Can two raising two puppies together work? I am aware of all the difficulties there can be and the need to give each individual time and attention but there are is so much negative information around I am beging to question if it can ever work. We are thinking of a lab, followed by a goldie (about six weeks later), my wife is home all day, I work full time and then there are the three children ( well yund adults 16, 19 and 20). Group thoughts would be very welcome.

I personally don't advise it, I did it for the first time when I couldn't decide which pup I wanted to show so I took two bitches from the same litter with the intentions of only keeping one after running them on.  The pups had a great time as there was always someone to play with and it was hilarious to watch them with each other. It was only after I let one of them go at 7 months that I realised how backward the one I kept was as they relied on each other for everything. Once I had the remaining pups attention she was great and came on leaps and bounds but I would never have the relationship I have with her now if I still had the 2 of them.  If you get one now then another in 6wks you will just about have the first one housetrained when you bring in the next one and you will prob go back to square one with the first one.  It would be far better for the dog (and your poor wife who will be left to clean up after and discipline 2 puppies!!!)if you just enjoyed the 1st puppy and then 1-2years later then get another if you still want 2 dogs.
I would have thought the breeders of the pups would have advised against it as well.  If pups are to grow into healthy, happy, obedient members of the family home it takes a lot of time and patience, why make it doubley hard for yourself?  Easier and fairer option is one now another in a year or two.  Thats my opinion anyway no doubt there will be many who disagree!

It can work - but only if you are able to give the pups 1-to-1 training and attention and you know what you are doing.  If you are a novice puppy owner - no; if you have not had more than one dog - no; if you have not had two dogs of 2 years apart with one as a pup - no.

No one is trying to put people off getting dogs, but I hope we try our best to stop people making mistakes.

I've had dogs myself for 25 years, I've had rescues for 15 years.  I would not have two puppies despite ticking all my criteria. 

No decent breeder or rescue would home two puppies to anyone (unless they knew the person inside out).

Please spend your love and efforts on one dog - he or she will really make it worthwhile as long as you are also prepared to care for the dog that will live with you for potentially 15-16 years.

Another aspect people tend to forget, is way down the line you have 2 old dogs together and the chances are that you will lose them within a very short space of time. To lose one dog is a heartbreaking experience, to lose 2 within a few months (which is often the way, as they are so closely bonded) must be horrendous. :( 

There is also the problem that two close in age will start to fall out when fully mature.  Everything goes along nicely untilmtey get to 3 or four years old and then things start to get touchy, then nasty. 

To be honest every puppy deseves and would benefit from all the attetnion that the family can give, rahter  than having to share it.

Wtih my own medium size breed I have two to four years between them.  For me the two year gap is only just enough.

Theres 10 months between my two dogs. From day one the younger one decided she was boss. They are half sisters. I think it depends on the dogs themselves. Although I would not get two puppies at the same time. If we have to go out and leave them we feel they are company for each other. I suppose it depends on the breed as well. Mine are shi-tzus and they love company.

We kept two puppies from the same litter - and believe me, it isn't double trouble - it's double trouble doubled and then squared!!   They will bond with each other first - so then you have to split them up.   You can't train both together - you have to do it separately - and then again, and again -because the moment they see each other - they want to play together!!  Unless you are very careful, they depend upon each other for security - its lovely to see them curled up together, etc, etc, but it is very, very hard work.   Ours are now "grown up" - at almost 3 - but they will still play with each other, and all training goes out the window when they are running together - in fact I STILL don't trust the recall of both of them at the same time - on their own, they are wonderful but........

In other words - get puppy no 1, then wait a year (maybe even 18 months) and get the second.

Let us know what you decide.

Margot

My two littermates are still better exercised separately, and they're nearly 6! When they're off the lead together, they work as a team, watching each other. If one starts running, the other goes too. They're not remotely interested in what the rest of us want to do.

Gosh I have a three month old puppy & I'm just about keeping up with him so two would be a big no no

I did keep two beardies out of one litter but one lived with me & the other with their co breeder

No! Don't do it! I got 2 puppies together and 3 years down the line (possibly because of the 3rd one who's a bitch) the 2 boys are fighting seriously, and have to be kept apart nearly all the time. Get one 18 months after the other. I will never have 2 the same age again, and never have more than one un-neutered dog either.

MM? 3month old puppy?  where when how? and what have I missed????   And congratulations on new arrival :D

LOLOL he arrived on tuesday & I've put some quick piccies on my website on my profile LOL just been teaching the first stages of novice retrieve today He is a dream of a puppy naughty but nice lolololol

Now that is the look of innocence (translation = dont turn your back) lol :D

Like the Cav pics - your boy is related slightly to my Henry, he also has Cherokee of Rossbonny in his pedigree!

lol they all have Harvey behind them ;)

I bought 2 litter brother's. I got the first at 8 weeks, I got pick of the dog pup's. We (hubby & me) went out to the breeder's house just for a visit (my sister was the breeder) and as they got a little boy returned we bought him also. Little boy 1 was house trained, but little boy 2 was not. After about 1 week, little boy 2 was fully house trained and settled into our house.
I never had any problems with them, they were both little angels. I would do it again if the right breeding came along and I got the chance of 2.

Well you were very lucky I know of several people who ended up with their dogs fighting all the time as there was not enough difference between the dogs in age

Me for one!! :-(

& yours are small dogs, Some breeds may be ok but you still cannot give two puppies the same attention as one(writes she whose BC puppy has just been playing ball at 5 in the morning whilst out for a toilet break :O ;))

I had mine 6 months apart and it worked great. I then lost one and replaced that a year ago.
Have just got new puppy with 1 year old bitch and this is also working very well and I get sleep at night!!!!!!!!!! they also leave the 14 year old alone which works very well.

Yes, if they were any bigger I would have to override the OH and rehome one. I've now had to stop walking them together as well as they had a go at each other in the park and it was all I could do to pull them apart. :-( They are ok to be in the lounge together as long as I hold onto the Cav until the American has settled down (as much as a Yankee settles!!) but I have to always keep an eye on them and make sure one of them is within reach of me!

myself and my husband have 2 rottweiler bitches out of the same litter, it was hard at first but now they would be lost without each other! i dont know if thats a good or bad thing, they hate to be seperated. they were 2 gone may and are quite settled now and i wouldnt have it any other way

This can be a real problem, especially when one dies.  At two they are young yet only mentally just out of the adolescent stage, you could still end up with problems by the time they reach full maturity at 4 if one wants to assume the more dominant role and the other objects or feeels the same.

I've a 1yr old that I've had for 4 mths and have just gotten another approx 1yr (rescue centre not 100% on age)!  1st one is a spayed bitch, 2nd a dog and neutered!  So far so good altho' she is being a bit bossy (expectedly so!).  But they are getting on well and while they are a bit more work, I wouldn't change the situation for the world!  However, two new pups together I think would be a different matter...my two were house-trained and had basic training done before I got them!  Big help!!

My pups breeder was considering homing a bitch and dog from same litter to same home, which i think is madness. I tried to put my point accross that they would be a nightmare to seperate when she comes into season, and possibly end up in a rehoming centre but he seemed to think that because "the family are lovely" they would do ok????????!!!!!!! They are'nt a small breed either (dobes). I just hope the breeder changed his mind on this one, it wasn't as if he was short on enquiries from nice homes either........ I just didn't want to get too involved and ended up keeping thoughts to myself.

A friend of mine has kept two dobes from her last litter but & it is a big but just as when I kept two from a litter one lives with her & the other with her co owner(the breeder's sister)

The family who want the pups must be prepared to make life very difficult for themselves, I'm loving every minute of my pups time with us so far, but i'm suffering from lack of sleep, and general tiredness due to keeping a permanent watch on her for toilet training and mischief. She's having a nap now so i'm having a break too. I forgot how great it is to have a pup in the house though! The tv never gets a look in we spend our whole time watching her. Can't imagine the work load if there were two of the little devils though!!!