my family are getting a pup in 3 weeks. their mum is a border and lakeland mix and the dad is pure border terrier. originally we planned to get two but i did research and found out this wasnt advisable and we all agreed to get one. when we went to see the pups our kids both fell in love with different pups, and when i shared my knowledge with the breeder he said it wont be a problem as they are cross. the kids were delighted. but when i came away i did research on lakeland terriers and again the advice was not to get two of the same age and sex (the pups are both male). i'm not an experienced dog owner and want advice. thanks

and when i shared my knowledge with the breeder he said it wont be a problem as they are cross

How rediculous! Two puppies is a very bad idea, the breeder obviously doesnt care for either breed, you or the puppies futures, why are you giving this kind of person money?

I wouldnt buy any puppies, are the kid going to walk them in all weathers, toilet train them (get up several times during the night and early mornings), pay vets bills, food bills and train them? Children see the cute puppies not all the hard work that goes into having a dog, do you want to let you children have the experience of one puppy being given away when its too much for you all.

A good breeder wouldnt cross, wouldnt sell you two only in exceptional circumstances.

Please dont buy from these people, im trying to educate. Buy from a reputable breeder, who will want you to keep in touch and is there for advice for the entire dogs lives. Not someone that wont even answer your calls when your having issues. Did they suggest the same or different sex? Take a look at the threa with the 2 cavalier males fighting, if different sexes, do you know when a bitch is in season. Could you keep them apart until after her first season where you MUST get her spayed?

Sorry just re read they are both male.

If your not bothered about a pedigree dog, go to a rescue and rehome a small terrier pup. Ive been informed today that there are plenty in rescues.

Unless you're an experienced dog owner, used to having multiple dogs, please don't get two puppies at once - in fact I'd go so far as to suggest it might be better not to get any puppy from a breeder who even suggests that you have two! They clearly just want to get rid of all the pups as soon as possible, without caring whether the new owners can cope. :-(

Two puppies at a time is far more difficult than you'd imagine, because you need to make sure they each spend more time with you than with each other (to stop them forming a pack together, and possibly seriously fighting for status when they reach adolescence in a few months, as to same-sex puppies, related or not, tend to do), and each needs to be trained individually as well as with each other.

If you can't decide on one puppy, walk away and find another litter where you can all agree.

No, NO, NO!

I'm afraid the breeder is wrong - whether or not their are cross breeds, two puppies together are not twice as much trouble - they are ten times as much trouble!    They will bond together, not with your children or you, it will be at least three times as hard to house train them and to train them at all.

Believe me - we had a 9 week old border terrier when we had a lab that was 9 months old ....and the trouble that those two got into is worth putting into a book!

And even though we're experienced owners and breeders, we made the mistake of keeping two puppies out of our last litter ......and the heartache that caused us will never leave us.

I'd never let two puppies go together and I'd never advise it!

> i shared my knowledge with the breeder he said it wont be a problem as they are cross

eh?? thats utter drivel! sorry, but what is this person thinking? terriers are tenatious at the best of times without introducing the issues of 2 growing up together.

please, please don't do it.

i'm sorry but i'd also be really put off by this so called breeder as well, they don't seem to know what their talking about.

may i ask why you've chosen to go for a cross?

i wouldn't get two at the same time as you really will have double trouble. i did it once years ago and it was very hard work.
the pups tended to listen to each other rather than me and toilet training was much harder.
generally training two pups is very hard and they need to be separated for them to listen and learn from you. having one pup is hard enough but you can enjoy it as well but i found i was so busy with two it took a lot of the enjoyment away.
As for getting two the same sex this can work out alright but it tends to course less problems if you get one of each sex and also you want get the problems with fighting if they both want to be dominant. usually the bitch will take the top dog position and the male doesn't mind.
if i were you i'd get the male puppy you chose now and wait till for about 2 years then get a bitch. this way your first dog will be well trained and a little calmer but not too old to cope with the new arrival. the second pup will also pick up some good habbits from the older one.
it is of course more likely to be ok with two the same sex if there's an age gap but usually less problems if you get one of each.
if it were me i'd just get the one pup and enjoy him, two pups running round nipping your kids ankles is very hard work.
let us know how things go.

as someone who has both borders and lakelands....i wouldnt recommend having two from the same litter. If you do, then dont get the same sex...get one of each and neuter or manage carefully :( Border lakelands tend to be bred for working purposes rather than straight forward pets, and they do excell at what they do....are you looking for a working terrier or a pet? Truthfully id look for something else if just wanted as a pet as their hunting and bushing drive is very strong indeed.

This maybe a cross that is done for a working terrier and as such you may find they are very hard work in a pet home. I would also agree with the other posters that two puppies of any breed or cross together is not a good idea for an experienced home let alone a family that want to begin the delights of being dog owners. Please think long and hard as to weather this will be the right choice for you and your family for the next 10-15 years.

I have 4 Borders, and know what there prey drive is like, and they do need alot of exercise to keep them saine,  dont know I would have  Border x as a first dog, especially 2 terriers, could cause a lot of problems, possibly be better looking another breeder and possibly another breed of dog as a first dog. :-)

No, no and no again! A Border/Lakeland cross is a WORKING terrier that needs consistent training and really good mental and physical stimulation.

Get one and if you are prepared to put in hard work you will have a fabulous companion - but 2 will be almost impossible to train unless you are very experienced. As for the comment that as they are cross breds so there won't be any problem - presumably that's another gem to lay at the feet of Jemima Harrison and PDE :)

thanks for all your responses that certainly cleared that up in my head, one it is!!!

:)   Glad to have been of assistance :)    Don't forget to come back here for any help that you need .......;)

Margot

My sister's son was given a lakeland terrier.....tried to warn her at the time not a good idea.
But it's free and it's only a little dog....erm...definately not a good idea with 4 kids and 4 cats...

She ended up homing three of her cats as it wouldn't leave them alone and they (the cats) wouldn't
come into her house..the 4th cat who did stay ended up having a third of it's tail amputated where
the dog grabbed hold of it and wouldn't let go :(

The young adolescent male Lakie was rehomed. He was too much to cope with and had strong working drives.
He was only one terrier...

I know that with most inexperienced dog owners it wouldn't be adviseable to get litter siblings.
Yes there are some that have no problems but these aren't in the majority.
This is even for experienced breeders/dog owners they can still have problems with litter siblings (Regardless of which gender)..
Unless you have plenty of time, patience etc to train seperately I would say go with your head and not your heart
one puppy of any breed will be plenty to cope with and to train etc. Wait until that dog is 2-3 years old and well trained
with no issues etc and then think if you want a companion for it not before...
Otherwise if you get two litter siblings you may have to consider rehoming one if things don't work out and from what little
you've said about these puppies breeder I doubt very much if you'd have much back up or willingness to help if there's a problem, or
willingness to take pup/s back etc.

> when i came away i did research on lakeland terriers

Welcome Kiemo.  Just be aware that you'll not be getting a Lakeland Terrier you will be getting a mixed breed.  Not that I'm suggesting that devalues your original research not to get two - but that you might find you don't have all the information you need.  Have a look at the traits of both breeds AND have a think about what it means to take a puppy from working parents into a pet home.

> i'm not an experienced dog owner and want advice. thanks

There are some lovely dogs in the terrier group but their inherent nature is quite strong.  Training can make a huge difference but the 'raw beastie' is never far below the surface.  Chasing and barking are two of the most difficult to manage in inexperienced hands and can be the most frustrating to deal with if you have neighbours or children.  Your poor kids may never have an unpunctured football again! :)

A word of caution - do not let your children choose the breed OR the puppy.  Chances are that you will be the one to do the training and managing.  To be honest they are going to love whatever 4 legged lovely you finally bring home :)

Whether you decide to go for one of the pups from this litter or not(i would rethink it for a 1st time dog, especially with one that has such high pray drive, young kids and any other pets in the house?)

Anyway just wanted to say what ever breed you go for, please only get one. Also when you go and choose the pup, don't take the kids, there will be tears and tantrums as you have found out they are likely to go for different ones in a litter. Also are they choosing the calmest nature, the best one for your family, what about health checks and going over the pups to make sure they are healthy... Taking the kids may mean you end up with the wrong pup or at worse taking 2 home with you...

You'll rarely find a decent caring breeder allowing 2 pups to be homed together at the same time. Its not a good idea, especially for a first time dog owner.

A friend of my sister (first time dog owner) has just got a lakeland/border cross pup (they have 6 indoor cats that have had their lives ruined :-( ) she was asking my sister to ask me to recommend a one to one trainer for this 12 week old pup as they had enrolled on GC puppy foundation and trainer had told them this pup will need 1to1 before starting the class due to aggression to trainer and other pups ? I would definately advice more research for unexperienced dog owners before taking on just 1 pup of this cross, it would be heartbreaking for you and your kids to have to rehome later :-(

What worries me is what type of breeder are you getting this pup from.  As has clearly been stated just one pup of this cross can be hard work but if they are recommending two it does make me worry.

I'm really not surprised, there are some very dubious characters (as well as many brilliant ones) in working terriers and as long as the pups were sold asap, to some, thats all that matters :-(

I've got working-type Lakelands and Fells and you have to be very careful with them as they have a very high prey drive and it's not just the fact that they will be harder to train if you have two, litter brothers or sisters often get to six months and want to literally kill each other!

kiemo

If you are still 'out there' I came across this great Terrier Rescue site.  I have a soft spot for dogs from this group - love Jasper (featured) - but recognise they can be difficult for lots of reasons.  This site presents the information, positive and negative, in a very readable way.  If you spend time looking at the dogs needing rehoming you can also see what some of the potential problems might be.  It'll either give you the information you need to be prepared or may indicate a different dog might suit you better.  Either way - please have a look, and do keep us posted.

I think people are being very nice about the amount of work ONE pup of this type is likely to be..

Try 'high chance of complete child-chewing screaming NIGHTMARE... for the next six months at least'.

That is NOT to say that terriers are never ok for a first time owner, or with kids, absolutely not and i am hardly a die hard anti-terrier person (with two dogs who have a good dollop of terrier ancestry, i never would!)...

But - this breeder is wanting your money and does not give a RATS about either you, your kids or the pups future. You can tell this by the way they were willing to sell you two same sex pups and by the drivel they told you a bout it being ok because they are crossbreeds.

If they tell you that level of BS - then thats just the tip of the iceberg tbh, these pups wont be socialised, wont be happy confident little things, wont be easy going cuteseywutesey puppies at all.

All dogs have the ability to be and to use aggression - its a tool in their toolbox just as barking or appeasing or working with you or running away or acting the clown.

Terriers are more likely to pull aggression out of their toolkit first - whereas say a collie is more likely to pull appeasement out.

With a WORKING bred terrier, this is even more true - these dogs are bred to survive no matter what, to take on the world and win, or DIE trying - if you LIKE that sort of thing and are prepared for it and can work with it, they make fantastic dogs.

If you have children who cant or wont understand, or do understand but physically cannot move around or exit the room without being inherently exciting to a ferocious bundle of terrier pup... you are goingto have huge problems. (and again thats just the tip of the iceberg!). The littlest misunderstanding where working bred terriers are concerned can turn into a huge problem. Child may just want a cuddle and lean over to pick the pup up... puppy however might not want to be picked up and having been ignored when a lip is curled... just go for biting! I could give a lot more examples (and of course these misunderstandings are just as possible with other breeds too...).

If you are sold on the idea of a terrier pup - I would look at the pure Border terrier, from a reputable breeder producing KC reg pups, who breed for type and TEMPERAMENT. Borders are lovely little pups and whilst they can be fiesty when needed they can also be very very bidable and keen to please you.

i,d look for a good breeder and forget all about the one you are going to
they want your money
nothing else

One puppy is a lot of work and to give them the best chance I'd go for one and then maybe get another later, when you've invested time in to training the first one.  Good luck with your choice.