I am looking for insight and advice from those of you that have experience raising multiple puppies together. If I had known what I know now (after reading the leerburg.com advice) I would not have adopted two litter mates! They are 15 week old rescue puppies. Male and Female. I believe they are Australian Shep X Coonhound and who knows what else. I have had them for a month now. Just separated them last week. They were doing a lot of wrestling and although they were getting along, it was near to impossible to get them to bond to us as they were forming their own pack.

I have a mudroom with crate, opens to outdoor kennel. I also have a crate in the house. I also have 3 cats and two elderly Shih Tzu in my home, all open concept downstairs.

Currently I allow one dog to be in mudroom, not locked in crate for part of the day, and switch them in and out of the house crate. They are getting some tethered time to me in the house, but very limited right now due to the other dogs/cats.

I am not leaving them in the outdoor kennel unsupervised, as I fear they are eating the small rocks on the ground.

They are going out for potty breaks, and are understanding pee on command (I use Quick-Quick)

I give them each a long walk during the mid-morning or afternoon, and sometimes another long walk in the evening after dinner. I allow at least 45 min after meals before I walk them, and I never let them run hard after eating. They eat in crates and stay there for 1/2 hr to 1 hour after meals.

They each get at least two marker training sessions (less than 5 min usually) followed by play sessions per day, and sometimes I even mix in a min or two of marker training if one is in the mudroom.

Just looking to see if what I am doing is on track...or if I should change anything?

I rotate them in and out of mudroom at about 4 hour intervals. I change who sleeps in mudroom every other night. I have been letting them sleep free in there, not in crate, but I think that might change this week when I get a bigger crate for that room.
The smaller crate is really too small for my bigger puppy to be in for more than 4 hours. At bedtime I do a potty walk at 12am for both dogs, and then around 6:30am or 7am.

All the best,

Leela, Remy & Jessie

Two crates?

One in mudroom, one inside house?

Are you saying neither one has "his crate"?

Why is tethered-to-you time limited?

Mudroom is attached to house, but has a door. tiled and easy to clean! I also use it for a mini-training room when I want to get in a quick session.

I have two crates, and just alternate one house dog and one in mudroom. I do this about every 4 hours or so.

Should each one have their very own crate, or is it ok for them to switch?

In order to tether I can't do anything else...I have 3 cats and two other dogs in the house, and just can't get anything done if they are tethered. I also have 4 horses so have lots of chores inside and out. Between potty walks, exercise, training and feeding that doesn't leave much time...

Should I keep BOTH crates in the house and just keep them far away from each other so they can't get each other all excited?

Thanks!

Leela