Two better than one??????

[Missysmom]

We recently adopted a papi-poo pup from a very good litter. She is 8 weeks old and she is a precious little thing. We have now decided to go back and adopt another pup which we are picking up tonight. Our pup is a female and we are also adopting another female. Does anyone have any hints as far as raising two pups instead of just one? Do they sleep together or seperately? How do we handle feeding times? Is housetraining more difficult?

Any other information would be great. Wish us luck with our newest little bundle and we will post pics as soon as we have them.

 

[Zoom]

If it's not too late, I would seriously hold off on getting another dog until this one is closer to year old and knows her manners and is trained a little bit. Getting two young pups at the same time ends up being more headache than joy, as the dogs tend to bond to each other and you just become a food dispenser.

 

[Missysmom]

Do you honestly think that will be the case? Our first pup has bonded with us very well. She wiggles and squirms when we come home or get up in the morning. She gets excited to see us when we have been away from her for any length of time. She is at the same time very independant. She does not suffer any kind of seperation anxiety and our whole experience with her has been very positive. We are hoping our experience with the other pup will be equally as positive and we would love it if the pups bond together as well. They are sisters and have only been apart for a week. Any other opinions????

 

[whatszmatter]

Good luck is all I can say. It can be done, but its a lot, a lot of work. You're much better off for your sanity and the life of your present pup to get that one housebroke, trained etc for at least a year or two before adding another puppy.

you could just let both puppies run around together and they will train each other and keep each other occupied, but unless you are extrememly lucky, they won't give 2 craps about you, only each other. They will look to each other for direction, not you. sure people have done it, but they've been very dilligent in keeping them apart during critical learning times, and put in a ton of work to get there, OR they've been extremely lucky. Most people I've met have all said, after either toughing it out, or in the end giving up one of them, that they'd never in a million years get two puppies at the same time.

meant to add, if your pup now is only 8 weeks old, it may get excited to see you etc, but you aren't bonded with it, that takes a lot of time, no matter what the outward appearance is now. Plus at this time, you couldn't have had it very long, it's probably still getting used to its new place and its real personality won't show for a while yet, and even then in a year or two when she grows up, it probably will change even more.

 

[Zoom]

Yes, I honestly think that will be the case. Your current pup is only 8 weeks old and you haven't had her for very long, a week at the most. It takes at least 2 weeks for the initial bonding process, for them to recognize that you are their new family and this is their new home, and another 6 weeks for that bonding to be cemented. I'm guessing that you are a first time dog owner, or this is the first dog that you've gotten on your own. I would seriously stick with the one pup.

Most good breeders will not allow two littermates to go to the same household because they know how hard it is just to raise one puppy, never mind two.

 

[dogstarsleddogs]

It is possible to raise 2 pups at once. I'm raising 4 at once. It is hard work, and even harder to make sure that they do bond with you, rather then thier littermates. Makes the task even harder when one pup (Cheyenne) is extremly independant, and is rarely around you. (or her littermates for that matter) She loves me no doubt, I can definatly tell that, but she'd rather do her own thing. Gremlin on the other hand, is always right by my side. I am his human. The other two (Sierra and Nova), vary between the two extremes. They have both bonded with each other and me....its taken alot of work, and alot of individual time with each pup. But I've had these pups from thier first second of life, so its been easier then adopting two pups. Me, personally, I would think extremly hard about adopting 2 pups at the same time.

 

[RedyreRottweilers]

2 at once is a bad idea.

 

[Missysmom]

Wow!! We definately didn't plan on such a negative response with our question. Before we had posted our question on the forum we didn't jump into this blindly. We consulted a veterinarian who is also a very close personal friend and we did consult the breeder. The vet advised us that yes, it would be extra work training two pups but if the proper amount of time was spent with both puppies that having them grow up together shouldn't be an issue. She has seen the first pup and watched her around our house and is quite confident that she has more than settled in nicely and would welcome the companionship of another littermate. Our vet friend is also a behaviour specialist in the canine field so we felt she should know what she is talking about. She has nothing to gain by giving us false information as we don't use her as our regular vet. She lives too far away. This is also not our first dog. We are not first time dog owners and have extensive experience. Other than having dogs over our lifetime, I also owned a dog grooming business and pet store (No, I did not sell animals in the pet store!) The basis of my business was dealing with breeders so I feel I have extensive information regarding training, behaviours, etc and just wanted an opinion on the two pup situation as I have had numerous dogs at the same time, just not two from the same litter. We would still appreciate hearing from those that have actually experienced raising two pups and we were just hoping to get some helpful tips.

 

[whatszmatter]

I would keep them mostly seperated for quite a few months, seperate play time, seperate feedings, seperate alone time, etc. Their play time together would be very much restricted until they have a very very good foundation in training. I expect more out of my dogs than most.

Or you can go the way of most other people that do this, just letthem run together cause they need a playmate, and they will train each other, its just not always what you want them to be trained to do.

you may like your vet and trust her, but at 8 weeks there is very little bond that you have with your dog, especially if you're introducing another dog at this point so early in the process. As long as you don't let them "train" each other you should be fine, but then you just train and raise like you would any other dog, but seperately for a while.

 

[JFrick]

Is a Papi Poo one of those "designer" breeds?

Anyway, yeah, I agree with everyone else, 2 at the same time is a bad idea.

 

[Missysmom]

Yes....a papi-poo is "one of those designer breeds"

 

[RedyreRottweilers]

Your first puppy is only 8 weeks old.

Hope you are ready for twice the house training, twice the chewing, twice the medical expense, twice the grooming, twice of everything.

Puppies need to be separated a majority of the time by the time they are 12 weeks old to prevent extreme bonding.

Experienced trainers and breeders have good reasons for recommending people NOT get 2 puppies at once. There is no situation where I would place 2 puppies with someone who is not an experienced breeder or trainer.

Most vets have no clue about breeding feeding or training dogs. They are trained in medical issues.

Any breeder who is

1) breeding these mixes and selling them to the unsuspecting public
2) Selling toy breeds at under 10 weeks of age
3) advising a novice pet owner to purchase another puppy when the first one is only EIGHT weeks old

is suspect in my view.

It is NOT a good idea for you to get a second puppy at this time. Your puppy that you already have deserves a little time to be your only pet.

Take the time to housetrain and obedience train the pup you have now. If you would like a companion for her, get one in about a year.

I guarantee you it will be a much better experience for all concerned if you do.

 

[JFrick]

Yes....a papi-poo is "one of those designer breeds"

I wasn't taking a jab if that's what you thought.....I'm still learning all the pure breeds out there. I just figured they were a mix b/c of the Poo in the name, but wasn't sure.

 

[RunningInMyHeart]

Not a good idea!...They will bond to one another and you will be left out in the cold...Enjoy your new puppy, train her and love her...It's only fair to her to raise her right and when she is alot older than if you still want another pup go for it...Just my 02 cents Running

 

[Herschel]

Here is a great article that discusses the problems with raising two 8-week puppies at the same time:

http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=A&A=2043

"Getting dogs of opposite sex is usually the number one criteria for them to live safely and happily together later. In some breeds it’s especially dangerous to keep two of the same sex together, so do your homework if you’re considering that."

-With a designer mix like the "Papi-Poo", you have no idea what the temperment of the dog will be. Are they same sex aggressive? Who knows!

 

[MafiaPrincess]

I wouldn't be pouring 2x as much money into a breeder that is likely not worth much. One puppy can be pretty high energy. Doubly so when you hit the rebelling months. Until you've had your current pup a while, you have no idea how things are going to go. Two may be a nightmare.
A breeder more than happy to give you two in a week sounds like one that needs to sell their Christmas litter, not a breeder who is content to hold the pups for life if need be.

 

[bubbatd]

As a past breeder , 2 from the same litter is a no-no . They bond to each other and turn a deaf ear to you . I agree with training one and then get another one . Just saw that this is a done deal . Treat them separately and train them separately . Sleeping together may be Ok as long as it's not playtime . Sure let them play during the day , but they have to be separated for training . Only once did I let 2 go from the same litter with much caution . After 11 months , one had to be re-homed .

 

[RedyreRottweilers]

IMO they should sleep seperately from 12 weeks on, for at least several months.

 

[bubbatd]

^^^^^ understand your point .

 

[RedyreRottweilers]

Yes, grammy, it's important they not be allowed to bond too closely. Sleeping apart helps. I will separate my own puppies if I keep more than one (which is likely) at 12 weeks for nap time and sleeping at night.

Keeping more than one puppy also means separate training and away-from-home socialization for each puppy too. Altho I might hold on to several puppies in the beginning, eventually all but one will likely go to other homes. Meantime, those puppies have to be developed and trained just as if I were going to keep it.

It is a boon for whoever ends up with the puppy, tho, since it will be crate, leash, house and show trained, and used to bathing and having nails done by the time I decide which one I'm going to keep.