I have a 6mo old female pup Ive had since she was 6 weeks old, and I just got a 4 mo old male. I have the obedience video and I know it says to keep them apart to prevent pack behavior-wanting to play w/others instead of myself being the fun one. I try to keep them apart but its hard! they have seperate crates but they are pups they love to bite eachother and play, I am not sure what to do, should I get rid of one or does anyone have any suggestions/expierience? thank you!

Hey Joey,

Sorry if this seems a little blunt but it seems like a silly question. If you have two crates why are both dogs out of the crates at once if they're not suppose to have contact?
If one dog is out of the crate put the other dog in their crate in another room. Zero contact means zero contact. Is there some reason you're wanting them to play with each other?

Having two pups at the same time is hard as it's about twice the work if not a little more. If that's beyond the commitment you had in mind then yes, perhaps you should place one of them in another home.

I raised 2 littermates. Keeping them apart really isn't that hard. It's pretty simple actually: When one pup is out of the crate, the other pup should be IN the crate.

They will probably try to fight/play through the crate bars, I try to distract my pups when they do that and tell em to knock it off, or simply move them to another room, but there's a big difference between snapping teeth through a crate and actually rolling around in the living room or back yard.

My pups are now 14 months old and have been seperated since 7.5 weeks old. I finally see now what I want to see in a pup before I let them interact with adults. When the pup is willing to leave the other pup to come to me and see what I have to offer, that is the point where I say "OK, this pup thinks I'm way cooler than the other pup." Ofcourse, not before 10 or 12 months old. I let them out in the yard together for the first time in a full year last week, they run around, knocked eachother over, snapped their teeth at eachother and generally had a good time. But if I call them to get some food (kibble) they will both come running to me and sit in front of me waiting for their reward.

My Dutchie pup was seperated from my eldest dog till she was 10 months old, and then slowly increased the time they spent together through 14 months old.

Its more work, you have to do everything twice, but if you have a crate theres no reason you cant keep them seperated.

Just to say the work is so worth it. At times I thought oh just let them be dogs and play but I stuck it out. Both the pup and older dog ADORE each other and wresle like maniacs but if I call the pup he comes running. As fun as the other two dogs are I am everthing to the pup. It makes training so much easier.

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At times I thought oh just let them be dogs and play

Serious??? I find seperation to be far easier than dealing with dogs that are going crazy with eachother. My dogs are seperated even when they are old enough to not need to be. Especially Lyka, my god that girl just doesnt know when to quit. I think if she didnt spend time in the crate or kennel that Cujo would run away from home.... "leave me alone damnit! why wont you stop!!!"

I like chaos... but there's chaos... then there's Lyka.

Thanks all, its sux cause my 6 mo old is new to being in a crate all the time, and both wine and bark for hours sometimes, I guess dogs sleeping with you in your bed is no good?

 Quote: Joey Estrada

Thanks all, its sux cause my 6 mo old is new to being in a crate all the time, and both wine and bark for hours sometimes, I guess dogs sleeping with you in your bed is no good?

No, it's not good, but whining and barking in the crate won't continue if it's never rewarded and if they are separated (not barking at each other, that is).

 Quote: Joey Estrada

Thanks all, its sux cause my 6 mo old is new to being in a crate all the time, and both wine and bark for hours sometimes, I guess dogs sleeping with you in your bed is no good?

My personal favorite crate training devices are an Ipod and earplugs. It's hard and annoying but you really can't give in.