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The doghouse

If you're worried about your pet's health, please speak to a vet or qualified professional.

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Original poster

Can a puppy/dog be raised in two houses?

56 replies

Kione · 15/12/2021 17:47

My husband and I are separated, and have two DC. One of them is quite little so they spend 48 hours at each house more or less.
We got a puppy and my idea was that it would move between households with the kids.

Now I am being told by some people that this will confuse the dog and not to do this.

I would like to know your thoughts please, there is so much contradictory information out there!

Thanks.

OP posts:

BiteyShark · 15/12/2021 17:55

I think dogs are very adaptable. Mine goes to a home daycare and he seems happy with the different setup between the houses. It's effectively his second home .

The only issue is for a very young puppy will you both have the same idea about training. It's annoying to put the effort in to stop them jumping up, begging from the table etc when someone else undermines it.

BiteyShark · 15/12/2021 17:56

Just remembered another thing. Who would actually own the dog and pay for insurance, food, vets bills etc?

Wombat69 · 15/12/2021 17:58

House training is specific to the house. I moved house last puppy & didn't know this.

MrsTerryPratchett · 15/12/2021 18:04

Regardless of the dog, it's probably best to separate the households.

Thatldo · 15/12/2021 18:24

Not a good idea at all for a puppy.every 2 days,the poor little thing is moved from one place to the other!I dont know how you can even contemplate getting a puppy in your circumstances.please concentrate on your children coming to terms with the to and fro,but dont involve an animal in these shenanigans!

icedcoffees · 15/12/2021 18:27

Hmm, no, I wouldn't do this with a young puppy. I don't think it's the same as daycare as you'd both need to implement the exact the same training and routines for everything.

I think it might work with an older, settled adult dog (mine goes to my in-laws while we work, for example, and it's great) but puppies need stability and consistency, not being bounced back and forth all the time.

AwkwardPaws27 · 15/12/2021 18:47

@BiteyShark

Just remembered another thing. Who would actually own the dog and pay for insurance, food, vets bills etc?

This is a very, very good point. Someone needs to take responsibility for this. What happens if the dog has an accident on his watch; who pays the excess etc.

You need to be on the same page with training. Same words for everything - if you want the dog to get off the furniture, are you using down or off, for example. You need to be very consistent with training to avoid confusion - that was tricky with my DH in the same room at times
You need the same rules - is the dog allowed upstairs/ on the sofa or not, for example.

tabulahrasa · 15/12/2021 19:09

Well it’d be confusing to start with, but Dog’s are fairly adaptable tbh.

awesomekilick · 15/12/2021 19:24

My neighbour co-owns a dog with a business partner. Got last year as a puppy. One week at her mad family house, one week at his single chap long walks and rest house.

He's a well balanced happy dog getting best of all worlds

certainshepherdpups · 15/12/2021 19:58

I think it could work. Of course, a lot would depend on the puppy's temperament. Many dogs are extremely adaptable and would be fine with two homes. Others wouldn't, especially if they are timid or nervous.

I also wouldn't worry too much about using exactly the same words for things. We speak two languages at home so our dogs are bilingual. They have never been confused by having two words for the same command.

ShakesFist · 15/12/2021 20:08

We lived in 2 places when our dog was a puppy

Key things - he was fine in the car, we got the same bed in both places, we had specific routines to each house

When we did this it was fine but worth being quite prescriptive from day one

Original poster

Kione · 16/12/2021 03:25

Thanks for all replies. Again different opinions but good to know that it works for some people!

The cost of everything comes from a joint account that we already use for the kids so that's not an issue.

OP posts:

Original poster

Kione · 16/12/2021 03:27

ThatIdo, the children are fine, thanks. This wasn't the question.

OP posts:

Original poster

Kione · 16/12/2021 08:44

@awesomekilick

My neighbour co-owns a dog with a business partner. Got last year as a puppy. One week at her mad family house, one week at his single chap long walks and rest house.

He's a well balanced happy dog getting best of all worlds

This is reassuring!

OP posts:

DoThePropeller · 16/12/2021 08:47

Medium term, yes, short term, no. We have a puppy share and the reality was he stayed in one house most of the time until he was about 12 months and pretty well trained, clear on behaviour, routine established etc and then he was able to move happily between the two places.

lastqueenofscotland · 16/12/2021 08:47

An older dog fine? An 8 week old puppy who’ll already be unsettled? No not fair, will make toilet training much harder and I’d be surprised if you were honest with a breeder if they were then happy to sell you a puppy. And I’d be wary of any breeder that would
Be.

Helenluvsrob · 16/12/2021 08:50

My dog spends 2.5 days at home daycare and has since 12 weeks. Not quite lining there but …

Puppalicious · 16/12/2021 09:34

I know a separated family who got a puppy and it travels with the children. No problems that I’m aware of, dog seems happy and bonded to them all.

bollocksthemess · 16/12/2021 10:25

I did it with mine for about 3 months, I hadn’t moved in with my now husband yet so we were 50:50 in each other’s houses. The dog came with me from 8 weeks.
A bit different as there was a consistent adult, but it was doable. Harder than it needed to be but doable.

92miles · 16/12/2021 17:05

It took about ten weeks for puppy to settle into the routine of staying in two homes. Minor signs of stress included being followed around everywhere in the new house, reduced appetite when at the new house, and a couple of 'accidents' in each house due to diarrhoea.

After ten weeks dog was completely at ease and had learned the routine! I think it also depends on the breed as some are more creatures of habit than others.

Original poster

Kione · 16/12/2021 17:29

@lastqueenofscotland

I was absolutely honest with the breeders and I researched to find a reputable one.

OP posts:

Original poster

Kione · 16/12/2021 17:34

Thanks again, good to know it is doable.
I am also taking note of all the advice.
So far he has only spent two nights at ex's house but I take him there most days for 3 hours or so. He still has not had the second injection do we are not taking him out much and I think a lot of the "zoomies" mouthing, etc. will be better once we dan walk him

OP posts:

AwkwardPaws27 · 16/12/2021 20:34

I think a lot of the "zoomies" mouthing, etc. will be better once we dan walk him

It'll get better for a few weeks. Then he'll be teething again around 5 months. Then the joy of adolescence...

Wolfiefan · 16/12/2021 20:43

I think the main issue would be whether the two adults were completely consistent with training etc.
But you have the dog already so what is the alternative?

AwkwardPaws27 · 16/12/2021 21:04

@Wolfiefan

I think the main issue would be whether the two adults were completely consistent with training etc. But you have the dog already so what is the alternative?

It could stay with one owner, rather than move back and forth with the children. It's not clear from the post why it needs to do this.

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