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2 puppies at once ?

M

myluvs

Member
Hi -Anyone have advice on raising 2 puppies together? I have a 7 (Louis )year old B&T cavalier and we just added a 12 week old blenhim. I am thinking of getting a 9 week old puppy.
I have always had 2 cavs 6 months apart but recently lost both my older ones. Louis (7year old) we got alone at the time he played with our 2 older dogs. My thought process is the 2 puppies will have each other and grow old together and at the same time they will leave our Louis alone. I do not want to short change this puppy by not letting him have time alone if thats what is needed. Thank you for your thoughts and advice.
 
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Hi and welcome! Somewhere in the information articles on the site I've an old one on getting two puppies at once... the general advice is, this is a huge challenge and the outcomes tend to be better when there's a year or so between puppies. I've had multiple dogs over many decades and only once took on siblings (or two puppies in close age). And I thought this was something I'd manage fine. But not only was it a HUGE amount of work -- as you simply must give each dog separate time of the same quality you'd give one -- but I realised after they both had passed away a decade later, that really, our bond with the two of them was never quite the same as we'd have had raising two puppies separately, with 12-18 months between adopting them. Not only will they bond in ways that WILL exclude the humans, but my solo time with a single pup the next time around was so much more enriching. And training, crating, toileting, etc all need to be done separately so it is twice the work. Often undone because they then focus on each other and don;t really pay attention to their people. Many dog trainers won't allow two puppies, owned by the same people, in a class at the same time because they are too distracted by each other.

There are many many articles out there on the pros and cons of two puppies and it's hard to find anyone with expertise in dogs that thinks two puppies is a good option. It will be fine, of course, but there's little benefit to a puppy to the relationship and something will be lost for the humans involved.

See:

www.akc.org

Littermate Syndrome: Why One Puppy Might be Better Than Two

Are you thinking about getting two puppies at the same time? It's more difficult than it seems. Most professionals recommend getting just one puppy at once.
www.akc.org www.akc.org

www.rescuedogs101.com

The Truth About Adopting Two Dogs at Once

Is it okay to adopt two dogs at once? Adopting puppy siblings or bonded pairs? Is it easier or harder? We have uncovered the truth... real-life adoption stories...
www.rescuedogs101.com www.rescuedogs101.com

www.rescuedogs.co.uk

Adopting Two Puppies at the Same Time - RescueDogs.co.uk

www.rescuedogs.co.uk www.rescuedogs.co.uk

www.whole-dog-journal.com

Problems With Adopting Two Puppies Simultaneously - Whole Dog Journal

Most training professionals strongly recommend against adopting two puppies at once as it can prevent bonding with their owner.
www.whole-dog-journal.com www.whole-dog-journal.com

I actually think it's harder to have two dogs the same age who grow old together -- even dogs close in age mean you end up being limited by the senior issues (and costs) that generally descend at this point and losing two close together is also very hard (take it from me, I've had this happen many times over from having multiple dogs, many of them older rescues that came into rescue together).

I'd say that yes, you can make it work, but I'd also say, don't underestimate the enormous time and commitment for the first two years and really, ever after as they really should not be left to always do things together and never have quality alone time with the humans. And from experience, having had dogs for years and years -- I'd never do two puppies together ever again. Something is lost for the dogs, and for the people. And sometimes they grow up and don't get along precisely because they are too close in age and then you end up having to try to re home an adult.

Others may well have a completely different take but that's mine, from running a cavalier rescue and being a long time dog owner (and knowing many excellent dog trainers and behaviourists! :) )
 
Thank you Karlin. You are so helpful. Thank you for all the articles. I have alot of information to help me decide. Double the work and a risk of them not bonding with us doesn't seem like something I want to take a chance with. Like I said we have always gotten our 6-9 months apart once they are potty trained, comfortable and secure in surrounds and our love. It has always worked out but they never had a close bond or picked on each other. I should probably stick with what has worked for us in the past...
 
Well they'd certainly bond with you :D -- just try to keep a cavalier from bonding with people!! -- but they'd also bond quite closely with each other and the extra work is always going to be a part of two at once, even two close in age. It is lots of fun to have two pups and their own interactions are a joy to observe, too, but does take so much work and when we once again got a puppy (not cavaliers but the same breed where we'd had the two siblings) I really realised how many large and small things were different -- and better, and easier. I really felt the nature of our bond with the pup (now 16 months old) was qualitatively different, because he wasn't constantly interacting with a sibling.

Worth mentioning perhaps that we've ended up with the nearly disastrous outcome of OTHER people getting two siblings and then never properly training or managing them. In this case it was two newfoundlands -- who by 9 months had passed through FIVE homes, they were so out of control and egged each other on to destroy gardens, jump fences and launch themselves at people in excitement. No one wants 40kg of Newfie pup barreling towards them and head butting them in crazy play, especially not children or elderly people or those with disabilities. After 5 homes they went to rescue who recognised the two needed to be split up, and we got one. It took her months and months and lots of work and management by us to calm down. She used to burst and collapse crates and chew everything and could easily jump a 5 foot fence despite her size! :shreek: We're an experienced giant breed home and she was our second Newfie but boy, she was the poster dog for what can go wrong with adopting two siblings and not putting in all the separate, quality time with each. Now she's fine but for a while I wondered what we'd gotten ourselves into!

Sometimes these trade-offs suit people and with cavaliers, obviously they're much easier than an out of control Newfie and you're an experienced dog home too. But there are definitely tradeoffs and potential problems. We really enjoyed having our two pups but they did take a LOT of extra time and could be challenging in that first two years... I don;t regret having had them at the same time but I wouldn't make that choice again. But that's me! Hope that helps!
 
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