After years of admiring the breed my wife and I are finally in a position to own and look after dogs. I've always wanted a Flatcoat and after discussions with a couple of owners and a lengthy conversation with Shirley Johnson we are definitely going to get a FCR.

However, we are looking to get another puppy at the same time as in my expeience with dogs two are usually happier that one - I appreciate this is not always true and there are some fabulously happy "single" dogs out there but ours will be left for 3 to 4 hours at a time after 6 months so I believe the companionship of another dog is important. However I do not want to get two FCR's for a variety of reasons.

We have a good idea of the other (smaller) breed that we want but am interested in the opinion of FCR owners as to whether there are any breeds we should avoid that FCR's do not get on with??

Thanks in advance for your help

Flatcoats would get on with any breed, but getting 2 puppies at the same time is a very bad idea. 

Why is that??

I appreciate that training is a little more hardwork, having to be done seperately, and that the first six months is going to be HARD work but in my experience (parents used to breed dogs) two puppies together provides a strong bond, amusement for each other when you are not there and as long as they come into the house close together little hierarchial squabbling.

I've found that two pups very close in age bond with each other far more than with their owners. The two I have are wonderful out singly with me - as good as gold and completely responsive - but when they're together I can take a running jump ...

Totally agree with JG.

FWIW I work full time and my dogs are left alone for several hours when they are onlies and do not suffer at all.

Two dogs at the same time is just a disaster, for you and the dogs.

Take heed from someone who has done it - and DON'T!!!   We kept two puppies that we bred ourselves, a male and a female - and, although they are wonderful dogs - and we wouldn't, for one minute, be without them - it is extremely hard work!!!

You see, instead of bonding with you, the strong bond is with each other.    Training doesn't take twice as long - it takes at least four times as long - you can't train them together - they want to play with each other - we've even found it difficult taking them to the same training classes.   In order to strengthen the bond with each one, you have to spend time with them individually - at least 30-40 minutes one-to-one time each, each day, I would guess - before even starting on a training session - and I'm only talking about general "good behaviour" training - nothing special!!!

Two puppies will also create at least three times the amount of havoc that one can - it really is difficult.

Sorry to disappoint you - but honestly, it really is hard :(

Margot

The puppies will relate to each other more than you, making training difficult, as well as housetraining. It would be better to have your first dog trained before introducing an new puppy. Most people recommend waiting tillyour first dog is around 2 or 3yrs.

JMO

The 1st 18months - 2years is going to be enormously hard work with one, treble that with two.

>two puppies together provides a strong bond,

This is what you don't want.  When puppies bond together, they have a tendency not to bond as much with owner, therefore making training even more of a problem.

>little hierarchial squabbling

Unfortunately, two pups of the same age can be a bigger problem with the hierachy ladder, than pups a couple of years apart.  The dogs will begin to mature at a similar rate, possibly causing more conflict if both try to determine 'top dog' status at the same time.  Introducing a pup into the home of a resident dog is less traumatic. The heirarchy has been established and until the pup is around 8/15months all should be reasonably amicable. By the time the pup has reached the age of (climbing the ladder) most dogs are quite happy to accept the older dog as 'top dog' (I dont like that phrase, but cant think a better description)

I have 3 pups at the moment under 15months, and all my time is taken up by them.  This is not the first time I have done this, but I am with my dogs 24/7. If and when I do have to leave them, they are seperated and most certainly not left together!!!

I plan, at some point in the future to add a Flatcoat into my family (all others are Labs).  But have decided to wait until my youngest Lab is at least 2 years old. Flatcoats are wonderful dogs, but very headstrong and, I have been led to believe, a force to be reckoned with :D
Kay

See, late again :D :D

Thanks for your honest open replies - much appreciated, really :-)

Would you apply the same thinking to bringing any two dogs in at the same time (I'm thinking one adult, say rescue dog, and a puppy)? Or would this result in the same problems?

I'm not averse to getting just one dog but am worried that a dog on it's own will get lonely if left on it's own for half the day? We are both desperate to have dogs, but ONLY if it is right for the dog(s) as well.

Mmm - not so sure about this one - I think that rescue dogs often have their own problems, insecurity etc, and I don't know that I would feel so confident about leaving a puppy with a dog whose temperament I haven't been able to fully evaluate!

What might work - and I leave this open for suggestions - is to get a puppy first, then say about 6 months later, then get a rescue dog - what do others on the board think??

Margot

I have 2 dogs that are 20 months apart and they have a very strong bond with one another even allowing for age.     I would think about 1 dog and then another in 2-3 years after that.

Half a day to leave a Flatcoat puppy is, in my opinion, rather a long time.

Like most of the posters I would never consider having 2 puppies at once.  They do bond with each other rather than you.

Also, there is the consideration that if you have 2 of the same age it could well be that when one eventually dies the other will pine and die of a broken heart.  It is bad enough losing one dog but 2 in a short space of time is ghastly.  I have heard of this happening on many occassions where one simply could not live without the other.

I know it sounds morbid but you do have to think about the inevitable long term consequences.

Becky

Absolutely, you have to be realistic about these things - unfair on the dog otherwise.

My wife and I are planning on taking three weeks off after getting the puppy so it settles down. After that we have lots of people helping out so up until Christmas it should not be alone for more than three hours max.

That is IF a breeder lets us have one!!

If you are waiting for a bitch then you may have a long wait - or at least a long drive to get one.  They are not as readily available as some breeds!

Funnily enough we're looking for a dog first time round. Shirley has reccomended that we see a couple of pregnant bitches in our surrounding area as we are not looking to get the puppy until August (getting all our holidays and other commitments out of the way first so we can devote all of our free time to the puppy).

Know any good breeders in the South West??

I do know of someone who has a litter due, if you'd like PM me witth your details and will pass them on

Have sent you PM as requested - thanks :-)

Hi, we have a 2 yr old flat and a 10 week old one and we've always found just one flat is a handfull they really aren't a breed where getting two pups would be a good idea they are very time consuming. Why dont you get your flatty then wait a couple of years for it to calm down and then get another pup. That way you avoid having "terrible twins' lol. As for smaller breeds dont mix a FCR with a chihuahua we all learnt the hard way here :(

Sarah & Ros

i got 4 fcr and a spainsh water dog.
i had 3 fcr under years old.they were great together.now i got 1 that 5 1/2 and due pups in july.one 2 1/2 years one 2 year and one 1 year all live with a 3 1/2 year old spaish water dog,

changing the subject slightly.  Briedog, were you at Ardingly on Monday ? I was watching the flat coats and noticed in the catalogue that some had the breeding of your bitch wispa, just wondered if it was you :)

yes it was,only had blue there has teyha in seson,and course wispa was entred,but there in spirt,next time come up and say hello.

terri

I didnt actually see you (well I probably did but didnt know it) I was just looking through the catalogue to see how many flat coats there were and Verount (sp?) Wispa kind of jumped out at me as I recognised the name from here, then I noticed exhibitor was also breeder so I assumed you were there, I didnt spot you though ;)

Next time I will make sure I say hello :)

Just to add - a flatcoat with a smaller breed would be bad news for the smaller breed.    The Flatcoat bouncing on the little one wouldn't do a lot for the little one's soft bones when it's young.

We have had two when my husband has taken one to work with him, and I've kept the other at home.   They were just about never together until they were about 18 months old.

Don't get two for the 'company'

Jo and the Casblaidd Flatcoats

As a novice FCR owner my gorgeous puppy is now 10mths and great fun but full time still.  We do meet up with other labs of similar age, usually for walks which they all love as he is very sociable but I can't imagine it being 24hrs a day!

Good luck with your puppy they are a great breed and I'm sure like me he/she will teach you loads.  I'm amazed by my puppy daily.