I made the exact same mistake (in hindsight) and took on a brother/sister at the same time. You really need to separate them alot as it doesn't take too long and they become very doggy and you never get that relationship that you get when you have one dog because they always will look to each other. I have one boy that had me all to himself from 4 months to around 10 months and it's like he's addicted to me but because the other two have always had each other they are nowhere near as attached to me as he is and while their obedience is good and they're always happy to play with me there's just that something missing that they find in each other. They were always crated separately and had plenty of time alone with just me but it wasn't enough.

As your pups get older they can spend more time together but for now if you want to build a good relationship with them REALLY minimize the amount of time they spend together either crates or ex pens whatever you need to do as it will pay off big time in the long run!

Yes, train them to walk with you seperatley. When they can do that. This means WALKING not sniffing stopping etc...just walking. You have to be strict about it so they get the idea that walk means walk. Then you can walk them together with you.

We can all tell you what you should do & the reasons why you should do it, if you choose not to do it...then you will have to deal with the consequences later on. It's up to you. We have given you the information. Your choice. Your dogs.

You keep saying that you can keep them seperated most of the time...but you don't state WHY you can't. I think that you just don't want to be bothered with the extra time & work it will require to do so. If you really think that you have a legit reason why you can't, I'd be interested in hearing it, because I can't for the life of me think of one reason why it can't be done.

You took these 2 pups on...they deserve to be raised properly so that they become, mentally sound, well mannered, well trained adults. You owe this to them.

" .... they deserve to be raised properly so that they become, mentally sound, well mannered, well trained adults. You owe this to them."


And you have the voices of long experience here, really trying to help you. I'd take full advantage of that.


" ..... saying that you can keep them seperated most of the time ..... If you really think that you have a legit reason why you can't, I'd be interested in hearing it" .... ditto. This is a crucial part of what you've committed to.

I hope I'm coming across as concerned and not confrontational. Everyone on this thread knows and cares a lot about dogs, which is why everyone is pursuing this very important point.

Sage advice I am sure.

I have an x-pen. When I work with one puppy and put the other in the pen, are we (myself and the pup I am training) visible to the dog in the x-pen?

I'd like to begin this type of training now.

I'm committed to keeping both of these dogs. Thank you for any and all advice.

Chuck

Training of 1 pup should be out of sight of the other pup. Training should be distractions free & the pup should have 100% of you attention. They should not have to compete for your attention with another dog being around with eyes on you. Crate the other pup in another room.

Still no answer why you can't keep them seperated most of the day????

"Training should be distractions free & the pup should have 100% of you attention."

Ditto.


Distraction-free would absolutely mean free of other dogs .... any other dogs.

It's you and the puppy.

"Still no answer why you can't keep them separated most of the day????

I got an x pen so does one go in the x pen and the other "free" and then exchange after....well, how much time?

When I train one of the pups can the other go in the x pen, outside and out of view of our training?

Ah, another question. Firstly, thank you for your help. I want to be a responsible pet owner.

#1. I bought two dog beds to get them off any furniture. The beds are separated and in the same room. How do I get each dog to be on each bed?

Thanks,

Chuck

Rotate the pups between one being out with you for free time & 1 crated or in the x-pen thruout the day if you can watch them. I would never leave a pup in an x-pen unsupervised. At night, bedtime they should both be crated in seperate crates. They can be in the same room at that time. I would never leave a pup loose without supervision not ever for a minute.

I would also recomend that the 'loose' pup be on a teather to you at all times when in the house & a long line outside. This way you can ALWAYS control what the dog does & what he touches etc. My pus are on a long line outside & teathered to me in the house from day one...until the are older & have reliable manners & training. I raised 3 GSD pups in the last 9 years..it's alot of work.

They need to be trained to a place or bed command to learn to stay on their bed. Prefferably using markers & positive reinforcement.

Honestly Chuck, I know that you want to try to pull this off...but your almost total lack of basic knowledge of dog training is going to be a very big problem trying to work with 2 pups at the same time. I'm really not trying to be mean when I say that it really would be better considering rehoming 1 of the pups. You are taking on a task that even for people with a very good training knowledge it is a tall order to pull off properly.

Please think about it.

Stil no answer about why they can't be kept seperated most of the time. Is there a reason why you don't want to answer this?

Chuck where do you live. Possibly near when someone can help you with training. Maybe a good dog trainer or someone here willing to lend a little help.

Chuck,
1. Do the dogs have their own crates (as well as the ex-pen)? It's best if they do so that while you're working with one the other should be out of site in his/her crate especially right now while you're building a relationship with the dogs. Later, you can have one in the ex-pen watching while you work with the other but it's not the best thing now.

2. The way you get the dogs on the beds is patience and consistency. Put the dogs on their own beds and keep putting them back there when they leave without permission. Are you teaching a place command and using marker training?