Chuck I'd had plenty of practice raising pups, a few years back I did 4 dogs in 2 years and they turned out Ok but it was TONS of work my whole weekend was 8-10 hours of training dogs all separate from each other and doing group classes ( i'd do between 6-10 classes a weekend) plus my own one on one time but with this lot I got it wrong. I'd never done a brother sister before and even though they're pretty good if I just have one out if I take two out at a time it's a different story as I go on the back burner and the brother and sister feed off each other. An x pen's Ok but go and get yourself 2 crates and keep them separate for MOST of the time, only a little play time with you and them but generally only let one out at a time. As they get older and you develop a bond they can start spending more time together but while they're developing don't let them bond too much or you'll end up the third wheel which is a PITA!

They slept in separate crates last night and all was ok. A little crying from Dolcetta, other than that a peaceful night. Right now they're in the living room on their own dog beds in different parts of the room.

Keeping them separate for a majority of the day, well I'll try and do that. We'll train at least twice today with one in a crate inside or the x pen outside. I'll put one in a crate and have the other with me in the house or outside, not training just hanging out.

Everyone's suggestions are gratefully accepted.

Chuck

I see you asking how to get the pups to stay in their respective beds.

I, personally, think that asking 14 week old pups to "stay" in their beds for anything longer than a minute is a bit too much to expect from them at this age.

when people are saying seperated they don't mean just at opposite ends of a room.

And if the one pup is already protesting you trying to move him off the couch by snarking or biting or growling...don't let them up there.

if you don't have them, purchase crates like everyone is asking you to. That is the only way this is going to work.

Alternating their time with you may be difficult but start by making a schedule and sticking to it.

OK, I'd like as many people's opinions on this as possible.

Should I seriously consider re-homing one of the puppies?

My work schedule (I'm off for the next two weeks) is that I am out of the house from 8:30 AM until 8 PM four days a week.

The pups are litter mates and are about 14 weeks old.

Thanks,

Chuck

Hi Chuck. I've had 50+ yrs of multiple dogs. Rarely less then 2-3 at a time. Only once did I had litter mates. This was when I got my first house back in the the late 60s. Mom and dad had a litter of mutts and now having my own place I took two of them, A male and female. Mom and dad always had a couple around because of 7 doggy kids that would have one each if allowed.
I read in one of my first dog behavior books about raising pups together and the one thing about raising litter mates was that one would become dominant and the other would become submissive. For some reason this doesn't get "as" bad with non siblings but with siblings it is a problem.
Anyway, the two I had were text book. The male became very pushy and the female became so passive that I wished I would have found a sweet old lady to take her in.
I've had a fair amount of good luck with multiple dogs all my life. I'm down to two for the first time in a while. Two intact, working line GSDs after loosing my old JRT last yr but the two siblings were a pia in retrospect.
I wouldn't do this again with siblings.
You've had some great advice from people in the know. I'll take it a step further. I can't say how things will go for you but being your first dogs I would definitely find a good home for one of them. That's hard to do when you get attached but think about the best interest of the pups. You'll not regret it when you realize how much better you can spend time and train one dog.
Dogs have been my life long fix but raising the two siblings wasn't one of the experiences I would wish to repeat. JMHO!

and Chip...no ones saying you can't get another pup down the road.
But definately wait till the one pup is established in your home.

it's the siblings and puppy part that is the whole problem.

and...i have to ask..and don't think everyone is ganging up on you, but you said for 4 days of the week you are gone 8 am to 8pm???

so the pups are taken care of by who for the 12 hours you're gone??

that is an awful long time for a pup to be alone.
Is that maybe why you purchased 2 pups? So that they wouldn't technically be alone while you're at work?

I have two tenants in my home who are here some of the time when I'm at work.

I thought it was a good idea to have the two puppies when I was at work.

Chuck, If you won't listen to me & others....Bob has tons of experience. He has done all kinds of OB showing & earth work trials with his terriers & Schutzshund, Search & rescue work, herding etc with his GSDs. He knows what he is saying. He would NEVER do it again..even with all his years of experience. That speaks volumns to me.

2 weeks of time to train pups. I don't think you are even going to touch the tip of the iceberg. It takes months & months to set the foundation with pups & a couple of years or more to have a well mannered, well trained dog.

So your tennants are there some of the time...whats the plan for the pups for the times that they are not there to let them out to go potty & streach their legs? The pups have to go from 8-8 with no potty breaks. If that is the case...sorry but that is abusive & unacceptable in my book.

Please consider putting whats in the best interest of the pup ahead of your feelings,wants & needs. I know that's not easy to do when you start to get attached to a pup. You are in WAY over your head in this.

 Quote: Chuck Silverman

OK, I'd like as many people's opinions on this as possible.

Should I seriously consider re-homing one of the puppies?

My work schedule (I'm off for the next two weeks) is that I am out of the house from 8:30 AM until 8 PM four days a week.

The pups are litter mates and are about 14 weeks old.

Thanks,

Chuck

Can you make immediate and major changes in what you are now doing? I mean complete, radical changes?

I (like many) was very concerned earlier in the thread, and posts since then have revealed that you're also completely new to raising puppies, period.

Two littermates together is a challenge that most people with many decades of experience flat-out refuse to do, and the few that will, take it on knowing that have committed to a full-time job for years. They work at home and they have a ton of dog-rearing experience under their belts and they also have like-thinking committed help.

I am not exaggerating. (Read the article I linked you to by the owner of Leerburg. As a breeder, he refused, like other ethical breeders, to sell two pups from a litter to one home.)


And you are away regularly from the house for twelve-hour periods ..... that's actually a big issue right there for one puppy, that we might be able to make suggestions about.


But back to the two-at-once issue:

You read a lot of experienced people's responses. No one can tell you what to do. Only you know whether you can or cannot make the immediate major changes needed.

You made a commitment to these little guys and (IMO) you are making serious mistakes; how you fix them, only you can decide.

 Quote: Chuck Silverman

OK, I'd like as many people's opinions on this as possible.

Should I seriously consider re-homing one of the puppies?

My work schedule (I'm off for the next two weeks) is that I am out of the house from 8:30 AM until 8 PM four days a week.

The pups are litter mates and are about 14 weeks old.

Thanks,

Chuck