I know this comes up from time to time and there are a lot of differing opinions on the subject. 

I am new to TT's although have had Beardies for many years.  This difference in the litters was  amazing.  The TT's seemed to go for the jugular every time when play fighting where the Beardies knew where to draw the line.  I have two TT puppies now with 2 weeks difference in age and I can only allow them to play together under supervision or they would both be bald.  Either one will play happily with the Beardie babe, now 11 months, who moves too quickly at the mo to have her coat pulled out.

What I am getting at is that different breed puppies would probably have slightly different success rates at being raised together regarding obedience and showing.  I have to say that I train the puppy in different houses now let alone separately and they are coming along beautifully only getting together for structured play and separated for sleeping and walking.

On the line of TT's a local lady sourced two bitches from the same litter recently and with no experience of the breed or dogs in general is finding it a nightmare.  Both of the dogs have next to no coat (they are pulling it out), destroy the house and are out of control.  Surely this is the sign of a breeder who couldn't care less what happens to her puppies.  These little darlings are 6 months old.  If they cant get control soon I dread to think what will happen to them.

Not being a breeder of TT's I don't know their characters as pups but I do absolutely agree with you that different breeds do play in different ways, if TT's are so much more aggressive, then yes the breeder should never have even contemplated selling two together, I have always found bitches to be much more play aggressive in most breeds. Added to that as we know two pup bitches growing up together is very, very, heirarchy induced, they are bound to fight for pecking order and if this breed are aggressive in play anyway, it will be serious fighting as they get older and older.

I guess the only suggestion is seperation or re-homing one of them, a dog and a bitch should have been sold if two were to go together:rolleyes: I don't know any knowledgeable breeders who would contemplate selling two bitches together, it is asking for trouble.

In all seriousness they can't stay together!!

but surely that puts the breeder of your 2nd pup in the same league?  if she knew you already had one only 2 weeks older.

Was just going to say that too Sam! There is no difference in having two pups from the same litter to haivng two pups with only a couple of weeks difference (never mind the 11 month old one). It's not the breeding that counts, it's the fact that pups of the same age tend to lead each other astray and are harder to train etc

I have a show kennel now and running on the two puppies is not a problem as I have staff to deal with it.  My concern is that the lady in question has no experience of keeping dogs let alone two and should have been given advice getting one trained before bringing another on. 

We have many qualifications in obedience, agility and latterly showing and yes we were grilled over the last addition, who I hope will be my first TT champion.  I think I have made the best arrangement possible for him and only time will tell how he develops - although I have to say he is a little star at 14 wks.  The other puppy, is coming on well, albeit a little slower than the older one, and I think she will probably do well at local shows (who's to say).

At this point in time I would not contemplate taking on another puppy as they all need one to one and we are at full stretch now but coping well.

The difference between us is that I have planned and I know what I am doing after 30 years.  The poor lady with the two mad pups had no idea what she was letting herself in for.

Just to say Sam that the breeder of the second pup knew that I had 7 pups of my own having just bred a litter but also knew that 4 of them were booked before they were born. 

What a shame the thread turned this way.  The lady in question tells me that I obviously know nothing about puppies and that the breeder my last pup was sourced from knows even less according so some of the above posts.  I had hoped to get some more opinions on the best way to handle the situation as my advice is clearly not good enough.

Thank you Carrington for your suggestion but sadly the only response I got to that is that I should re home my whole kennel.  She now thinks I am an out of control breeder - 4 litters in 25 years.  I have learned not to give an opinion in future.

It all depends on the time, experience & home conditions when having two similar aged puppies. We once kept two puppies from a beardie litter, but one lived with me & the other with their co breeder, they were only allowed to play when supervised otherwise they would have ripped each others coats & bonded way too close for comfort

TT's are an exceptionally lively breed I know my friend who has had TT's for 30 odd years tells me this & she has never kept two puppies from a litter because she doesn't have enough help & space to keep them apart & socialized enough,

The difference between Echo & the other owner is called experience & home circumstances

Yes, I agree, echo's situation is completely different and being handled correctly by someone with experience.  The lady sold 2 bitches together in an inexperienced home is a different scenario altogether, echo can keep the pups seperate and knows how to train her pups, whereas this lady can not.

What a shame that the lady is not listening to you and has taken offence, does she not realise that her pups should not be having their coats ripped out by each other like this, who in their right mind would wish to watch this happening.???

She should seperate and only allow them together for some small supervised play, once they get rough she should immediately seperte them and never leave them alone whilst out, if she will not re-home one and does not wish to listen to your idea's of seperation then there is little more you can do echo. The pups will either grow up together and (even if half bald) eventually in adulthood become firm friends or they will turn on each other and cause real harm, as we know with bitches you never can tell until adulthood which way it will go. It is a shame for the pups, but the breeder is so much more at fault, what onearth was he/she thinking!!!!

I have kept 2 pups from litter on 3 occasions... and have brought in 2 pups from different breeders at only 2 days age difference.... both breeders are Int Judges and both knew about the other pups... and were happy with this situation because they knew I was experienced enough to deal with it... As I am sure Echo and her breeders are....

As with MM, I agree, there is a world of difference between an experienced and capable handler and breeder, to a novice dog owner taking on 2 pups... whether from same litter, same age or even a few months apart....

the biggest problem in keeping 2 pups from ANY breed, is the ability to keep them apart, only allowing restricted playtimes, and having the time to train, socialise and spend simple quality time seperately and just as importantly, together.... Its damned hard work, but the time and effort MUST be put in. Never can 2 pups of the same age, be left to their own devices, and never left to 'keep each other company' 

Echo, if this lady is not listening to your quidance, why not print this page and give it to her.... ;)

Will do!

I have kept two pups from the same litter, and I have kept two bitches in similar age too.  I never had a problem, I found they bonded quite well together. But what I did do, is train seperate. Gave them time apart.  Giving one on one to a dog, training, fussing, and walking sometimes gives them more to think about than the other dog. If walked together they play hard, shoulder barge etc.  So give it a go and try to seperate and give some quality one on one time.  Poor dogs if they are chewing the hair out of each other. OUCH.  Tell your friend to give lots of toys with treats in to take their frustrations out on something else rather than each other. The kong ball is good. Fill it with goodies.  If that does not work, then seperate the pups until they have got over this stage. Sometimes dogs develop a habit, and they just need to learn a different way forward.
Rachel