Hi!

My question is very simple and i would really appreciate your invaluable views on this: can someone raise two pups (two and three months old) and... not die in the effort? Is this really viable? they will receive plenty of attention (but not around the clock, mind you!!) as I stay most of my time at home studying.

Thanks in advance and regards

Alex

It's a nightmare - I've done it, and would never willingly do it again.

Everything is possible but that doesn't mean that it's a good idea!  I wouldn't let 2 siblings go to the same home.  The difficulties crop up on here with sad regularity.  Here's the latest.
http://www.champdogsforum.co.uk/cgi-bin/board/topic_show.pl?pid=639014;hl=home;hlm=and#pid639014

Done it yes - but certainly wouldn't do it again!  Its not twice the work - its 4 times the work!

Margot

Thanks for your quick replies!!! They're not sibilings, if that would help...

Not a lot!!

You'd have to be prepared to spend a lot of time with each one individually; this would man walks with them one at a time, training one at a time (wth the other one nowhere near) etc. I've done it too and never again! The dogs ended up beng totally tuned in to ecah other despite all my efforts, and almost 4 years later they still prefer their own company to humans.

Hi, wouldn't recommend it.  In my breed, I'd be permanently terrified of the bigger one accidentally damaging the younger one, as they grow so fast.  I would recommend letting the pup you have (I assume you have one and are thinking of getting another?) grow up and then get another.  Much easier that way, the adult then helps to teach the youngster good behaviour.  Otherwise you are more likely to end up with two hooligans!

The thing is: my mum got a poodle and she can't cope... but we (my wife and I) are just literally days from getting our own! We are so excited!!! But at the same time I think it is unfair for my mum's dog to be rehomed elsewhere... That's why I asked about raising two pups at the same time... What would you do??? This is such a dilemma!!!!

Alex

I would suggest that the best thing would be for your mum to contact her poodle's breeder and discuss the situation.  If I had bred the poodle pup - that is what I would want! 

I understand the problem - phew, but I'd let Mum's puppy go back to the breeder.  She's only had it for 4 weeks!  It's still young enough to adapt to a more suitable home.
If I was the breeder of YOUR puppy, I wouldn't let it go if you told me that you would be having Mum's pup - sorry.

Aaha..

now understand....

would it not be possible to take the pup off your mum if you are already attached to her and defer the new pup for 1 yr or so as I'm sure the breeder will have a puppy waiting list and would be sympathetic if you explained the situation.
Just a thought but never actally been in your position.
I know of a few breeders of my own breed who have recently kept 2 a D/B from thier litters to show but they are very experienced and know what to expect.

Roni

Just wondering - is the puppy you're meant to be getting a poodle too?

No, it's a Spanish Water Dog

I wouldn't do it - you'll end up resenting your mum's pup and feeling that any problems you encounter with 'your' pup wouldn't have happened if you hadn't the other one. You've waited for your 'dream' pup - don't spoil it :)

Daisy

Hi, I do think the best thing would be to return the poodle to her breeder - who should be able to place her with someone who specifically wants a poodle puppy.  As I said, if I'd bred her, that's what I would want.  The breeder of your Spanish Water Dog puppy would probably not want her to go where there is already a young puppy.  Not an easy decision for you all, but in the long run probably best for all.  (It's easy for me - I haven't got the puppy in front of me!)  Best of luck, whatever you all decide.

>But at the same time I think it is unfair for my mum's dog to be rehomed elsewhere...

IMO it would be unfair to the pup to be rehomed somewhere that it wouldn't have the undivided attention it deserves. Pups are hard work and with the best will in the world it will be very difficult to ensure both pups get adequate individual attention, training etc. TBH, I have found it difficult enough at times even with a 14 month age gap between my two

If it were me and I was a few days away from my dream pup, I'd rehome the poodle to a family who are waiting for their dream pup to come along :)

Also, however much you love your mum - it's her problem - not yours :) :)

Daisy

Alex if you are considering having the Poodle then I rather you didn't have the Spanish!  Sorry I shouldn't be putting this on a public forum.  You will have your work cut out as it is with the SWD without taking on a Poodle that you have said you mother found hard work right from the start.  Plus you've got to remember if you bring this Poodle into the country you will either have to have it in kennels for 6 months or your mother will have to keep it anyway for another 7 months until it is able to come over on the pet passport. 

Do you think the Poodle, your mother and yourself would be able to put the Poodle through all of the above?

Im confused

Is the swd from a litter you bred perrodeagua ?

Sarah

I'm really confused - is there an issue of the puppies travelling between countries?  I didn't read this in this thread?

I've had 2 puppies (different breeds) 3 days apart and it was hard work. But the main problem is not so much when they are puppies, but when they get to about 3 years old, when I understand it is relatively common for dogs the same age to start fighting. That's what happened with my boys anyway, and I get the impression quite a few others have had the same problem. :-( I agree that the best thing would be to send the poodle back to his breeder unless you are desperate for one!

The SWD would be from me but Alex''s mum has the Poodle and she is in Spain :d

Oh, I see, it now becomes a bit clearer. 
Alex, I don't blame your SWD breeder for her response - mine would be exactly the same in the circumstances.  Surely the kindest thing would be to return the poodle to its breeder in Spain (I assume she was bred in Spain?).  That would surely also be the choice of any reputable breeder.  Has your mother contacted the breeder yet?  That would be a lot less traumatic (for the puppy) than going through the process of getting the poodle pup to this country.  (I do hope that your mother bought the pup from a breeder, not a pet shop as I know that is a fairly common way of acquiring a puppy in Spain).  I really do sympathise with your position but I think it's the best solution all round.  Also, if you had wanted a poodle puppy, that is what you would have ordered in the first place, not a SWD.  Not a pleasant predicament for you, but I hope this helps.

Thanks everybody for your concern and good advice. I'm happy to tell that my mum has decided to keep the pup with her, at least for the time being... In any case, we're definitely for the SWD!!!! We've waited too long to let him go now.

Thanks again and... expect thousands of posts seeking for advice very soon, as we're getting our pup on Saturday!!!

Best,

Alex

See you later on today Alex and Xandra and then of course on Saturday!  Oh by the way, hope you've got a name, oh and it has to be Spanish so I'm sure that you'll be able to pick a nice one :d

Oh, yes!! We're so excited!! :) I doubt it if i'll be able to catch any sleep today... As for the name we thought about "Ricky", but still not sure. As in this country, "Ricky" is short for "Ricardo"... Xandra says "Pancho" but I'm not sure. I guess this will be our star subject of conversation in our long, long drive to Manchester.

Regards,

Alex

OUr cockatiel will enjoy us calling him that as that's his name.  All I'm going to get for the next few days when I'm calling the dog is the bird shouting "Hello Ricky"   "Hello Ricky" as that's all he says :d

So, do you like "Ricky"? :) Not truly "Spanish" though (nor Catalan or Basque, for that matter. It'd remind me to "Ricky Martin" whenever I called him!! So we'll need to do some more hard thinking. Needless to say that any suggestions from his "mum" will be most welcome!!! :) Time to go to bed now and try to get some sleep. If tomorrow you see us like this whilst raining out there don't panic; we haven't gone mental!! It'll be evidence of a sleepless night :)

Alex

I'm glad your Mum is keeping the pup Alex, if it doesn't work out though it's probably fairer for the poodle to be rehomed in Spain than spend 6 months in quarantine as it's only a young pup. I agree with everyone else that two dogs of a similar age together are a nightmare. They're great fun while puppies playing together but will inevitably egg each other on into mischief and bond more closely with each other than their owner. Also I have to agree with Lucy D that my two really fought with each other as they matured. Anyway, congratulations on getting your spanish soon, one has just moved into my village and I can't stop drooling over it :)

Oh, looking at your location I think that might be one of my friends pups that she sold in the last couple of weeks ?  They are cuties, although need to be socialised from an early age.

It's black with a thin white stripe down it's chest? I see it walking past the house several times a day so I would guess the new owner is doing well on the socialisation front :)

I have seen two Spanish Water Dogs in Doncaster - one is a permanent resident, he must be about a year old now and is all black and boisterous and can't be let off his lead. The other was brown (a female I think) and was very nervous of other dogs - she was only here for a few days while her owners were visiting relatives.

I saw the breed at Discover Dogs at Crufts a few years ago and felll for their looks, though I don't know much about the breed.

I have the pleasure of knowing a SWD pup that perrodeagua bred and she is an absolute joy :) Fabulous with dogs (even my two big monsters) and people too but I know both perrodeagua and her new owner worked very hard on socialisation as the breed can be wary of people. 

Thanks for this Chaumsong.

Regards,

Alex

Hi Alex
Enjoy your new baby. 
Best wishes

Don't know of any in Doncaster but as Shaynlola says myself and the new owners work hard to socialise the breed as they can be wary of people.  It's very rare for a SWD to be not off lead, they are usually their happiest running around off lead but they always ensure that their owners are in sight !

Yep there is a SWD at our dog training club in Doncaster, he's black with a tiny tiny bit of white, his name is Robbie, he's about a year old, owner called Shelagh something (I never rememeber!), she also has Shibas which she has shown for years and she does show Robbie if that's any help! :)

Oh and meant to add, sounds like this black one in Donny IS Robbie, he's going through a teenage stage at the moment, his owner is pretty experienced and she has done a lot of work with him and he was doing EVER so well, then wham hit the naughty teenager phase and has been playing up and yes that does include the recall but I've no doubt he'll be fine in the end, his owner is sensible and she's been coming to our club for years and years, she also used to be on the committee of one of the local canine societies. :)

:d and when a SWD hits its teenage years it does head on :d  They go through quite a few stages as my 5 month old is but with perseverance you get there in the end.

Ahhh I know Shelagh and loved her black dog as a puppy.  He was certainly a confident young lad.  I'm sure that she'll get there.