2 puppies or 1?

• Katie M. Posted : 9/4/2006 12:03:59 AM I'm currently raising two littermates together and it's not for the faint of heart!  Twice the work, twice the stress!  I'm fortunate that my girls are not bonding to one another but instead to other dogs in the house.  Dora is a carbon copy of her mother, so they stick together, while Figment has bonded to grandpa Malcolm. But that is a multi-dog household. If the two pups are going to be the only dogs, then you do run the chance of them bonding closely to one another and developing separation issues.  My advice - adopt an adult, wait for it to settle, then get a puppy if you want, or maybe you'll find that you like the grown dog better and get another adult!  [] 0 LIKE Like Share You have posted to a forum that requires a moderator to approve posts before they are publicly available. Hey, it's way more fun when you sign up or log in Connect With Connect With Sign Up Login
• *Belfleur* Posted : 9/4/2006 5:11:25 AM I would never do it- twice the work- and if something doesnt't work the way you imagine- twice the stress! I know someone who had two littermates- Golden Retrievers. It was a very experienced breeder, who gave her good advices and they had a lucky hand to find the right puppies. Everything went fine, she was happy to have made this desicion, but never want to do this again. I waited until my Gordon was 3 yrs old, and now we are waiting for our puppy. I think, that's the best way- for me- everyone else has to make its own desicion. 0 LIKE Like Share You have posted to a forum that requires a moderator to approve posts before they are publicly available. Hey, it's way more fun when you sign up or log in Connect With Connect With Sign Up Login
• spiritdogs Posted : 9/4/2006 11:02:25 AM As a trainer, I try to discourage this.  It's very hard for newbies to manage the housetraining and training of one pup, especially as they reach adolescence and become "selectively deaf" LOL.  Also, it is much better to have two dogs that aren't too close in age - reduces the possibility of fights later, when they reach adulthood.    0 LIKE Like Share You have posted to a forum that requires a moderator to approve posts before they are publicly available. Hey, it's way more fun when you sign up or log in Connect With Connect With Sign Up Login
• Elizabeth Onsurez Posted : 9/4/2006 11:37:15 AM We brought jake home when he was almost 7 weeks old, when he turned almost 6 months old we brought home another pup. They get along so well, play,play play. Yes it is alot more work, but are they ever worth it. 0 LIKE Like Share You have posted to a forum that requires a moderator to approve posts before they are publicly available. Hey, it's way more fun when you sign up or log in Connect With Connect With Sign Up Login
• sallya Posted : 9/4/2006 11:39:22 AM How cute Elizabeth. I bet they do have fun. My sister bought a boy and girl poodle and they are inseperable, they LOVE each other. Has not been that hard for her. They are about 7 years old now. Very well trained also.[]  0 LIKE Like Share You have posted to a forum that requires a moderator to approve posts before they are publicly available. Hey, it's way more fun when you sign up or log in Connect With Connect With Sign Up Login
• Amina Posted : 9/4/2006 11:47:31 AM So, after all this, is it better to have two dogs than one? 2 dogs are more work and you have to be careful as to when you bring them home respectively. But are they happier if you have two? I know that with rabbits, they are waaaay happier if they have a buddy. They can communicate in ways that only bunnies can, which makes them much happier overall. It sounds like it's more of a matter of opinion with dogs I guess. 0 LIKE Like Share You have posted to a forum that requires a moderator to approve posts before they are publicly available. Hey, it's way more fun when you sign up or log in Connect With Connect With Sign Up Login
• Katie M. Posted : 9/4/2006 12:05:14 PM ORIGINAL: Amina So, after all this, is it better to have two dogs than one? 2 dogs are more work and you have to be careful as to when you bring them home respectively. But are they happier if you have two? I know that with rabbits, they are waaaay happier if they have a buddy. They can communicate in ways that only bunnies can, which makes them much happier overall. It sounds like it's more of a matter of opinion with dogs I guess. Two DOGS is fine.  Two PUPPIES is a lot to take on.  Yes, they enjoy each other's company.  You had asked about two puppies from the same litter, which is not a good idea.  But two dogs in a household, as long as they like each other, is a great thing.  Check Petfinder - there are quite a few dogs up for adoption that are part of a "pair" that they don't want to separate.  That would be a wonderful thing to rescue both of them and keep them together. 0 LIKE Like Share You have posted to a forum that requires a moderator to approve posts before they are publicly available. Hey, it's way more fun when you sign up or log in Connect With Connect With Sign Up Login
• Amina Posted : 9/4/2006 12:11:14 PM Thanks everyone for all your input! 0 LIKE Like Share You have posted to a forum that requires a moderator to approve posts before they are publicly available. Hey, it's way more fun when you sign up or log in Connect With Connect With Sign Up Login
• ladiebug Posted : 9/4/2006 2:55:30 PM I feared jealousy too, Peanut was glued to us.  I read as much info as I could find at the time, had not yet found idog.  All the info said to treat the first dog in the home as #1, she was given food, treat, toys, kisses first.  I bought Draico his own crate so he wouldn't infringe on Peanut & just kept myself aware to let Peanut know she was first & she wasn't going anywhere. Today, they're inseparable!  They eat side by side, play together all the time, & most days nap together.  At night I still place Draico into his crate to avoid rough games while we sleep.   0 LIKE Like Share You have posted to a forum that requires a moderator to approve posts before they are publicly available. Hey, it's way more fun when you sign up or log in Connect With Connect With Sign Up Login
• Xerxes Posted : 9/4/2006 9:07:44 PM ORIGINAL: Amina Wow. Good thing I asked! So how far apart should they be? I would imagine that after raising a puppy, I'd be exhausted for a year afterward. So would it be best to get a puppy when the first is 2 years old? Thanks! It depends upon the breed.  2years is the right around the time to begin searching for a breeder for the next pup.  For some breeds, especially pharaoh hounds, the best recommendation is 3 years.  Too early and all of a sudden your well behaved 18month old pup gets the "puppy stupids" again. 0 LIKE Like Share You have posted to a forum that requires a moderator to approve posts before they are publicly available. Hey, it's way more fun when you sign up or log in Connect With Connect With Sign Up Login
• *Belfleur* Posted : 9/5/2006 12:00:49 AM Two dogs are better than one dog- later. Gordons need a lot of time until they are grown up, about 3yrs. So we waited. I think, the first dog should be well trained before the next one moves in.Too early, and you dog will remeber all the stupid things, he did as a puppy, but now it's far more interesting- there's a playmate to do it [] 0 LIKE Like Share You have posted to a forum that requires a moderator to approve posts before they are publicly available. Hey, it's way more fun when you sign up or log in Connect With Connect With Sign Up Login
• gayle Posted : 9/5/2006 12:16:34 AM i know there is no way i personally could've handled 2 pups from my dogs litter, but i also had a baby when my pup was 6 months old. my aunt did have two small terrier mixes that were brother and sister that kept each other company while she was at work, and both dogs were her little babies, they couldnt live without her anymore than she could them. her husband also had two english sheep dogs that were brother and sister and his dogs were the same. my opinion is that it all depends on you and your situation, if it were a home with small children i wouldn't recommend it, but in a single person or married without children home i think it might be nice for the pup to have some company.   also i wanted to add that if you opted to adopt from a shelter or rescue there are often dogs that have become accustomed to each other and would love nothing more than to live in their forever home together [] 0 LIKE Like Share You have posted to a forum that requires a moderator to approve posts before they are publicly available. Hey, it's way more fun when you sign up or log in Connect With Connect With Sign Up Login
• dogslyfe Posted : 9/5/2006 10:07:43 AM DH and I considered taking littermates, but wound up with only one. The only way I would have agreed to do so would have been for puppy #2 to have been Dh's dog, and Dh's responsibility. That concept didn't work so much for him (and he wanted puppy #2). So. After much soul searching, we decided one puppy (my puppy) is enough. I know my limitations, and raising one puppy right is my goal. It took me almost three years to recover from Bree's puppyhood to even consider taking on another puppy. [] As a general rule, I wouldn't recommend taking littermates, or even puppies close in age. I am now on my fifth day with new puppy, and grateful that there's only one. 0 LIKE Like Share You have posted to a forum that requires a moderator to approve posts before they are publicly available. Hey, it's way more fun when you sign up or log in Connect With Connect With Sign Up Login
• Pam Posted : 9/5/2006 10:35:16 AM Two adult dogs is perfect.   2 puppies - I can't even imagine !  we've had our puppy 5 weeks now,  I had to carry her 28 pounds down a full flight of steps for about 4 weeks just to get her to the kitchen where she could then maneuver the deck stairs on her own.   It is so hard to watch her, grabbing bad stuff out of her mouth (mulch, leaves, rocks).   My adults are 5 and 7.  In 2-3 years (and when the 7 year old dies) we';ll add another.  I never want to be a 2 dog home,,,it is too hard when one dies and the other is left alone.   0 LIKE Like Share You have posted to a forum that requires a moderator to approve posts before they are publicly available. Hey, it's way more fun when you sign up or log in Connect With Connect With Sign Up Login
• mudpuppy Posted : 9/5/2006 11:00:30 AM people who want "working dogs" are very strongly cautioned against ever getting two puppies at once-- in fact, some folks go so far as to suggest you never let your puppy play with other puppies, only with adult dogs. What happens is puppies end up becoming so strongly bonded with each other that humans become irrelevant. It's practically impossible to train a puppy/dog who doesn't need you for anything-- littermate is more fun to play with, easier to understand, who cares about this weird human making noises at me.  For people who just want a nice pet, and aren't as skilled in training, having two puppies is even more difficult than for folks who want a working dog and plan to invest huge amounts of their life into the pup's first year of life. So get ONE puppy, train him up well, and when he is mature (3 to 5 years of age, depending on the dog) get another puppy. 0 LIKE Like Share You have posted to a forum that requires a moderator to approve posts before they are publicly available. Hey, it's way more fun when you sign up or log in Connect With Connect With Sign Up Login