Hi yall!!!! great forum, many thanks to Ed for helping me so much.

This is my first post, and I need your advise guys.

I am getting a new Malinois puppy in December, and since I already have dobe (which I am working in obedience and tracking) I am very concern (from reading the forum) on adding a second dog.

I am planning on working the new female on SchH, and I want to raise her right.

So I wanted a fresh start with this female but now I am very concern since many people in the forum say that it's "almost impossible" raising two working dogs.

Can you guys share your experience and please give advise, since I don't want to mess the new puppy up.

In fact I am ordering a couple of more videos from Ed, but I would appreciate your advise, and if it is possible with out scarifying any of the dogs quality of life.

I plan to keep both as members of the family (crated inside) sharing my time separately, but how separate? is there a time when I will be able to share myself with them at the same time?

My dobie is a 24month male which I am his life, very well trained, no problems in pack order with my family, and the new malinois is a female.

Please guys, I need your advise and your experience adding a working puppy with out damaging either.

Any schedule?
Thinking of
Building drive and focus
Puppy from 8 weeks to 8 months

Anything else you want to add?

Fernando.

Fernando,

I have a female working line GSD Schutzhund prospect(Actually from Ed's AI breeding of Natan) who is just over one year old. Up until about a month ago (when unfortunately he passed) I also had a 9 year old male GSD who was just a pet. A few comments and suggestions that helped me...

You made the right decision in a female. The fact that they are not the same sex greatly increases the odds that they will coexist peacefully. I personally did not keep my pup completely seperate from my male as long as I was there to supervise all interaction completely. Obviously, I would train her individually, and if I (AND ONLY ME) was not there she was crated, but I did allow limited interaction with my male. Absolutely no roughhousing was allowed between the dogs and I was very focused on making sure she did not get dominated by the older dog. I know this will spark some debate, but she is also not crated all of the time when not working, she has free reign of the house at night and when we are home. None of what I have mentioned has affected her work on the field one bit. In fact, my helper was very surprised to hear that. The nice thing about actually working her is that you will be able to see any issues with her as they pop up and correct them on the fly because they will absolutely show up on the field.
I would HIGHLY recommend the Drive and Focus DVD, it really did wonders for my pup and her development. 10 minutes of drivebuilding with a leather bite rag per night will tire her out and really bring out her drive. It's a great game that gets great results. I also liked the preparing your dog for the helper DVD as well. And if you can help it, unless you are seasoned enough to do all the foundation work on your own, get with an experienced helper early on.

How to Raise a Working Puppy
http://leerburg.com/117.htm

Introducing a Puppy into a Home with other Dogs
http://leerburg.com/pdf/introducingdogs.pdf

Here are two that might help.

I do not think that it is impossible to raise more than one working dog. I have 6 and although they are Search and Rescue Dogs (Bloodhounds, Malinois, Dutch Shepherd, GSD and a bird hunting Lab).

I think we tend more to lean towards not raising two puppies at the same time as a lot of us all have more than one working dog and/or pets.

I raised two puppies from the same litter and it was truly a challenge.

I would say totally seperate for the first few weeks, aside from the general "introduction stuff".
I find that if I introduce the new addition to my dogs, they tend to check them out and then care less. If I do not introduce then my dogs get all worked up at the new addition.

This is all done on leads with two people so that the situation is calm and controlled. I do not talk to the dogs while they check each other out, but they do get lots of praise when we are done for behaving.

All of my dogs know the rules. NO aggression, so I tend to more watch the new dogs for this. Puppies are not a problem, but I do have dogs that are older come in for training as well.

Thanks so much for your replies!

It is very soothing reading your replies, my dobie is pretty well behaved, as soon as I get home we exercise, play and work for a while, and I want to continue that, but also, I am really looking forward working this puppy……

I just want to plan very well my strategy for both dogs. What do you think about this plan:

I was thinking on bringing my new pup to work with me? What do you think? I will keep it crated in my truck (of course, well secured) and go out every 3 hrs to do some bonding, play, potty train and go back home, crate the pup again and move to my dobie, (I think I will have my hands full but I am trying to manage my time and not affect the dogs). What do you guys think? Will she be too young to travel with me? (25 mile drive each way)

At what time do you guys think will my dogs can interact more? (I like to watch tv with my dobie just lying at my feet, and hopefully I can have both doing that? I know that I can handle the situation with pets, but, since I want to work this puppy, can it be done? Can I have a pet, as well as working dog without discriminating either one?

Thanks again guys….

 Quote: Fernando Sing

I was thinking on bringing my new pup to work with me? What do you think? I will keep it crated in my truck (of course, well secured) and go out every 3 hrs to do some bonding, play, potty train and go back home, crate the pup again and move to my dobie, (I think I will have my hands full but I am trying to manage my time and not affect the dogs). What do you guys think? Will she be too young to travel with me? (25 mile drive each way) ....

I think I'd be more concerned about the temperature in the truck than the commute, where you live.

Actually the weather here is great, I live in San Diego Ca. Of course I will set the back of the truck to fit the needs..... and if by anyway, I find it unfit......I will leave her home.

Thanks.

 Quote: Fernando Sing

Actually the weather here is great, I live in San Diego Ca. Of course I will set the back of the truck to fit the needs..... and if by anyway, I find it unfit......I will leave her home.

Thanks.

Yes, I meant that the gorgeous weather you have can sometimes be too warm inside a closed vehicle.

It is a pickup truck, and of course I will never leave her inside a closed vehicle, can we get off that subject please?

Honestly, I need all the advise I can get, and I don't want people focusing on that. She will not be inside a car.

Thanks.

 Quote: Fernando Sing

She will not be inside a car.

Thanks.

Then your question is mainly whether she would be better off staying at home while you work or coming with you?

And also whether (and how) you can have a pet and a working dog?

 Quote: Fernando Sing

I just want to plan very well my strategy for both dogs. .... Can I have a pet, as well as working dog without discriminating either one?

Have you seen Ed's advice about introducing a second dog into your home? I've followed it precisely more than once, very successfully.

http://www.leerburg.com/introducingdogs.htm

That URL also directs you to a podcast and an eBook.

Oops. Carol had supplied you with the "Introduce" link.

Well, it's a very good one.

I agree with Carol and John about being clear about the rules in the house (and my rule too is Zero Aggression), and who's in charge.

It will help hugely if the groundwork is solid with Dog #1 first.