Hi we have got 2 JR male pups.
They are 14 weeks old and i have just read in a book that this is not good as they will fall out and fight and then they will never get on.
Is this true.
They are brothers and play and sleep together they even tease one another.
We did find out as much as we could before we got them.

Any views please or advice.

With two the same age, there is no natural hierarchy so they very well might challenge eachother more. I kept two bitches from my litter in 2003, and they are still aggravating eachother at 2 1/2 years old. I would never advise anyone to have two puppies the same age, they each need so much input from you, and it's a huge undertaking to try to do right by two together.

Dawn R.

Some folk can make it work but I'll not let two siblings go to the same home and would never recommend it.  It would be the easiest thing in the world just to take the money and wave goodbye but I want the best for each of my pups and I want them to be an asset to their families and not liabilities.

To be honest, one JR pup will be a handful. Two of the same sex could be a nightmare! That's not to say that they won't get on - my JRT happily spends the occasional day with his litter siblings - but even if my breeder had allowed it (which she wouldn't!) I wouldn't have had two of them, delightful as they all are individually.

You'll probably know that Jack Russells have built-in "attitude" and in addition to the possibility of two not getting along, there's a distinct probability of them ganging up on you and being fearfully naughty! At 14 weeks they are still very little but the onset of "teenage" may make a deal of difference to their attitude to you and each other.

My Parents have two whwt, 2 males , brothers, and have no problems at all. 

Thats all I can offer:rolleyes:

I used to look after a couple of male JRs. THe eldest was about 10 at the time (sadly no longer with us) and the other much younger, i think he was about 3. THey spent alot of time after maturity posturing, grumbling at each other, and eventually when i was looking after them they just went mad and had a massive fight. The youngest grabbed the elder by the skin around the eye and held on. My friend had to prise open his jaws and just lock him in the kitchen. I had to keep them seperate for the whole of their stay because the younger kept trying to challenge the elder. They did live together for a few more years, but only after the younger one had been castrated. (It is usually reccommended if there is a power struggle to have the lower ranking one castrated.) I don't think they ever fully stopped arguing, but they also got on a lot of the time, so much so that they kept running off after rabbits. (Sadly that is why the older one is no longer with us). But my point is that these were two unrelated males with quite a few years between them who generally speaking had good temperaments. If they had been a lot closer in age then it could have been quite a problem.

i have three 14 week old dachshund pups and although it is hard work, especially the house training, i have not encountered any problems that a lot of other people have.  my pups have bonded with me more than they have with each other, all though they all get on well.  i do train them and walk them separately and also have their mother so this may make things easier.  i know it may not be ideal in most peoples eyes but if you have plenty of time and patience it can also be very enjoyable and great fun.

I hope that it continues for you jilltee, especially when they are adolescent!

Having their mother may be a help, jilltee although I also hope all continues harmoniously when adolescence kicks in.

I'd still be concerned about the fact that the OP's pups are JRTs. Because love the wicked little divils as I do, they are a breed in themselves in many respects and I think two brothers have the potential to be more than double trouble. However, "potential" is not the same thing as likelihood so I wouldn't want to whip up too much gloom and doom.

Just out of interest, what impression did you get of the parents' and other siblings temperament when you viewed these pups?

We did ask about them being two dogs and were told they would be fine.
One pup is mischevious and a lot more outgoing and inquisitive.
the other is more timmid and gentler natured

We were going to get a dog and a bitch not related.

thanks for all the replies

Hi aesp1408.  Were your breeders experienced in producing pet puppies or working puppies?
Reputable breeder would generally advise to get one puppy, and then another in say 12 months, when the first one is trained.

They came from a working background.
I thought we could creat a pecking order so to speak.
The main reason we got the two is we thought they would be good company for each other.
At times we are out shopping.
There is usually someone at home most of the time, and live in a rural area, good for walks etc.

I wish you well with them and hope they do settle down happily. Have you had JRTs before?

Hi no last dog we had was a shelti he was great.
Lovely nature.

Sheltie's are lovely little things aren't they :)  We've had 2 who sadly past away 2 years ago but now have a new little bundle of sheltie fluff :D

im not saying its the right thing to do val, just giving my opinion.   at times i have found it hard, but i have a lot of time and land and in my case it is not all doom and gloom.  no matter what happens in the future my dogs are family members and i will deal with any problems as and when they arise. 

I wish you good luck as you are in the honeymoon period for now and things will get interesting once they really start to grow up ;)

Good luck ! :)

Yours are still babies yet, jilltee! ;) When they're adolescents, and their mother comes into season, you may find things are somewhat different.

I personally wouldn't have 2 JR litter mates, but saying that I am mad enough to have two pups together with only barely 5 months between them.  One is a JR and the other a rottie x GSD.  It is damn hard work but then I knew it would be having had dogs, bred shown and run on litter mates.  These are my only two dogs now, and I did know what to expect. Although they can often throw the unexpected or forgotten things at you :rolleyes:
I do walk them seperatly though and keep them as individuals so they don't live in each others pockets.  They are like naughty children though and at times have to have time out from each other when play gets rough.
Don't despair, it can work or it may not.  Don't be afraid to seperate them and do things seperatly with each so they look to you as thier most important person not each other.
You won't have an easy ride, I'm definatly not, but hopefully hard work and moments of despair will all pay off as they grow older.

Bev

I got two JR pups three years ago and had nothing but trouble. They were brothers and as soon as they hit 6 months they fought constantly. We were at the vets regularly.
My daughter moved out 5 months ago and took her JR with her so it's all calm on the western front now thank god.
Only the two JR's fought the other three dogs in the house are fine with each ohter. The JR's didn't fight with the other dogs either.Just each other.

We had 2 spaniels (different breeds) that were 3 days apart and at 3 years old they started fighting. But it doesn't always happen, fingers crossed you will be ok. Worth considering neutering the submissive one, once they are settled enough to work out which one that is, if they do start fighting!

It is possible to have 2 littermates live happily together throughout their lives, but it's not considered the best thing to do for many reasons.
My OHs father and his wife some years ago ignored my advice and bought 2 westie littermates, male. I have to say, I was surprised as they got on very well, never fought, and even now sleep together! I do feel however that the success was due partly to the fact that the pups were not very alike in personality, also that each pup "belonged" to one person, so had individual time with them.

I wish you luck anyway :)

Lindsay
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