ve read, or watched on YouTube.

I really do understand how frustrating it is when we ask for advice and then don’t like what we hear, we’ve all been there! The thing is, people aren’t doing it to be negative or to ‘just jump to the worst possible scenario’. It’s because this really is a very, very bad idea. It may not be set in stone as you say, but it is a very real, and very likely outcome. It’s hard to say no to a pup when you want one, but the other person (or even you if you’re so set on helping out here) should put these dogs first and walk away, after all, responsible ownership is all about having their needs in the forefront of our minds at all times. Even if you separate them most of the time, there is still a big possibility of issues here. Yes, they may not be rottie sized, but they will still be capable of causing damage. Any dog can be aggressive, even those with ‘dopey’ parents.

Really, really think about this. And then think some more. Put the welfare of these pups before your own wants.

Either way, good luck 😕.

[Wolfiefan]

A pug cross? Definitely a dodgy breeder.
Advice? Don’t buy a puppy from them.

[Soubriquet]

As you said, it’s not ideal.

Ideally the other owner would either wait to get a pup when they can afford to, or would leave the pup with the breeder but I’m guessing they aren’t happy with this.

All you can do, is keep them as separate as possible.

Maybe look into a trainer to help

[LochJessMonster]

@PuppoTroub the advice is, tell the other person that its a ridiculous idea and they need to wait until they can actually care for their puppy.

[LochJessMonster]

What a kind of irresponsible owner gets a puppy that they can't actually care for. Jesus.

See ya in 6 months when you have all the problems we've just warned you about...

[PuppoTroub]

Cockwomble. Your name suits you. We'll done on that.

[PuppoTroub]

OK. I'm not going to read anymore.

There's no point.

Whatever I say I'm going to get shot down so I'll find help elsewhere.

Thanks for your time anyway.

[PuppoTroub]

They are crossed with a non brachycephalic small breed so I doubt they will have any issues. They have a prounouched snout.

[Wolfiefan]

I don’t mean weekly training separately. I mean toilet training, lead training, daily training.
Unless you have a house layout where you can separate them and two adults who can each take responsibility for a pup then I wouldn’t.
I would also query how reputable the breeder is letting two pups go like this. Sounds very dodgy.

[Cockw0mble]

It's a pug - oh it gets better with every post... have fun promoting the breeding of dogs who spend the majority of their lives unable to breathe

[PuppoTroub]

And I've owned pugs all my life.

[PuppoTroub]

Also they are pugs so I'm not worried about aggression in the same way you might with a rottie, their parents have the dopiest, most family orientated temperaments.

[PuppoTroub]

Thanks Bitey.

I think sometimes people just jump to the worst possible scenario.

Which obviously is possible if people are clueless and don't know what to look for or how to avoid such situations but hopefully with the help of the trainer we can avoid that.

[BiteyShark]

Tbf when I was a child dog ownership was very different to what it is now. My DM would have raised an eyebrow at the information and training that is now expected.

I certainly don't train my dog how my parents used to.

However, you are right in that it may not be a problem if you are aware of the potential issues and put in double the work to train separately and get in behaviourists quickly if things start to go the wrong way.

[PuppoTroub]

I already have trainers set up on alternate days once they reach 9 weeks.

[PuppoTroub]

OK. Well thanks for the advice.

:)

I'll enjoy the puppies 👍

[FacesLookUgly]

Professional help in the shape of 1-to-1 training.

This is a big task and, unless you get super lucky, not one that the average owner can often pull off well.

These two need to be apart far more than they are together and apart for almost all the the critical learning times (night time, toileting, feeding, training, socialising, grooming, vets etc).

If they are both males then be prepared for much more fighting than you would get if they were not littermates.

If they are both female then the fighting quantity might be less but the seriousness of any fighting might be much more.

[Tensixtysix]

As all of the above. There is a reason why people don't get two puppies at the same time.