I am curious about the multiple dog house holds from another thread. Ed strongly advises against getting two puppies in "Raising 2 Pups at the Same Time - Why it's a bad idea!". How many of you with multiple dogs took them on as puppies together? Also, did you experience the issues Ed warns against in his article. In several Q&As, Ed concludes with, "If I couldn't do it, you can't do it." So, did you do it?

All of our dogs are staggered by at least 18 months.

GSD - 9.5 years old
Mal - 4.5 "
Dutchy - 3 "
Lap Dog - 1 "

We had 2 pups from a breeding that we did for about 4 months, and I'd much rather not repeat that, but that's part of the responsibility you take on in breeding. Take Ed's advice. I don't beleive that he wrote what he did to make peopel feel incapable, he did it to caution newbies and others that it is a tremendous amount of work to do this at all, and it's even more work to do it and not make a lot of profound mistakes along the way. I'm not saying it's impossible, but I would not recommend it.

I would not want to again. I did once for a short time due to a pregnant rescue dog and not being to rehome all the pups right away. It was a lot of work and neither of those pups was very high drive. One was about mid-range, the other was very laid back.

Now, I just got another pup about a week ago (to make 3 of my own out of a total of 11 that I care for) and I have to spend A LOT of time with this pup. If I don't have her out for walks, play, and training at least 4 times a day, she is unmanageable when I do get to her. Even when I have her out for 4-6 sessions (usually several 3-5 min clicker sessions broke up with play ... last about 15-30 minutes total) she is still a wild little alligator. I don't think I could manage even a low drive pup together with Heida. I could probably make the time if I cut back at work (I work from home and manage my own schedule), but mentally it would just get too exhausting. I would get burned out and cease to enjoy training my puppy and I definitely don't want that!

Much better to stick to one and make sure they get their fair share of your attention :-)

When you have multiple young dogs/puppies at the same time esp. if they are related, they tend to bond with each other more than with the owners and that can make training much harder. You want them to look to you for all the fun good stuff, and pay attention to you not the other dog. With my three, I waited at least 1-2 years before bringing another dog into the picture. I feel they adjusted better that way, and feel they are easier to train and work with because they knew me before the other dogs in my home.

 Quote: andrew hess

... Ed strongly advises against getting two puppies in "Raising 2 Pups at the Same Time - Why it's a bad idea!". How many of you with multiple dogs took them on as puppies together? Also, did you experience the issues Ed warns against in his article. In several Q&As, Ed concludes with, "If I couldn't do it, you can't do it." So, did you do it?

I agree with him.

Even with adults, I would not take in two at once (if there was any alternative). I want the dog to have the bonding time s/he needs and I don't want either dog to form primary bonds with each other rather than with me.

I have done it with rescues and it was a holy nightmare.
Ours are staggered nicely and I couldn't imagine having more than one high drive pup at a time.
our are aged 12, almost 4, and 1 and its a perfect spread in age IMO
1 puppy+ 1 puppy = 100 times the work.

I have 2 that are a year apart to the day almost.

I would never do it again its hard. I would wait 3 years in between dogs next time.

Reson I had a lot of problem getting them both trained. Cause phoenix was still learning a few things and bruiser I had to start all over with.
While i was and am still teaching both its really hard now
My youngest is almost a year old which makes the other almost 2 this is the worst time.

Phoenix is now in correction stage and bruiser still in learning stage. Its hard from my point of veiw. O would not do it again.

Plus bruiser is still having issue with holding it still so thats make life hard to.

To give you the idea of how close.

Phoenix is Feb 13 2007
Bruiser is Feb 03 2008

Edited by Stephanie St Julian (11/13/2008 04:13 PM)
Edit reason: Add birthdays

Connie: Could you elaborate on the primary bonding? What are the signs you would look for to judge the primary bonding was successful and another dog could be added? I imagine this isn't a set amount of time, rather a setof exhibited behaviors, correct?

Edited by Andrew Hess (11/13/2008 07:33 PM)
Edit reason: Spelling error

 Quote: Laura Dobson

When you have multiple young dogs/puppies at the same time esp. if they are related, they tend to bond with each other more than with the owners and that can make training much harder.

I help teach a puppy class at my kennel club. In our last class, we had a couple with two GSD puppies from the same litter, about 4 months old. The handlers could not even keep these puppies across the room from each other without them crying and straining at the leashes to get close. They couldn't do a thing with them seperately.

I would want the first pup to be past the awful teenage phase which starts around 6 to 7 months and can last until the age of two or even three.

I would also want my dog to be focused on me rather than strangers or other dogs they encounter and be firmly within the realm of reasonably good obedience.

And don't forget reliable housetraining which takes much much longer than most people tend to think.